Find free movies, concerts, lectures, plus discounts on entertainment and events in Chicago. The Regional Connect Pass is exclusive to Metra Monthly Pass holders, and provides unlimited rides on CTA and Pace service all month long with no date and time restrictions. They do, however, connect the city via above-ground, street-level, and subway trains, and serve 145 rail stations all over town. Amsterdam Instead, my wife has to download the app herself to get her own daily pass. The Regional Connect Pass replaces the Metra Link-Up Pass and Pace PlusBus Pass and will be available for purchase in the Ventra app starting June 20, 2022. If you're traveling with other people, Ventra Cards can be used for up to seven people at once.

Chicagos streets are organized on a grid system. Chicago on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Chicago is a city made for cycling. Find all the features you're used to on the Ventra website and more, including mobile ticketing for Metra trains!With the Ventra app, you can: Check your balance and available passes in your Ventra Card's transit account. Instantly load value or passes to your Ventra Card's transit account. Switch autoload for transit value or passes on and off. Buy and use Metra mobile tickets to ride any Metra train. Use transit value you've loaded to buy a Metra ticket. Get real-time account notifications so you know when it's time to load more fare or buy more tickets. Get real-time arrival/departure information from CTA, Metra and Pace all in one appby picking a stop, using favorites or looking at service near where you're standing. Value can be added at vending machines located at CTA rail stations. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. It's easy to bring your bike on buses and trains. When you touch your card, you'll hear a sound that indicates the card was read, and then a second sound along with a screen that tells you to "Go"or "Stop.". I was trying to plan a weekend trip for my family and wasnt sure the most effective way to be able to get around.

We recommend downloading the Google Maps app on your smartphone. Simplytouch your card or ticket to the lower part of the Ventra reader on top of train station turnstiles and on buses. The nations second largest public transportation system, the CTA operates Chicagos eight L train lines and 129 bus routes. Visit the RTA's Web siteor call (312) 913-3110 to apply for the RTA Reduced Fare Permit. Non-CPSschools can apply by mail:Information for schools/administrators. Cash can be used directly on buses and can be used at all Ventra vending machines toadd value or passes toVentra Cards or to buy disposable Ventra Tickets. There are various CTA Fares. Transfer is not available when paying in cash on the bus. London All train stations have a Ventra machine for purchasing these passes located just beside the entrance gates. Learn more atLearn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. This is probably the easiest way to purchase tickets or passes for Metra Commuter Rails, and it's also one of the safest options. Sometimes the fastest way from one destination to another is by bus. Left and right arrows move through main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers. If the weather is nice, you may consider using the convenient bike share system, Divvy. Find out how to use racks on buses and more. Find free days at museums, plus free and discount special events and Chicago attraction discounts. You can also use cash to load value or passes at more than 1,000 Ventra retailers. Youll notice a magnified portion of the map called The Loop. You'll get interesting commentary on the city and simple routes to keep up with. Addresses are relative to the distance from this point, with eight blocks to every mile.

Whether you're flying to O'Hare or Midway, the 'L' is the easy way to/from downtown Chicago. It limits the use of affiliate links to the types of deals routinely posted on the site. Unlike the old system, Ventra is based on open payment standards and can accept contactless cards issued by banks for payment, too. Berlin Ventra readers can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices, too! On buses, you pay as you enter the bus. These cards can be purchased at all subway stations for a single ride, or re-loadable pass.

All Medicare cardholders are eligible to apply for the RTA Reduced Fare Permit. Learn More. Find free movies concerts festivals and more free things to do in Chicago, whether you're a resident or a visitor. Find Chicago Water Taxi and Shoreline Water Taxi fares and route maps. The Blue Line arrives/departs from OHare Airport and enters the Loop, making it the most convenient way to get to your Downtown Hotel without needing to transfer. Learn more about how to get and useStudent Ventra Cards.

Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links.

Vending machines accept one, two, five, ten, and twenty-dollar bills, and all coins except pennies and half dollars. hundreds of Ventra retailers all around town. Find CTA fares, card retailers, maps, schedules, and train trackers, Interactive map of public parking facilities.

In addition to hailing taxis throughout the city, you can e-hail and e-pay with CHICABS-approved apps ARRO and CURB. The high-speed Metra commuter train can take you from the downtown area to any of the surrounding suburbs quickly and safely. From your seat on the train, you can see the beautiful lakefront, ride pass the many museums, zoos, and sporting events, and even stop along the way to take in some of the cultural sites of the city.

