To help customers transition to Ventra, CTA and Pace are making customer service agents available weekly at CTA headquarters. They also offer Chicago Card Plus online balance transfers, fee waivers and are holding community events.
New customers can have their $5 Ventra Card fee waived through July 7 at more than 1,000 retailers, drugstores and currency exchanges, as well as online and over the phone. Upcoming balance transfer events will be held on May 8 at the Jefferson Park Library, located at 5363 W. Lawrence Ave., from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on May 10 in the cafeteria of Curie High School, located at 4959 S. Archer Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Customers can bring a maximum of five fare cards with a combined minimum balance of $5 in transit value to balance transfer events, including CTA and Pace stored value magnetic stripe full-fare and reduced-fare cards and Chicago Cards. Unlimited ride 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day passes, reduced fare passes and passes sold in bulk cannot be transferred to Ventra cards and must be used up before July 1. A mail-in option for Chicago Card and magnetic stripe fare card riders will be available later this spring.
The next major Ventra transition deadline is June 1, at which time riders will no longer be able to reload magnetic stripe fare cards or use Chicago Cards.
