Chicago - Why is paying for a ride on the CTA so difficult?

A little backstory. I arrived at the Jackson Station on the Blue Line yesterday. This station is ~ two blocks from Union Station. Here is what I don't understand:

- The machines that sell CTA cards do not accept credit cards
- These machines do not give change
- The agent on duty came out of the token booth when we seemed confused and also refused to make change for us. What exactly is her position then?
- My Dad asked her why the machines didn't take credit cards and she shrugged and said "they do at O'Hare". Not very helpful
- She also wouldn't let us put $5 on one card and share it between the two of us. So we bought an extra card then threw it out. Seems wasteful.

I think Chicago may be the only transit system I used this year (out of 15 in four countries) where I couldn't buy my fare card with a credit card. This makes very little sense to me and it seems horribly counter-intuitive. As does the lack of change making abilities.

Anyway, sorry to rant, it was frustrating. Luckily the rest of my visit was great.

They accept dollar coins, good enough for me!

The CTA has been (slowly) rolling out credit card machines at stations, mainly on the blue and orange (both airport) lines. And the red line too, I think. And at O'Hare and Midway. They're about a billion dollars in the hole, and have been focusing on making sure the tracks don't collapse. Personally, I've been hoping for electronic signs saying how long until the next train for YEARS, and they're finally starting to roll them out.

The person in the booth's job is, I think, just to make sure people don't dodge the fare and to help people if their card doesn't work. They aren't bank tellers and have no cash back there.

As far as I know, you should be able to share one card among up to 7 people.

- The machines that sell CTA cards do not accept credit cards

The usual machines don't, but they have some that do. CTA's website says there is one at the Adams entrance to the Jackson stop. ie, it's quite possible that the agent could have told you to go a block north and you'd find a CC machine.

- These machines do not give change
- The agent on duty came out of the token booth when we seemed confused and also refused to make change for us. What exactly is her position then?

They don't have a cash drawer, they're not sales, they're supposed to be customer service.

- My Dad asked her why the machines didn't take credit cards and she shrugged and said "they do at O'Hare". Not very helpful

Unfortunately, they also have one at Union. If you're going through Union again, there's a machine near the Metra fare desks.

- She also wouldn't let us put $5 on one card and share it between the two of us. So we bought an extra card then threw it out. Seems wasteful.

This is simply wrong information from the agent. You can absolutely use the same card for up to 7 people (gfunkdave is correct on the number). CTA calls it a passback and it's that simple. You use it, go through, then pass it back to your dad, he uses it. The system is smart enough to deduct 2 fares and not try to treat one as a transfer. You were given really bad information. On this alone, I'd suggest you contact the CTA and complain.

Anyway, sorry to rant, it was frustrating. Luckily the rest of my visit was great.

Glad to hear it!

- She also wouldn't let us put $5 on one card and share it between the two of us. So we bought an extra card then threw it out. Seems wasteful.



This reminds me of 2 couples I was talking to at ORD once. They were from AMS and were flying back after spending about a week here. They did not realize all 4 could use the same card so each one purchased a $20 card. They just used their cards to go downtown and back, so each card had app $15-16 left on it. They were kind enough to give me their cards.

On this alone, I'd suggest you contact the CTA and complain.

Why waste the time, its not like they are going to do anything constructive as a result.

Why waste the time, its not like they are going to do anything constructive as a result.

This is a largely self-fulfilling prophecy. The bad employees don't get weeded out because nobody complains.

Why waste the time, its not like they are going to do anything constructive as a result.

This is a largely self-fulfilling prophecy. The bad employees don't get weeded out because nobody complains.

Welcome to Chicago. Where no one on the civic payroll gives a hoot. They've got a job for life. I live here and love it, but some things are just the way they are. The CTA is among the worst. Thousands of employees doing absolutely nothing, but not worth raising your blood pressure over, since there is no way to change it.

Welcome to Chicago. Where no one on the civic payroll gives a hoot. They've got a job for life. I live here and love it, but some things are just the way they are. The CTA is among the worst. Thousands of employees doing absolutely nothing, but not worth raising your blood pressure over, since there is no way to change it.

Again, self fulfilling prophecy.

Welcome to Chicago. Where no one on the civic payroll gives a hoot. They've got a job for life. I live here and love it, but some things are just the way they are. The CTA is among the worst. Thousands of employees doing absolutely nothing, but not worth raising your blood pressure over, since there is no way to change it.

Much like Chicago Public Schools, sadly.

- The agent on duty came out of the token booth when we seemed confused and also refused to make change for us. What exactly is her position then?


Her position is "in the union and she knows someone, so she's there for life."

At least until this city and state go bankrupt in a few years.

Another self-fulfilling prediction.

IMHO, things in Chicago, public employee wise, have changed for the better since the FBI's Operation Greylord and other such prosecutions over the years. Less graft, somewhat better service. But, still not perfect. :D

By the way, the reason for the crazy fare pay system is amount of money that used to be skimmed off at the live pay fare booths by the agents.

I've been digging around for about an hour and can't find the answer to my query. If I arrive CHI at Union Station (overnite train from NYC), where can I use a credit card to buy a CTA fare card so I can ride the bus a few times? I plan a 24-hour stop in CHI.

Or should I just bring a roll of quarters and drive everyone nuts dropping 9 of them in the onboard fare box each time?

Heading to Chicago this weekend and am planning a CTA ride tomorrow. Already have my two singles and a quarter prepared :D

I've been digging around for about an hour and can't find the answer to my query. If I arrive CHI at Union Station (overnite train from NYC), where can I use a credit card to buy a CTA fare card so I can ride the bus a few times? I plan a 24-hour stop in CHI.

Or should I just bring a roll of quarters and drive everyone nuts dropping 9 of them in the onboard fare box each time?

