Paying for your ride
Paying for transit should be affordable and seamless. The RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace are working to make it easier and cheaper for riders to take advantage of the region’s transit system.
Paying for transit should be affordable and seamless. The RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace are working to make it easier and cheaper for riders to take advantage of the region’s transit system.
Starting in Summer 2022, the Service Boards are offering new passes that make it easier and cheaper for riders to use Metra, CTA, and Pace. Metra is now offering a special monthly pass on a three-month pilot basis. The Super Saver Monthly Pass is valid for unlimited travel on Metra lines throughout the Chicago area, on any line at any time, and is available through Metra ticket agents and on the Ventra App. Full-fare passes will cost $100, while reduced-fare passes will cost $70. Holders of the Super Saver pass can also purchase the Regional Connect Pass, offering unlimited rides on CTA and Pace, with no time or day restrictions, for an entire month. Cost to Super Saver pass holders is $30. See transitchicago.com and pacebus.com for further details.
You can pay for transit with a credit card, debit card, or your smart phone. Ventra is the region’s fare payment system, which makes it faster and easier to board and pay. Ventra Cards and passes can be added to an iPhone, Apple Watch, or to an Android device with Google Wallet. New Ventra Cards and disposable Single-Ride or 1-Day Tickets are available at every vending machine and retailer around the region. You can also buy tickets and passes at Metra station ticket booths, Metra Vending Machines, or in the Ventra App. Paying the conductor your fare on the train there often is an extra $5 service charge.
The cost of your ride will depend on day, distance, type of transit, and whether or not you qualify for reduced cost transit. Explore the information below to find out how much your ride will cost.
Cash is accepted on buses, no transfers are issued when paying in cash.
| Ventra: Full Fare | Ventra: 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 | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Pace Transfers Up to two additional rides within two hours | $0.30 | $0.20 | $0.30*** | $0.20*** |
| Pace Transfer to Premium Route Up to two additional rides within two hours | $2.80 | $1.45 | $2.80*** | $1.45*** |
*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.
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 | $5 | --- |
| 3-Day CTA Pass | $15 | --- |
| 7-Day CTA Pass | $20 | --- |
| 7-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $25 | --- |
| 30-Day Pace Pass | $60 | $30 |
| 30-Day Pace Premium Pass | $140 | $70 |
| 30-Day CTA/Pace Pass | $75 | $35 |
* 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 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, 2022.
| Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D | Zone E | Zone F | Zone G | Zone H | Zone I | Zone J | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-way | $4.00 | $4.25 | $5.50 | $6.25 | $6.75 | $7.25 | $7.75 | $8.25 | $9.00 | $9.50 |
| One-way reduced* | $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.75 | $3.00 | $3.25 | $3.50 | $3.75 | $4.00 | $4.50 | $4.75 |
| Ten-Ride | $38.00 | $40.50 | $52.25 | $59.50 | $64.25 | $69.00 | $73.75 | $78.50 | $85.50 | $90.25 |
| Ten-Ride reduced* | $19.00 | $19.00 | $26.25 | $28.50 | $31.00 | $33.25 | $35.75 | $38.00 | $41.75 | $45.25 |
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, 2022.
| Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D | Zone E | Zone F | Zone G | Zone H | Zone I | Zone J | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $116.00 | $123.25 | $159.50 | $181.25 | $195.75 | $210.25 | $224.75 | $239.25 | $261.00 | $275.50 |
| Reduced monthly* | $70.00 | $70.00 | $96.25 | $105.00 | $113.75 | $122.50 | $131.25 | $140.00 | $157.50 | $166.25 |
* Available only to riders with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits.
Visit Metra's website to view the Full Fare Chart.
The $6 Day Pass is valid for unlimited travel within one to three fare zones all day until 3 a.m. the next morning.
The $10 Day Pass is good for unlimited rides on all Metra lines all day until 3 a.m. the next morning.
Passes can be purchased only in the Ventra app and expire seven days after purchase. See Metra’s website for details.
Children pay reduced fares on CTA, Metra and Pace based on their age. On CTA, children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. On Metra and Pace, 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*** |
* Children 6 years of age and younger traveling alone pay reduced fare
** Up to two children free per adult.
*** Up to three children free per adult; on weekends children age 7-11 are free
Paying for Children with Ventra
CTA and Pace Bus: Tell the bus driver you are paying for a child before you pay. Bus drivers will press a special button to put the reader to put it in a special mode where the next fare deducted is a reduced fare.
CTA Rail: Ask the ‘L’ station attendant for assistance. The ‘L’ station attendant will touch a special card to the reader to put it in a special mode where the next fare deducted is a reduced fare. A Ventra Card can be used to pay for any combination of up to 7 riders, regardless of whether they're Full Fare or qualifying Reduced Fare riders.
Visit transitchicago.org for more information.
Metra Family Fares
The Metra Family Fares program allows up to three children, 11 years old and under, to ride for free with one fare-paying adult. This program is valid through Labor Day. See Metra.com for further details.
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 On Demand 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 Free transfer | 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on school days | Ages 7-20 with valid CTA riding permit |
| Pace | Reduced Fare | 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays | Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed with cash. |
| Metra | Half fare | 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Grade school and high school students. Valid school ID needed when purchasing and using ticket. |
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 mysouthshoreline.com for NICTD fare options and details.
