Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) Bus Pass

Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) Bus Pass

Hamilton Street
Railway (HSR)
Bus Pass

By virtue of the referendum, all full-time graduate students hold a 12-month, unlimited ride bus pass with the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR). The HSR bus pass remains valid from September through August each year. The pass is administered through PRESTO. Students will load their PRESTO card with a voucher code that is available via Mosaic, and can then tap on and off the HSR for unlimited rides.

GSA/HSR Referendum

Every three years the GSA enters renegotiations with the City for a new contract for the upcoming three years. The below represents the HSR questions the GSA will be bringing to students via referenda. The current rate of the HSR bus pass is $319.14.

Voting NO to this referendum means Graduate Students are voting to not accept the agreement and not have a pass for Fall next year. 


QUESTION:

Do you agree to an increase in the FT graduate student Bus Pass mandatory student fee, for the following three years: $319.77 in September 2026/2027, $325.38 in September 2027/2028, and $330.99 in September 2028/2029, (prorated, based on term of entry).

 

MATH ON PRORATION: 

September Start January Start May Start

2026/2027   319.77   213.29     106.48

2027/2028          325.38       217.03       108.35

2028/2029         330.99       220.77      110.22



Every three years the GSA enters renegotiations with the City for a new contract for the upcoming three years. The below represents the HSR questions the GSA will be bringing to students via referenda. The current rate of the HSR bus pass is $319.14.

Voting NO to this referendum means Graduate Students are voting to not accept the agreement and not have a pass for Fall next year. 


QUESTION:

Do you agree to an increase in the FT graduate student Bus Pass mandatory student fee, for the following three years: $319.77 in September 2026/2027, $325.38 in September 2027/2028, and $330.99 in September 2028/2029, (prorated, based on term of entry).

 

MATH ON PRORATION: 

September Start January Start May Start

2026/2027   319.77   213.29     106.48

2027/2028          325.38       217.03       108.35

2028/2029         330.99       220.77      110.22



Every three years the GSA enters renegotiations with the City for a new contract for the upcoming three years. The below represents the HSR questions the GSA will be bringing to students via referenda. The current rate of the HSR bus pass is $319.14.

Voting NO to this referendum means Graduate Students are voting to not accept the agreement and not have a pass for Fall next year. 


QUESTION:

Do you agree to an increase in the FT graduate student Bus Pass mandatory student fee, for the following three years: $319.77 in September 2026/2027, $325.38 in September 2027/2028, and $330.99 in September 2028/2029, (prorated, based on term of entry).

 

MATH ON PRORATION: 

September Start January Start May Start

2026/2027   319.77   213.29   106.48

2027/2028 325.38    217.03      108.35

2028/2029    330.99       220.77    110.22



Activation Steps

  1. Eligible students will need to obtain a PRESTO card from a PRESTO vendor: Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortino’s in Hamilton, HSR Customer Service Office at Hamilton GO, or online at prestocard.ca

  2. Students with an existing PRESTO card will continue to use the same card, and will load the updated bus pass using the voucher code issued via their Mosaic account. Any PRESTO card ca be used to redeem the voucher code, provided it is registered in your name.

  3. Find the tile inside your Mosaic account labelled “HSR Bus Pass” and click it to retrieve your voucher code.

Please note:

  • First year students must wait for the HSR bus pass tile to appear in their Mosaic account prior to obtaining their PRESTO card, as they will not appear in the distribution file until 24 hours after their HSR bus pass tile appears.

  • The PRESTO card must be registered to load the voucher.

  • The bus pass is valid up until August 21 of the following year.

*The HSR Bus Pass is non-transferrable – misuse will result in card confiscation.*

Friday, August 14, 2026 – Voucher code will be available on Mosaic
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – Bus pass comes into effect

  • First year students must wait for the HSR bus pass tile to appear in their Mosaic account prior to obtaining their PRESTO card, as they will not appear in the distribution file until 24 hours after their HSR bus pass tile appears.

  • The PRESTO card must be registered to load the voucher.

  • The bus pass is valid up until August 21 of the following year.

*The HSR Bus Pass is non-transferrable – misuse will result in card confiscation.*

Friday, August 14, 2026 – Voucher code will be available on Mosaic
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – Bus pass comes into effect

PRESTO in Google Wallet

PRESTO in Google Wallet

Note: You must redeem your voucher code prior to converting from a physical card to the virtual wallet.

*New!* PRESTO in Google Wallet
With PRESTO in Google Wallet, you can tap your phone or Wear OS for unlimited bus rides. Visit the PRESTO website for instructions on how to convert a physical PRESTO card using the PRESTO app. Your physical PRESTO card will no longer work once it is converted to Google Wallet. You will not be able to revert back to a physical card once you convert to Google Wallet.

  • DO NOT convert to Google Wallet if you do not meet all of the necessary requirements. Visit the PRESTO Google Wallet FAQ section to view the requirements.

  • DO NOT convert to Google Wallet if you currently have an Android and plan on switching to an iPhone.

  • DO NOT convert your card if you are in the middle of a trip. Wait until you have completed your trip before converting your card.

The Google Wallet app must be installed on your device and signed into a Google Account to use PRESTO in Google Wallet. All existing card details will be transferred to your PRESTO in Google Wallet card (card balance, transit passes, fare type, Autoload/Autorenew contracts, loyalty, and GO Default Trip settings). Existing transaction history will not be transferred.

Note: You must redeem your voucher code prior to converting from a physical card to the virtual wallet.

*New!* PRESTO in Google Wallet
With PRESTO in Google Wallet, you can tap your phone or Wear OS for unlimited bus rides. Visit the PRESTO website for instructions on how to convert a physical PRESTO card using the PRESTO app. Your physical PRESTO card will no longer work once it is converted to Google Wallet. You will not be able to revert back to a physical card once you convert to Google Wallet.

  • DO NOT convert to Google Wallet if you do not meet all of the necessary requirements. Visit the PRESTO Google Wallet FAQ section to view the requirements.

  • DO NOT convert to Google Wallet if you currently have an Android and plan on switching to an iPhone.

  • DO NOT convert your card if you are in the middle of a trip. Wait until you have completed your trip before converting your card.

The Google Wallet app must be installed on your device and signed into a Google Account to use PRESTO in Google Wallet. All existing card details will be transferred to your PRESTO in Google Wallet card (card balance, transit passes, fare type, Autoload/Autorenew contracts, loyalty, and GO Default Trip settings). Existing transaction history will not be transferred.

PRESTO in Apple Wallet

PRESTO in Apple Wallet

Note: You must redeem your voucher code prior to converting from a physical card to the virtual wallet.

*New!* PRESTO in Apple Wallet

With PRESTO in Apple Wallet, you can tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for transit. Visit the PRESTO website for instructions on how to convert a physical PRESTO card using the PRESTO app. Your physical PRESTO card will no longer work once it is converted to Apple Wallet. You will not be able to revert back to a physical card once you convert to Apple Wallet.

  • DO NOT convert to Apple Wallet if you do not meet all of the necessary device requirements.

  • DO NOT convert to Apple Wallet if you currently have an iPhone and plan on switching to an Android.

  • DO NOT convert your card if you are in the middle of a trip. Wait until you have completed your trip before converting your card.

Video Tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions:

Frequently Asked Questions: