Originally Posted by
Brian Schultz
Taking the family on a quick vacation to Chicago this weekend for the first time. Can we buy a 7 day pass at the ventra machine at ORD (like the 1 day pass described above)?
Does the 7 day (NON PACE) pass include the bus (IE: 134/135/136) from the Hyatt Regency to Lake/Clark station for the Blue line?
Not sure if PACE is the city bus inside Chicago or if that is one that goes to the suburbs.
We will hit Giodarno's and Gino's East ( I love pizza). And Garret's popcorn. Any other must have's?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Brian
Yes, you can buy the 7-day pass at the Ventra vending machines. That is the only place in the airport to buy them.
Unlike the 1-day pass, you must either have a Ventra Card to buy a 7-day pass or you must buy a Ventra Card at the same time you buy the 7-day pass. A Ventra Card costs $5. There is a way to get a $5 credit towards future travel, but it involves some hassle.
The non-Pace 7-day pass is good on 134/135/136. It is good on all bus lines numbered 206 and lower and on all 'L' train lines. Pace (it is not an acronym) was originally founded to operate suburban bus lines, but over the years it has taken over a handful of routes in the city that the CTA abandoned (South Western, North Harlem, for example). Most people who post here live in parts of the city with no Pace routes and do not know that. Pace bus routes are numbered 208 and up.
One way to avoid paying the $5 Ventra Card fee in addition to the $28 7-day pass fee is to buy a Ventra Card at the vending machines and then to add $23 in "transit value" to the Ventra Card (in a single transaction). Then go to the Ventra web site (
www.ventrachicago.com) and "register" your card. Registering your card involves giving them your name, address (US only), phone number, and birthdate. As soon as your registration is completed, they will credit an additional $5 to your Ventra Card account. This will leave $28 in your Ventra Card account. You can then buy a 7-day pass at the Ventra vending machine or the web site. When you get to the payment page/screen, one of the options offered to you will be to pay with your "transit value" balance.
You can also register your card by calling 1-877-NOW-VENT and talking to an agent during Ventra business hours. The agent can also use your transit value balance to buy a 7-day pass.
Many people make the mistake of loading the Ventra app onto their phone and using it to buy a 7-day pass before they have a Ventra Card, They assume they can use their phone to enter the train station. After they pay for the 7-day pass, they find out that the Ventra Card will be sent to them in the mail.