About RTA Paying for Your Ride VentraTM is the region's fare payment system. VentraTM Transit Accounts can be loaded with value and passes using the Ventra App, cash, coins or credit/debit card at any vending machine. You can buy new VentraTM Cards and disposable Single-Ride or 1-Day Tickets from every vending machine and retailers around the region. You can load transit value (for regular fares) using cash, credit/debit cards at VentraTM . retailers; and using credit/debit cards with the Ventra App, online and by phone. Find a VentraTM retailer near you. Fares can also be paid using a mobile Pay app or contactless credit/debit card. Transfers are the same price as with Ventra Cards. Metra calculates fare on distance, using a zone system. Check your zone on Metra's website to calculate the cost of your trip. You can buy tickets and passes using the Ventra App at Metra station ticket booths, or on the train and pay the conductor for your fare (for an extra $5 service charge, except from a station at which no ticket agent or vending machine is available). CTA and Pace Cash is accepted on buses, no transfers are issued when paying in cash. Ventra Cash or Contactless Full Fare Reduced Fare** Cash Fare Cash Reduced** CTA "L" train fare $2.50* $1.25 $2.50* $1.25* CTA Bus fare $2.25 $1.10 $2.50 $1.25 Pace Bus fare $2.00 $1.00 $2.25 $1.10 Pace Premium Bus Fare $4.50 $2.25 $4.50 $2.25 CTA Transfers Up to two additional rides within two hours $0.25 $0.15 $0.25*** $0.15*** Pace Transfers Up to two additional rides within two hours $0.30 $0.20 $0.30*** $0.20*** *Load cash at ‘L’ stations onto a Ventra Card, personal contactless bankcard, or buy a Single-Ride ticket. Single-Ride Ventra Tickets cost $3, which provides up to 2 transfers within 2 hours and includes a limited-use media fee. Buy new Ventra Cards or Tickets at any Ventra Vending Machine. A special $5 fare applies when boarding the CTA Blue Line at O’Hare paying transit value or buying a Single-Ride Ticket (the special fare does not apply when using a pass to ride). ** Passengers with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits and children ages 7 to 11. Children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. Call the RTA at 312-913-3110 for more information about RTA Reduced Fare permits. *** Transfer only available when paying with mobile pay or contactless card. Visit transitchicago.com for CTA fare details. Visit pacebus.com for Pace fare details. Metra Metra Mobile Tickets and Passes can be purchased using the Ventra App. fares are based on distance traveled. The fare schedule below is for fares based on travel to/from downtown Chicago (Zone A). Under the Fair Transit South Cook pilot, all riders on the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines will be charged Metra’s reduced fare rates for all tickets. Effective February 1, 2018. ZONE A ZONE B ZONE C ZONE D ZONE E ZONE F One-way $4.00 $4.25 $5.50 $6.25 $6.75 $7.25 One-way reduced* $2.00 $2.00 $2.75 $3.00 $3.25 $3.50 Ten-Ride $38.00 $40.50 $52.25 $59.50 $64.25 $69.00 Ten-Ride reduced* $19.00 $19.00 $26.25 $28.50 $31.00 $33.25 ZONE G ZONE H ZONE I ZONE J ZONE K ZONE M One-way $7.75 $8.25 $9.00 $9.50 $10.00 $11.00 One-way reduced* $3.75 $4.00 $4.50 $4.75 $5.00 $5.50 Ten-Ride $73.75 $78.50 $85.50 $90.25 $95.00 $104.50 Ten-Ride reduced* $35.75 $38.00 $41.75 $45.25 $47.50 $52.25 * Available only to riders with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits. Children Children pay reduced fares on CTA, Metra and Pace based on their age. Children under the age of 7 are not permitted to travel without a fare paying customer. Ages 7-11 Under 7 CTA Reduced Fare Free with fare-paying customer Pace Reduced Fare Free with fare-paying adult* Metra Half Fare Free with fare-paying adult** * Up to two children free per adult. ** Up to three children free per adult. Students CTA operates the Student Reduced Fare programs for children ages 7-20. Students obtain permits through their schools or on the CTA website. Many college and universities participate in the U-Pass program, which provides unlimited rides to full-time students. Find out if your school participates here. Pace student reduced fares are valid weekdays for student travel to and from school activities. Pace provides the Campus Connection Pass for college students. This pass is valid for unlimited rides on Pace regular fixed route buses and Call-n-Rides every day of the week at any time of the day. Additional Pace student fare information is available on the Pace website. Metra allows full-time students enrolled in an accredited grade school or high school to purchase a reduced one-way, 10-ride or monthly pass. Information on purchasing student tickets is available on the Metra website. Fare Valid Times Eligibility CTA $0.75 $0.15 transfer 5:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. School Days Ages 7-20 with valid CTA Riding Permit Pace Reduced Fare 5:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Weekdays Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed with cash. Metra Half Fare 5:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed when purchasing and using ticket. CTA and Pace Passes Passes offer unlimited rides on CTA and/or Pace when activated with first use. Loaded onto a transit account or contactless bankcard. Passes Full Reduced* 1-Day CTA Pass $10 --- 3-Day CTA Pass $20 --- 7-Day CTA Pass $28 --- 7-Day CTA/Pace Pass $33 --- 30-Day Pace Pass $60 $30 30-Day Pace Premium Pass $140 $70 30-Day CTA/Pace Pass $105 $50 * Available only to riders with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits. Visit transitchicago.com for CTA fare details. Visit pacebus.com for Pace fare details. Metra Passes Metra offers Monthly Unlimited Ride Passes. The schedule below is for price of a monthly pass based on travel to/from downtown Chicago (Zone A). Under the Fair Transit South Cook pilot, all riders on the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines will be charged Metra’s reduced fare rates for all tickets. Effective February 1, 2018. ZONE A ZONE B ZONE C ZONE D ZONE E ZONE F Monthly $116.00 $123.25 $159.50 $181.25 $195.75 $210.25 Reduced monthly* $70.00 $70.00 $96.25 $105.00 $113.75 $122.50 ZONE G ZONE H ZONE I ZONE J ZONE K ZONE M Monthly $224.75 $239.25 $261.00 $275.50 $290.00 $319.00 Reduced monthly* $131.25 $140.00 $157.50 $166.25 $175.00 $192.50 * Available only to riders with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits. Metra Weekend Passes The $7 Saturday or Sunday Day Pass is good for unlimited rides on either Saturday or Sunday. In addition, the $10 Weekend Pass (available on the Ventra app only) is good for unlimited rides on both weekend days. Either pass can be used in conjunction with Metra's Family Fares. Not valid for travel on the South Shore (NICTD). Metra Connecting Services Passes Metra montly pass holders can purchase passes to travel on connecting CTA and Pace services. Visit metrarail.com for more information. Pass Service Use Cost** Link-Up CTA and Pace $55.00 PlusBus Pace $30.00 ** Connecting Services Passes are only available with the purchase of Metra Monthly Pass. NICTD (South Shore Line) South Shore Line fares are based on distance traveled. There are four basic ticket types: One-Way, 10-Ride, 25-Ride, and Monthly tickets. Reduced Fares are available for Senior Citizens and Customers with Disabilities. Please note that Metra Tickets and Passes are not valid on South Shore Line trains. Visit nictd.com for NICTD fare options and details. 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