Major Ventra changes go into effect Monday

Starting Monday, riders of the CTA will face the next wave of changes as the Ventra card implementation trudges on. Vending machines will no longer dispense disposable fare cards or reload the all-blue Chicago Card. The magnetic, disposable cards will still function through November 15, though come December, they’ll no longer be accepted.

It’s the latest milestone in the ongoing transition of the city’s public transportation to a unified fare system as mandated by the Illinois General Assembly in 2011. The rollout has been met with confusion and glitches – there have been reports of people being double charged, gate glitches, and then there’s the one person who received hundreds of Ventra cards.

Here’s what you need to know for Monday.

Transit cards and magnetic stripe passes

• Starting Monday, these will no longer be issued from vending machines
• Can be reloaded through November 15
• Will stop being accepted December 15

Chicago Card Plus

• Nothing changes on Monday
• Last Ventra cards were mailed to Chicago Card Plus users Thursday afternoon
• Will work through November 15

Chicago Card

• Starting Monday, these can no longer be reloaded at vending machines
• The last Ventra card replacements were mailed September 30
• Will work through November 15

Where to buy Ventra cards

• CTA stations, 700 retail outlets or the Ventra Customer Service Center, 165 N. Jefferson, using cash, credit or debit cards
• Call (877)-NOW-VENTRA and use credit or debit cards
• Visit ventrachicago.com

Other resources

How to activate your Ventra card (PDF)

CTA’s transition timeline (PDF)

CTA’s video tutorial on how to switch to Ventra