Chicago Transit Authority Rolls Out Prepaid Cards

This month marks the debut of the Chicago Transit Authority's stored value transit cards, which now are being sold at many stations and will be available at all elevated and underground stations by mid-July. In addition, the plastic cards also can be used at the subway linking O'Hare to downtown Chicago, as well as the "L" that brings Midway-arriving passengers up to the Loop. Visitors purchasing the cards receive small discounts; for instance, for $13.50, you can get $15 worth of transportation--essentially 10 rides for the price of nine (The standard one-way fare is $1.50).

The new cards also can be used on buses where transfers will continue to cost 30 cents, also deductible off the fare card. Furthermore, the transit card allows a free second ride, even in the opposite direction, if it occurs within two hours of the first.

For visitors traveling in groups, passengers can ride off the same card as long as each person inserts the card separately into the bus fare card machine or subway turnstile.

For frequent Chicago visitors, the cards will be available for as little as $3 or as much s $100. And, value always can be added at station vending machines, enabling the traveler to retain the card between trips.