CTA TRANSIT CARD

In 1997, the CTA introduced its new stored value "Transit Card". This plastic reusable card has a magnetic stripe, and can be read by new automatic fare collection equipment. The standard Transit Cards are mostly blue, although some Transit Cards have been issued which include advertising, or else to commemorate certain events.

Stored value cards of various types have been used for years on other transit systems, including the Washington DC Metro. But the new CTA Transit Card system is sophisticated enough to incorporate transferring, including the costs and time limits of transfers. The Transit Card works in the same electronic fare collection system originally installed for use with magnetic transfers. The equipment includes new turnstiles at rapid transit stations, and card readers attached to the bus fareboxes.

The Transit Card is available from vending machines at rapid transit stations, and from Currency Exchanges and other locations which had been selling tokens and passes. At the rapid transit stations, riders can buy a new card at any value between $1.75 and $100, or add any amount to an existing card. Increments must be in 5 cents, with no pennies accepted. At Currency Exchanges and other sales outlets, new cards are sold, pre-valued at either $10 or $20.

Until 1997, tokens were sold in quantities of 10 for $13.50. With a one way cash fare at $1.50 at the time, 10 tokens offered a total discount of $1.50. But with the introduction of the Transit Card, the price of 10 tokens increased to $15.00, eliminating the discount for tokens and encouraging riders to switch to the new Transit Card. Originally, Transit Cards were priced to include this $1.50 discount for each $13.50 spent. And vending machines were originally programmed to include this discount. But in 1997, the CTA simplified its discount formula to a $1 bonus for each $10 spent. The CTA stopped selling tokens in 1999, instead offering packs of ten Transit Cards for $15.00, as an alternative for those who had preferred individual tokens. With the 2004 fare increase, the price for a pack of ten Transit Cards rose to $17.50. And in 2008, these packs of Transit Cards were discontinued.

At the beginning of 2004, a $1.75 base fare was adopted, with transfers costing 25 cents. Transfers are valid for a second and a third ride within a 2 hour period, and the Transit Card works with this transfer policy. The first use of a Transit Card deducts $1.75 from its value. A second use within a 2 hour period deducts 25 cents, the cost of a transfer. And a third use within the 2 hour period deducts nothing.

The Transit Card can even be shared by up to 7 people. If a Transit Card is used again at the same station or on the same bus within a 15 minute period, an additional $1.75 is deducted for an additional passenger. Or 25 cents for each second use with the 2 hour transfer period. This prevents fare cheating, eliminating the possibility of two people riding for just one fare and a transfer.

A Transit Card does carry an "expiration date" approximately a year from the original sale date, presumably to insure that the magnetic card is technologically dependable. When one attempts to recharge a Transit Card at a vending machine within 60 days of its expiration date, the machine will in reality issue a new card with the correct value. One must look at the expiration date to actually realize that a new card has been issued.

REDUCED FARES

With the most recent fare increase of 2006, the reduced fare in cash was set at $1.00, with no transfers issued. But the newer Reduced Fare Permits and Student Riding Permits would be issued with magnetic stripes, enabling them to double as stored value cards which can be "charged" with vending machines. Since 2004, the stored value card reduced fares have been 85 cents plus 15 cents for a transfer.

In 1999, the CTA introduced packs of 20 Reduced Fare Transit Cards for $13.50, representing a discount on the 75 cent fare at the time. A transfer would cost 15 cents extra. The Reduced Fare Transit Cards replaced Reduced Fare tokens, which were larger than regular tokens and previously also sold in quantities of 20 for $13.50. With the 2004 fare increase, a pack of 20 Reduced Fare Transit Cards would cost $15.30, representing a discount on the new 85 cent fare. And in 2008, these packs of Reduced Fare Transit Cards were changed, to where a pack contained 2 cards, each with $8.50 value.

In 2008, legislation was passed in Illinois, requiring all public transportation systems in the state to allow senior citizens to ride for free. Initially, the RTA Reduced Fare Permit would be accepted as identification to allow for the free fare. But the RTA made plans to phase in a new "smart card" for senior citizens later in the year.

The complete Transit Card regulations were posted on CTA trains and buses shortly after adoption.

CHICAGO CARD

Also in 2004, the CTA introduced the "Chicago Card Plus", also for a $5 fee, with the fee waived in early 2004. But unlike the regular Chicago Card or Transit Card, fare value would be added by automatically charging to a major credit card, when the fare value goes below $10. Upon registering the Chicago Card Plus, a recharge value of $10, $20, $40, or $60 could be selected. The Chicago Card Plus can also be registered as a 30 day pass, automatically charging the normal $75 cost to a credit card every 30 days.

Also to encourage use of the Chicago Card and the Chicago Card Plus, the CTA discontinued the $1 bonus per $10 with Transit Cards, instead offering the bonus only for the Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus. In 2006, the bonus was revised to be $2 for every $20. The Chicago Card and the Chicago Card Plus initially were only available directly from the CTA, either in person at the CTA headquarters, by mail, by telephone, or online at www.chicago-card.com. Although the Chicago Card is now available at certain Currency Exchanges and supermarkets. A few of these outlets now have special machines, where upon payment, value can be added to a Chicago Card.