CTA Announces Plan To Slash Prices Even As Ridership Remains Low

CHICAGO — Even as ridership remains at half of pre-pandemic levels, CTA officials on Thursday announced a plan to slash prices as part of its 2022 budget proposal.

Discounts on unlimited-ride tickets that were put in place early this year will remain permanent: $5 for a single day, $15 for a 3-day pass and $20 for unlimited weekly rides.

The budget plan calls for dropping CTA-Pace unlimited ride passes to $25 a week, and $75 a month. The transit agency is ditching 25-cent fees for every transfer.

Only the single-ride fares — $2.50 for a train and $2.25 for a bus – would remain the same.
And if the new fare-rates are approved by the board, a single-ride CTA ticket would include two free transfers within two hours of a trip.

"The pandemic has strongly reaffirmed the importance of public transit to many in our city, including some of our most vulnerable populations for who transit remains a lifeline," CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr said in a statement.

"Making our already low fares even more affordable not only ensures that we continue to meet the region’s needs, but encourages a return to ridership as businesses and offices welcome workers back."