Transit fares based on distance for travel across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA).

Metrolinx has been looking at the idea of charging commuters based on how far they ride be it on GO train, bus, subway or streetcar.

In fact the transportation agency was expected to make a recommendation this past fall but the delay’s the result of more time needed for research.

This Friday the fare-by-distance model’s coming up for discussion at a Metrolinx board meeting.

The three other possibilities include:

–modifying the current fare system to address 905 commuters who pay twice when transferring

–a new zone-based system, where the more zone you cross, the higher the fare

–and a hybrid set up with a flat fare for local travel and fare-by-distance for rapid transit and regional travel.

A spokesperson for Metrolinx says a decision is still a ways off as there’s no proposal for how much a fare-by-distance model would cost.

”We have no desire to increase people’s commuting costs,” says spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins. ”What we want to do is make it more seamless for them.”