C T A Magnetic
Student Riding Permit

May 2008

How the Magnetic Student Riding Permit Works
The Permit is valid Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Use is limited to full-time students, 
ages 12-20, for trips to and from regular day classes (including work-study programs and on-campus 
extracurricular activities) at a public, parochial or private elementary or high school, on days when 
school is in session, during the period of validity printed on the permit.


C T A’s rechargeable Magnetic Student Riding Permit stores cash value, and then deducts reduced fares 
and transfers as shown: 
	One Ride	85¢
	First Transfer Use	15¢ 
	(within two hours of initial ride)
	Second Transfer Use	FREE 
	(within two hours of initial ride)

Card Benefits
• 	Easy to handle—no more fumbling with coins.
• 	Speeds boarding—on C T A buses and at rail stations.
• 	Stores your fare—so it’s there when you need it.
• 	Easy to use—deducts exact fares and transfers.
• 	Fits your budget—add value whenever you want.
• 	Rechargeable—recharge at any C T A Transit Card or C T A Express vending machine.

At Rail Stations
•	Insert the Permit into the turnstile farecard slot with the magnetic stripe facing you. 
•	The turnstile automatically deducts the reduced fare or transfer. Your permit’s remaining value will appear in the display windoW 	
•	The green “ENTER” light goes on. Take your permit and go through the turnstile.


On Buses
• When boarding the bus, make sure you have enough value on your permit. If not, show your permit to the bus operator and deposit the correct amount into the farebox.
• If you have enough value, insert your permit into the farecard slot on the right side of the farebox. Make sure the magnetic stripe is facing you.


How to Obtain the Magnetic Student Permit
1.	Students may contact their school’s permit administrator for an application. 
2.	Applications are also available at the C T A Sales Center, 5 6 7 West Lake Street (Chicago), 2nd floor. The application requires a $2 fee (Summer Permit) or $5 fee (Fall Permit). 
        Mail completed application to Chicago Transit Authority, Treasury/Finance, Attn: Student Permits, 9 0 1 West Division Street, Chicago, IL the zipcode is 6 0 6 22 dash 4 2 1 6. Once the application is processed, 
        the magnetic permit will be mailed directly to your school’s permit administrator for distribution. 

How to Obtain a Replacement
•	A defective magnetic permit can only be replaced in 
person at C T A’s Sales Center, 5 6 7 West Lake Street (Chicago), 2nd floor. 
        A replacement permit will be issued at the time the defective permit is brought in for exchange.
•	A lost or stolen magnetic permit may be replaced. The replacement will be processed through the mail and requires an application 
        and a $2 fee (Summer Permit), or $5 fee (Fall Permit) to be mailed to the Chicago Transit Authority, 
        Treasury/Finance, Attn: Student Permits, 9 0 1 West Division Street, Chicago, IL the zipcode is 6 0 6 22 dash 4 2 1 6. 
        Please allow 10 days for delivery of the replacement permit. 
        Questions? Call the C T A Student Permit Section at 3 1 2 9 3 2 2 9 2 3 or 3 1 2 9 3 2 2 9 2 6, 
        Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call C T A Customer Service at 1 8 8 8 YOUR C T A (1 8 8 8 9 6 8 7 2 8 2)  
        T T Y Number is: (1 8 8 8 2 8 2 8 8 9 1), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Conditions 
The conditions for use are also printed on the back of the Magnetic Student Riding Permit. 
•	The stored-value permit is valid on C T A and Pace (except Pace Route 8 5 5) and cannot be shared.
•	C T A reserves the right to require the student to show valid school identification upon presentation of 
        the permit. 
•	Value can be added at C T A Transit Card and C T A Express vending machines only. 
•	Rail station turnstiles and bus fareboxes automatically deduct fares and transfers. 
•	Bus fareboxes, rail station turnstiles, and farecard vending machines show remaining value and transfers. 
•	Permit values cannot be combined to pay fares. 
•	The Permit will not be valid on days when school is not in session and on the following holidays: Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day through New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Memorial Day. 
•	Permits cannot be replaced, refunded or redeemed for cash. 
•	BUS ONLY: If permit contains insufficient value to pay for transfer charge on 2nd ride, pay transfer 
        charge in coins.