Buses that run late night will have an Owl symbol at their bus stop. Cards are issued by MetaBank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated.

Pay-as-you-go, direct contactless payments can be used to pay only for Full and Reduced fares New Orleans Lo and behold, as soon as the card was added my physical card quit working. Ride CTA, Metra & Pace with Ventra: Manage your fares, buy Metra mobile tickets, get arrivals and add your Ventra Card for riding CTA and Pace to iPhone and Apple Wallet.Use transit in and around all of Chicago: It's easy to manage and pay your fare on CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains with the Ventra app. NOTE: NO credit card payments and NO change from the driver on buses. Get all of your passes, tickets, cards, and more in one place. Were doing everything we can to welcome customers back to a healthy and comfortable commute. Note that passes only cover the first rider on your card, as needed, so be sure to load value to cover the fares of anyone else you wish to pay for.

The Red Line operates at all times, every day. The conductor won't need to touch your phone, so this method of payment is essentially contactless! At allCTA 'L' stations, you can buy a new Ventra Card (effectively free, once registered) ordisposable, Ventra Tickets using bills and coins at vending machines. The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Cash vs Credit: While buses will take cash (exact change needed), in order to ride a train/subway you will need a Ventra ticket. TIP: If you'd rather not deal with figuring out Chicago's timetables and maps, why not utilize a hop-on-hop-off bus tour? FREE TOURS BY FOOT IS THE ORIGINAL PAY-WHAT-YOU-LIKE WALKING TOUR. The Ventra machines are located at all train stations and accept cash or credit card. Get more information about extended hours of service.

'L' train fare from O'Hare Or, with the new Ventra app, add a Ventra Card to Google Pay, iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for rides with transit value and passes, To learn more about using mobile wallets with Ventra click here, Faster navigation, a simplified home screen and user-friendly design, Add a Ventra Cardto Google Pay or your iPhone and Apple Watch, Click here to learn more about what the Ventra App has to offer, Pay-as-you-go without having to create a Transit Account

While the Ventra Cards aren't technically contactless, there is one way to pay for fare which won't require you to make contact with anyone else. Chicago's water taxi system is another convenient way to get around and includes docks close to major attractions like the Navy Pierand Museum Campus, where you can find The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. We lowered pass prices and eliminated transfer fees starting in autumn of 2021. I was able to purchase Metra tickets for the whole party easily through the app and it works seamlessly. Philadelphia effective November 21, 2021 (updated July 1, 2022). Copyright 2022 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Learn more.

New York City

Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

** Available only to riders with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits

Promoting a healthier lifestyle through total wellness. Destinations include Chinatown, Museum Campus, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue, Union Station, and Navy Pier. Learning to ride transit is as easy as 1-2-3 with our how-to guides. Children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. If you use the new Ventra App, you can present your digital pass to the driver and get on board that way. (Tip: Never attach any cards that might be used for payment to your phone to then touch your phone when you board, such as bankcards with the contactlesssymbol, or Ventra Cards or Tickets from a vending machine. Here are some useful resources and apps: Check out road rules here.

Join over 7,100+ other subscribers and get the FREE daily email update from Chicago on the Cheap. Seniors, aged 65 or older: If you are an Illinois resident, and currently enrolled in the Illinois Department on Agings Benefit Access Program, you are eligible for free transit on fixed routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace. It seems like if linking to Apple wallet is going to have such an effect that ventra should at least warn you before you do it (how hard is it to program a pop up?). The Red Line train is one of the most popular and frequent trains, as it runs north and south through Downtown along the coast. Tip: Use an unlimited pass to board at O'Hare for no additional charge. 2022 Chicago on the Cheap.

For tourists visiting the city the 495 miles of commuter rails servicing 241 different stations throughout the city can take you to all sorts of attractions Chicago has to offer. (. Left and right arrows move through main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers.

You can watch in real-time as you move toward your destination. See also: Info for parents with children.

Learn how we are rebuilding century-old Red and Purple line track structure and stations as part of the largest transit investment in CTA history. Mel splits her time between Chicago and Los Angeles (#theatrelife) and leads tours and manages both cities! Chicago is an extremely walkable city, from our downtown to our vibrant neighborhoods. Active U.S. military personnel in full uniform and presenting their United States Armed Forces ID may ride free on CTA buses and trains. This has made my attempt at convenience very inconvenient (it takes more time to open your phone then just pull put a card).

By visiting ChooseChicago.com, you are consenting to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. RTAReduced Fare Permits Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Find CTA fares, card retailers, maps, schedules, and train trackers. The CTAU-Passfor college/university students, however,is available through participating institutions.

