Created 2/21/03; Updated 11/2/06

The base fare on CTA is $1.50. Fares are paid with a stored-value farecard called the Transit Card. For those familiar with New York City's Metrocard, the principle is the same. For each entry into the subway system, $1.50 is deducted from the value on the card. Transit Cards can be purchased at any CTA station for as little as $1.50 (one trip), or as much as $100. Obviously it would be advisable to purchase it in multiples of $1.50. If your card does not have enough value for a particular trip, value can be added at vending machines in all CTA stations. A $1 bonus is added for every $10 purchase, so for ten dollars you get a card worth eleven dollars.

The Transit Card is good on all CTA buses and rapid transit lines; it is also accepted on PACE buses.

Another very similar stored-value card offered is the Chicago Card. I advise against the Chicago Card, since it costs $5 in addition to the fares. In short, it's a ripoff!

The CTA has a Visitors Pass very similar to the MBTA's Visitors Pass for Boston. A one-day Pass is $5, good all day for all CTA rapid transit and buses. It is not applicable towards any METRA, PACE, or South Shore Line trips. Multiple-day Visitors Passes are available as well, but they have to be used on consecutive days. A two-day pass costs $9 ($4.50 per day); a three-day pass costs $12 ($4 per day); and a five-day pass costs $18 ($3.60 per day). The CTA Visitors Pass can be purchased in advance over the internet here.

For the Windy City RailFest 2003, after analyzing the number of planned boardings, as well as the endpoints and transfer locations that might require payment of another fare, I have determined that it would be best to purchase a three-day Visitors Pass, to be used on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There is no four-day pass, so we would just pay our two fares to and from Randolph Street Station on the Thursday Pre-Fest with a regular Transit Card with $4.50 value. My analysis follows:

The total of the three days Friday-Saturday-Sunday comes to $15.00, so for those who are spending all three of these days on the rails, it would be worth it to purchase the $12 three-day Visitors Pass. If you are joining us for fewer days, or only parts of these days, a one-day or two-day Visitors Pass might be better for you, or you may choose to just pay-as-you-go with a regular Transit Card.

What about reduced fares for kids age 7-11, senior citizens, and handicapped? A reduced fare is available for 75 cents, or 50% of the regular fare. At certain attended stations, it is possible to pay the 75 cents in cash to the station attendant. In order to get reduced fares where there is no attendant, a permit has to ordered from the RTA (not the CTA) by calling 1-(312)-836-7000. It would be most worthwhile to just pay as you go for those who qualify for reduced fares, and wherever possible pay 75 cents in cash rather than using a Transit Card or Visitors Pass. If you would rather not have the hassle, then you can purchase an adult Visitors Pass or Transit Card. Children under age 7 ride free.

METRA fares are based on zones, much like other commuter rail operators. When a ticket office is open at the station, tickets must be purchased before riding, and they are collected by a crew member. A $2 surcharge is added to the cost of the ticket if a ticket office was open before the train's scheduled departure time. METRA one-way tickets and the $5 Weekend Pass are not available by mail or internet; only monthly and ten-trip tickets can be purchased in this manner.

Tickets do not have station names printed on them; only the zones of travel. A Zone H ticket, for example, is good on any METRA line in either direction, between the downtown terminals and any Zone H station.

The three METRA trains we will be boarding on Friday will require payment of individual fares. The zones and fares are as follows:

METRA has a dirt cheap deal on weekends. For just $5 you can travel anywhere in the system, all weekend! This can pay for itself on just one outbound trip on some lines. Kids under 12 are free on weekends.

To give you an idea about how much you would save with the $5 weekend pass, here are the fares for the trips we will be taking:

The South Shore Line has a similar fare structure to METRA's. The only difference is that they operate on a proof-of-payment system. You need to retain your South Shore Line ticket throughout the trip, as you can be asked to produce it at any time during the trip. When there is a ticket agent on duty right before departure, tickets purchased on the train will be surcharged $1.00.

Only monthly commuter tickets are available by mail or internet, so we will have to purchase our two one-way tickets per person just before departure.

The fares for our Thursday Pre-Fest trip are as follows:

Your shopping list in review

Assuming you will be with us for the Pre-Fest and all three days of the official Windy City RailFest 2003, this is what you should expect to spend, and how you should obtain it. Obviously, if you are going to participate fewer days, or are planning to either join us later in the day or leave the group early, the amount will be lower.

As always, bring enough money to cover your meals.