To help customers whose cards are expiring, Ventra will continue to offer card replacements at select CTA stations, CTA headquarters and the CTA Community Connection bus
Chicago – To assist transit customers whose Ventra Cards are expiring soon, Ventra Mobile Help Desks have been set up at select CTA rail stations and will operate through Friday, Jan. 12 to help customers replace expiring Ventra cards and answer other Ventra-related questions. The first of the original Ventra cards issued in 2013, when the Ventra system first launched, started expiring in December 2017, with cards expiring monthly through 2022.
Timed with the expiration of original Ventra Cards, the CTA last month launched a newly designed, transit-only Ventra Card that has the same functionality and benefits Ventra customers are accustomed to. The cards are now available for purchase at vending machines, retailers and online.
Ventra began setting up Mobile Help Desk locations at the first of the year, and based on positive customer response will continue to provide the convenient locations for another week.
To make it as easy as possible for customers, there are a number of ways transit customers can obtain new Ventra Cards.
Free replacement cards for registered Ventra Cards
Customers who previously registered their Ventra Cards online at ventrachicago.com, which includes providing mailing and email addresses, receive email notifications two months before their cards expire.
The notifications encourage customers to make sure their address on file is current so they can get their free replacement card in the mail. Any existing balance on their old card is automatically transferred to their new card upon activating the new card.
Unregistered Ventra Cards
For customers who purchased Ventra cards from vending machines or retailers and did not register online, they can do the following:
- Spending down their balance prior to expiration, and then purchase a new Ventra card.
- Visit one of the Ventra Mobile Help Desks at select CTA rail stations (available through Friday, Jan. 12) or the CTA Community Connection Bus to have existing balances transferred to a new card.
- Visit the Ventra Customer Service Center at CTA headquarters, 567 W. Lake (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to have existing balances transferred to a new card.
Ventra Mobile Help Desk Locations Available Monday, Jan. 8 thru Friday, Jan. 12:
For customers who would like to obtain new cards at Ventra Mobile Help Desk locations, they can visit any of the sites below. These Ventra Mobile Help Desks will be available Monday, Jan. 8 until Friday, Jan. 12 to assist customers with replacing expiring cards, transferring balances to new cards and answering general Ventra questions.
Morning locations 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Roosevelt
- Belmont Red/Purple/Brown lines
- Ashland Green/Pink lines
- Garfield Green Line
- Midway Orange Line (on the CTA Community Connection bus)
Afternoon location 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Lake Red Line (subway)
- Clark/Lake (Thompson Center)
- Chicago Red Line
- Ashland Green/Pink lines
- 95th Red Line (on the CTA Community Connection bus)
Customers can also visit the Ventra Customer Service Center at CTA headquarters, 567 W. Lake (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Learn more at ventrachicago.com/expires or by calling Ventra Customer Service at 877.NOW.VENTRA (877.669.8368).
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