page_title: Ventra
section_title: Roll out and public reception
hierarchical_section_title: Ventra / Roll out and public reception
caption_attribution_description: English: Ventra card
context_page_description: Ventra is an electronic fare payment system for the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace, which replaced the Chicago Card and the Transit Card automated fare collection systems. Ventra launched in August 2013, with a full system transition occurring in July 2014. The payment system includes several options of payment, including a contactless smart card powered by RFID, a single day or use ticket powered by RFID, any personal bank-issued credit card or debit card that has an RFID chip, and a compatible mobile phone. Ventra is operated by Cubic Transportation Systems. A smartphone app allows users to manage fares, buy passes, and buy mobile tickets for Metra.
context_section_description: Residents and local media were critical of the lack of communication from the CTA regarding this new payment system, but CTA officials said they planned to do extensive public outreach before the new system was activated.
  Post-activation, users have reported cards taking as long as five weeks to arrive in the mail, cards that did not work even after payments were applied, issues activating cards, and calling the Ventra customer service line and waiting on hold for half an hour or more—or being disconnected while waiting on hold. 
  In response to issues during the roll out of Ventra the CTA announced on October 9, 2013, that it would reinstate the ability to add money to the old fare options until issues with the roll out were corrected. 
  At the time CTA also announced that the December 15, 2013 deadline for the complete transition was still in effect.
  A Ventra system outage that occurred during rush hour on November 13, 2013 required the CTA to waive fares for an estimated 15,000 rides, with passengers boarding trains by showing their Ventra cards to station attendants. The outage was due to a back-office server issue at the contractor's office. The CTA stated that it would be seeking payment for the lost revenue from Cubic at a value of $33,750.
  The final transition to Ventra was postponed indefinitely in early November, from the original December 15, 2013, date, due to the persistent issues with the roll out. In early 2014, CTA and Pace both announced plans to resume the final rollout, with a full transition to Ventra expected by July 2014.
  The CTA stated in early November 2013 that no payments would be made to Cubic until customer service line wait times are under five minutes, transactions at entry take less than 2.5 seconds for 99% of transactions, and that 99% of the new equipment is functioning.
caption: Current iteration of a Ventra card
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone SE", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "13.0", "Image DateTime": "2019:07:12 08:53:34", "Image ExifOffset": "180", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/30", "EXIF FNumber": "11/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "200", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0231", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2019:07:12 08:53:34", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2019:07:12 08:53:34", "EXIF OffsetTime": "-05:00", "EXIF OffsetTimeOriginal": "-05:00", "EXIF OffsetTimeDigitized": "-05:00", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "84572/17235", "EXIF ApertureValue": "177537/78038", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "95386/52353", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "83/20", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[2015, 1511, 2217, 1330]", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "131", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "131", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "2536", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "3767", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "29", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[2175733/524273, 2175733/524273, 11/5, 11/5]", "EXIF LensMake": "Apple", "EXIF LensModel": "iPhone SE back camera 4.15mm f/2.2"}