10/16/07
The Chicago Transit Board has extended the fee waiver period to purchase Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus to December 31, 2007. Extending the fee waiver to the end of the year will allow customers additional time to switch to electronic fare media prior to upcoming fare increases planned for November 4, 2007, and January 6, 2008.
Under both fare structure scenarios Chicago Card customers will experience less of an increase than customers using cash or magnetic strip Transit Cards.
On November 4, 2007, fares for individual rides will increase from 25 cents to $1, depending on the time and mode of travel:
- Bus fares will rise to $2 (Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus or Transit Card) or $2.50 (cash).
- Rail fares will rise to $2 (Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus) or $2.50 off-peak and $3 peak (Transit Cards or cash). Peak periods are 6:30-9:30 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. on weekdays.
- Transfers will remain the same at 25 cents. Transfers are available only to customers paying fares with Transit Cards or Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus.
- Fares for reduced fare customers, which include seniors and persons with disabilities, will not change.
On January 6, 2008, fares for individual rides will increase at least 25 cents depending on the time and mode of travel:
- Bus fares will rise to $2.25 (Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus or Transit Card) or $2.75 (cash).
- Rail fares will rise to $2.25 (Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus) or $2.75 off-peak (Transit Cards or cash). Rail fares during peak periods will increase to $2.50 (Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus) or $3.25 (Transit Cards or cash). Peak periods are 6:30-9:30 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. on weekdays.
- Transfers will remain the same at 25 cents. Transfers are available only to customers paying fares with Transit Cards or Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus.
- Fares for reduced fare customers, which include seniors and persons with disabilities, will not change.
Value is stored on a Chicago Card just as it is on a magnetic strip Transit Card, but the Chicago Card 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 use the ?Touch N Go? pads on bus fareboxes and rail turnstiles, and go.
Customers can purchase the cards at more than 200 non-CTA outlets such as currency exchanges, Jewel-Osco, CVS and Dominick's Finer Food stores that already provide other types of CTA fare media. Customers also may purchase fare media at CTA's main office at 567 West Lake Street from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., via mail, online at CTA's web site or by calling CTA Customer Service at 1-888 YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282).
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.
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