Today’s Headlines

  • CMAP Board Votes 10-4 to Reject the Illiana Tollway (Tribune)
  • After Ventra Registration Snafus, CTA Pushes Back Deadline to Switch Cards (Sun-Times, DNA)
  • Top 5 Ventra Complaints (RedEye)
  • Emanuel Says City Will Seek Plenty of Input Before Moving Forward With BRT (Sun-Times)
  • Car Driver Hits CTA Bus in East Garfield Park , Injuring 8 (DNA)
  • 8 Hurt When Cabbie Cuts Off #3 Bus on Mag Mile (DNA)
  • Driver Strikes Three Children in Englewood, No Life-Threatening Injuries (Sun-Times)
  • Safe Passages Worker Shot at Along Route in Grand Boulevard (DNA)
  • Transportation Committee Approves Honorary Streets Sign for Bobby Cann (RedEye)
  • Emanuel Rules Out Raising City Gas Tax (Sun-Times)
  • Osterman: Sheridan Road Construction Should Be Completed Next Week (DNA)
  • Bears Game and Marathon Predicted to Create “Absolute Gridlock” in South Loop (DNA)

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ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

For Some College Students, Ventra Rollout Begins Today

By Steven Vance |
The Chicago Transit Authority’s revenue director, Eric Reese, hosted a gaggle of reporters on Friday to show off the Ventra “outreach bus” and demonstrate, for the first time, a Ventra vending machine. Ventra is set to replace the current fare media for CTA and the Pace suburban bus system, including all passes, Chicago Card/Plus, and […]

You Might Already Be Ready to Use Ventra

By Steven Vance |
Ventra, you may have heard, is the new fare payment system for Chicago Transit Authority and Pace. (Metra will not be joining the Ventra system, and is currently testing other fare payment methods.) CTA is switching to Ventra to save $5 million per year on maintaining outdated fare collection technology, according to spokesperson Lambrini Lukidis. […]

New Ventra App Takes Small Step Towards Transit Fare Integration

By Steven Vance |
The forthcoming smartphone ticket app for Metra will also make it possible for Chicago Transit Authority and Pace customers to manage their Ventra transit accounts on their phones, the CTA announced last week. Even though the three agencies will spend $2.5 million on the app (plus nearly $16,000 in monthly fees), the Ventra app won’t at […]

Getting to Work With Ventra: An Uneventful Experience

By Steven Vance |
The multi-week Ventra rollout ramps up this week as thousands of college students have received their U-PASS-enabled Ventra cards. The same card will be with them through their entire enrollment at 41 participating colleges. Outside the semester, though, students can load cash or passes onto the Ventra card to give them transit access when U-PASS […]

Ventra Balance Transfer Events Exclude Chicago Card Plus

By Anne Alt |
I recently attended a Ventra balance transfer event at Marquette Park. At these community events, CTA staffers are on hand to read the balance on residents’ existing farecards and transfer it to a Ventra card. It was an enlightening experience – but not in a good way. Critical bits of info about the transition process […]