This mobile ticketing option is available on most android phones, iPhones, and even the Apple Watch. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Learn about Reduced Fare & Free Ride Programs, here. Rome Download your free Lyft and/or Uber app for on-demand ridesharing throughout the city. You'll need your permit to ride at a reduced fare.

We call it the Lbecause it is short for elevated.. To make sure yourcard is read properly by the reader, touch it flat against the reader. 2022 Choose Chicago. Two lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago OHare International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. Taking your card out makes sure that the payment method you intended to use covers every part of your trip. Users simply pick up a bike from a self-service docking station and return it to a station near their destination. For seniors, Medicare recipients and people with disabilities. You can even load multiple passes, so you have a new one ready to go when one you're using runs out. The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands.

Buses accept $1 bills andmost coins (no half-dollars).

Charleston I even tried disconnecting the card from my wallet, and the physical card still didn't work.

Pay-as-you-go using payment cards in Apple Payand Google Pay without having to create a Transit Account.

Find the fare that suits you.

Nashville Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. Mel loves to be a tourist in her own city. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis. Annual awards from American Public Transportation Association recognize CTA and President Carter. However, I recently decided to add my ventra card to my apple wallet, just in case I ever forgot my physical card. To avoid "card clash" or accidentally offering a different card for payment, simply take your Ventra Card out of your wallet when you board.

Fares and passes can also be purchased on the Ventra App, allowing you to save time and wallet space. You can also load transit value or a Pace pass onto a Military Service Pass to use it to ride on Pace buses. The only reason Im giving 2 stars and not 1 is because the payment features reliably work, but its very frustrating to have to use two apps for transit.

The majority of our train system is elevated above ground which means it is great to ride to enjoy the view of the city.

Find Divvy locations and rates. The Orange Line arrives/departs from Midway Airport and enters the Loop, making it the most convenient way to get to your Downtown Hotel without needing to transfer. That's how the bills get paid! The Blue Line operates at all times, every day.

(Opens in a new window). There are over 200 miles of protected bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, conventional bike lanes, dashed/advisory lanes, marked shared lanes, and neighborhood bike routes throughout the city.

If you don't have a farecard, we also accept cash and coins. Lisbon

The trip tools tab meant to give upcoming buses/train arrival times is consistently in error and shows no information at all.

I was able to purchase a one day CTA pass for myself and all I had to do is simply set my phone next to the turnstiles and it worked perfectly letting me through. From Chicago public transit to walking the citys many neighborhoods, heres your A to Z for getting from A to B. The prices listed below are the same on the Ventra App as they are for traditional tickets and passes. Only feedback I would give is that it would be nice if I could combine passes for several people to get through the turnstiles.

Reading all of the reviews online I definitely took more than a few pauses before downloading this app. The Blue Line travels West to popular neighborhoods such as Wicker Park/Bucktown, and North to OHare Airport.

Click the "Get Started Online" button below to purchase fare cards online at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) website. So, an address of 3600 N. Clark St. means that it is 36 blocks north of Madison Street. Boston Reduced fares are offered only to those customers who areeligible. Promoting a healthier lifestyle through total wellness. It would have made it easier when travelling with my wife and kids. Our accessibility guide has details on getting around Chicago by train, bus, taxi, and more for those with disabilities and/or mobility devices.

Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap. The State and Madison intersection in downtown Chicago marks the starting point of Chicagos grid system.

All transit (subway trains, buses, Metra Trains) operate through one payment method, called a Ventra Card.

This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience, which you consent to by clicking Got It. Learn more about how we handle your personal data and rights by reviewing our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. These fun tours provide commentary about Chicago, and some of them include meals.

Dubai Would encourage people in the future that are visiting for a weekend to check it out. All rights reserved.Privacy policy | Terms of use | Sitemap.

Active U.S. military personnel and qualifying disabled veterans with a Military Service Pass may ride free on CTA buses and trains. Tip: Download the Ventra app to track arrival/departure times for CTA buses and L trains, and to reload your balance on the go. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

Convenient CTA bus routes travel throughout the city, with stops every few blocks. You can buy a new, reloadable Ventra Card from any 'L' station or over-the-counter at hundreds of Ventra retailers all around town (drugstores, neighborhood convenience stores and gas stations, currency exchanges, etc.).

Pay cash for single trip bus rides or purchase a reloadable Ventra Transit Card or Unlimited Ride Pass for both travel by L train and bus.

Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. * Applies at all train stations except OHare (where a premium fare applies) The Ventra App is free and gives you fast/easy access to Transit Tracker to see the up to the minute schedule of CTA subway L trains, buses, and Metra Trains. Most Reduced Fare Permits are for the use of one person, only. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. The Ventra App also includes tools such as up-to-date arrival and departure information and a trip planner.

Getting around Chicago on public transit is easy for visitors and tourists, and can really save you money as you explore the Windy City. Reduced Fare Permit entitles the holder to travel at reduced fares on CTA,Pace and Metra.

Miami The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Divvy, Chicagos bike-share program, offers over 580 stations and 5,800 bikes across the city, available for rent 24/7. Fare you load to your Ventra Card's transit account can be seen and managed at vending machines, online, in the Ventra app and by phone. to the Ventra fare reader.

Ventra Cards are used with transit value and passes for regular fares and transfers.

Download the Ventra app to load an existing Ventra Card you have or add a new one to your device. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. A 24-Hour Pass costs just $15 and offers unlimited 3-hour rides. https://tripplanner.rtachicago.org/ccg3/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2, CTA Service Challengesand What Were Doing to Make Your Commute Better. On the bus, you can payfor a one-wayfare in cash. Note:College students do not qualify for the Student Reduced Fare.

Useful! Traveling with a large group or are simply looking to travel in style? Click to go to the Chicago Transit Authority homepage, Click to search Chicago Transit Authority. The map can be intimidating, but if we look at it one step at a time, it is actually pretty easy to track: Chicago uses a color-coded Rail (L) train system that operates on street-level, underground, and on an elevated track. Here is a list of free apps we recommend you download during your stay in Chicago to help you get around the city easily.

Several lines offer Night Owl service, running until 2 a.m. or later. This is separate from the CTA and your Ventra card, but well worth mentioning when discussing how to get around the city. Thanks for your support! Reduced Fare Permits can store value to pay fares on CTAand Pace. The high-speed Metra commuter rail train connects outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago, and is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city. You can even use the fare value from your Ventra transit accounts to buy mobile tickets for riding Metra trains right in the app.

good for up to 3 rides within 2 hours of use, Learn more about using passes with Ventra. Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links. Trains coming from outside the city enter Downtown Chicagos Loop, and then circle back out to cover the rest of the city in a loop pattern. Learn more about how to pay for others traveling with you on the Ventra website. All Ventra Vending Machines also allow you to load value and unlimited ride passes to Ventra Cards with either cash or cards. You can buy disposable paper Single-Ride and 1-Day tickets at vending machines (located in every 'L' station).

Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links. This app has always worked fairly well for me (the bus/train times are usually far more accurate than google maps).

Turns out it was actually pretty easy.

After spending some time to learn about the CTA system, I decided to download the app. Whenever you pay, take out and touchonlyyour desired payment method (card, ticket, mobile device, etc.) If you're just looking for an excuse to get out on the water, why not try a river boat tour or cruise?

All you need to do is show the ticket on your phone to the conductor when asked. The fact that they essentially just made my card useless without my knowing such a thing would happen is shady as well as inconvenient (and totally unnecessary). Ventra readers can accept payments from many different card/payment types. Madison Street divides the city north and south, while State Street divides it east and west. To obtain a Military Service Pass, visit service center on select days of the month. You can get unlimited ride passes, which are good for unlimited rides for one person, anywhere fare is sold. Some riders, such as students and people with disabilities,qualify for reduced fares. Our latest update introduces the new Regional Connect Pass. Student Ventra Cards are required to get the Student Reduced Fare on CTA.

Its important to compare a base fare/single ride cost to the cost of the passes, to determine which option is right for you. The following data may be collected and linked to your identity: The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity: Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. I understand if there are some daily commuters that have some problems with the app about transferring over to the Apple wallet, but for me it was a pretty smooth process. If you are an Illinois resident, and currently enrolled in the Illinois Department on Agings Benefit Access Program as a person with a disability, you are eligible for free transit on fixed routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and are an important tool for ending the global pandemic. Students 20 &younger are eligible with a valid Student Ventra Card.

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Unlike some map applications, this one tells you which bus or train line to get on, as well as the arrival/departure times and the name of your stop. Add passes and transit value at Ventra Vending Machines or participating Ventra Retail Locations, To learn more about using a contactless bankcard for payments, click here, This symbol means your card is contactless, Eligible CTA and Pace customers will continue to receive a reduced fare, Reduced fare customers, including seniors and students, will be provided with a new hard plastic card that works on the Ventra System, Ventra Customer Service Center: