5/16/06
Time is running out to receive a free Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus, the CTA's high tech farecard options. In March, the Chicago Transit Board voted to extend the fee waiver period two months to May 31. With reconstruction of the Dan Ryan Expressway well underway, motorists are urged to take public transit as an alternative to driving and using either of the Chicago Card options makes taking public transit even more affordable and convenient.
Since the fee waiver was implemented December 1, more than 250,000 Chicago Card Plus and Chicago Cards have been distributed to customers.
Value is stored on a Chicago Card, just as it is on a magnetic strip transit card, but it offers additional features such as the option of fare balance protection and faster boarding. The Chicago Card, and its account-based counterpart Chicago Card Plus, resemble credit cards and enable customers to simply touch the cards against targets on bus fareboxes and rail turnstiles, and go. The extra seconds saved for each customer make travel even more efficient as those seconds add up and shave time off the boarding process for everyone.
Information on where to purchase CTA fare media and where customers may add value to Chicago Cards is available on the fares page of CTA's web site at www.transitchicago.com. Trip planning information, Park & Ride locations and rates, and information explaining CTA bus and rail fares and the use of fare media are also available online.
Currently more than 200 non-CTA outlets such as Currency Exchanges, Jewel-Osco and Dominick's Finer Food stores that already provide other types of CTA fare media also offer Chicago Cards. Customers may also purchase fare media at CTA's main office at 567 West Lake Street from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., via mail, online at CTA's web site or by calling CTA Customer Service at 1-888-968-7282 (1-888 YOUR CTA).
# # #