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 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.

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

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

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.

Glad to hear it!

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.

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.

Again, self fulfilling prophecy.

Much like Chicago Public Schools, sadly.

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.

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

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. 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.