You can use your credit card at the CTA Pass machine that's in the Metra ticket lobby in Union Station. Link here; scroll to the bottom. (http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/vendingmachines.aspx#pass) It's near the baggage claim, opposite of the Metro Deli.

Heading to Chicago this weekend and am planning a CTA ride tomorrow. Already have my two singles and a quarter prepared :D

If you travel to Chicago often, you should go ahead and get a Chicago Card (http://www.chicago-card.com/).

If you travel to Chicago often, you should go ahead and get a Chicago Card (http://www.chicago-card.com/).

I have the Chicago Card Plus that automatically refills from my designated account - at the level I set when I signed up. Very very handy if you ride the CTA fairly often.

You can use your credit card at the CTA Pass machine that's in the Metra ticket lobby in Union Station. Link here; scroll to the bottom. (http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/vendingmachines.aspx#pass) It's near the baggage claim, opposite of the Metro Deli.

If you travel to Chicago often, you should go ahead and get a Chicago Card (http://www.chicago-card.com/).
Thank you for this prompt response. This is my first trip to Chicago as a destination, I usually change planes there or rent a car to go to South Bend.

I also find the CTA's website very confusing, all the different types of cards available make it very difficult for a visitor to sort out. I'll put your information in my notes for the trip. I doubt that I'll travel to downtown CHI again. Thanks again.

I also find the CTA's website very confusing, all the different types of cards available make it very difficult for a visitor to sort out. I kind of agree with you - I buy a card probably once/twice a year, at O'Hare where it's a little simpler, and I still have to take an extra minute or two to figure out what I'm doing.

I'm used to NYC, where there's one type of machine, and everything's on a Metrocard (more or less).

I've been digging around for about an hour and can't find the answer to my query. If I arrive CHI at Union Station (overnite train from NYC), where can I use a credit card to buy a CTA fare card so I can ride the bus a few times? I plan a 24-hour stop in CHI.

Or should I just bring a roll of quarters and drive everyone nuts dropping 9 of them in the onboard fare box each time?

You can use your credit card at the CTA Pass machine that's in the Metra ticket lobby in Union Station. Link here; scroll to the bottom. (http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/vendingmachines.aspx#pass) It's near the baggage claim, opposite of the Metro Deli.



If there is a CTA pass machine at the union station, I would suggest OP get the 1 day pass instead, as OP mentioned about she is going to use for a few times during the 24 hours period. 1 day pass cost $5.75 for unlimited rides during the 24 hours period instead of morning til evening, cheaper than $2 each time on a transit card on bus or $2.25 on train.

I'm a semi-frequent visitor to Chicago and always depend on CTA for transportation when staying downtown. Just felt I had to write to say that maybe I've been lucky but have always had hepful and friendly employees. In fact, a couple of years ago one advised us to purchase just one fare card and keep passing it back to our next person while going through the turnstile :)

Their phone number is on my cell phone and I've always had good and prompt service when trying to find the next bus/train to my destination!

Glad to read here about the credit card machine right in Union Station...!

I decided to bump my old thread because I'm angry again with the CTA.

I arrived at ORD last Saturday and wanted to buy a fare card with three rides on it (for $7.75). I was armed with a credit card and the only cash in my wallet was a $50. Low and behold, all the machines that accept credit and debit cards were out of order except the machines that sell the 1/3/7 Day Day Passes. Maybe I'm just an overly suspicious person but I smell a rat. Next time, I'm bringing lots of ones.

I decided to bump my old thread because I'm angry again with the CTA.

I arrived at ORD last Saturday and wanted to buy a fare card with three rides on it (for $7.75). I was armed with a credit card and the only cash in my wallet was a $50. Low and behold, all the machines that accept credit and debit cards were out of order except the machines that sell the 1/3/7 Day Day Passes. Maybe I'm just an overly suspicious person but I smell a rat. Next time, I'm bringing lots of ones.

I don't think they are that sophisticated. You're giving them way to much credit! :D

Also starting later this year the CTA is beginning to outsource its fare collection. Hopefully the for profit vendor will do a better job of maintaining the new infrastructure.

It's going to be called Ventra (http://www.ventrachicago.com/)

It's going to be called Ventra (http://www.ventrachicago.com/)

and they've stated they'll take contactless credit cards

and they've stated they'll take contactless credit cardsvery goodI don't think they are that sophisticated. You're giving them way to much credit! :Dagreed^

I decided to bump my old thread because I'm angry again with the CTA.

I arrived at ORD last Saturday and wanted to buy a fare card with three rides on it (for $7.75). I was armed with a credit card and the only cash in my wallet was a $50. Low and behold, all the machines that accept credit and debit cards were out of order except the machines that sell the 1/3/7 Day Day Passes. Maybe I'm just an overly suspicious person but I smell a rat. Next time, I'm bringing lots of ones. Just for your future reference (or for the reference of anyone else who stumbles upon this thread):

The machines that accept credit cards are called "Express Vending Machines" and they dispense Transit Cards in multiples of $5 only ($5, $10, ..., $25). You could buy a $5 card from the Express Machine and use the cash-only Transit Card machine to add $2.75 to it if you really wanted a card with $7.75 on it.

There are two Express Vending Machines at O'Hare, they are on opposite sides of the wall, so be sure you check both of them. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for both of them to be out of order.

Some good news: The pass vending machines (which are next to the red/orange pillars) now dispense one-day passes. The one-day passes were taken out of the machines when the pass rate went from $5 to $5.75 because the pass machines do not accept coins. Now that they've raised the price of the one-day pass to $10, they are back in the machines.

The pass machines accept credit cards and paper-money. They do not make change. They are often out of order or have signs on them that say "cash only" or "credit cards only."