2/14/07
The Chicago Transit Board today approved an intergovernmental agreement with Metra for the installation of CTA Transit Card vending machines at the Ogilvie Transportation Center and the Millennium station. Once installed, customers will be able to purchase magnetic strip transit cards as well as add value to magnetic strip transit cards and Chicago Cards. The machines are expected to be installed in late spring. Both Ogilvie, located at Madison and Canal, and Millennium station, located at Randolph and Michigan, connect travelers to downtown CTA bus and rail service.
?CTA is working closely with Metra to provide customers easier access to CTA fare media," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. ?Many public transit customers use both CTA and Metra to travel throughout the region, in fact, more than 90 percent of Metra customers begin or end their trips downtown. This action will make it easier for these customers who choose to use CTA to continue their trips."
?Making fare media easily accessible improves the convenience of taking public transit to work as well as to special events," said Metra Executive Director Philip A. Pagano. ?With this installation, CTA transit card vending machines will be available at all downtown Metra stations."
Under the agreement with Metra, the CTA Transit Card vending machines will remain at Metra's facilities for one year and the agreement may be renewed on a yearly basis.
Currently, CTA's 1-Day Fun Pass, 7-Day Pass, round trip transit card and reduced fare transit card are available for purchase at the Metra facility at Ogilvie Transportation Center on Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, March 17 (1- and 7-Day pass only). The farecards are available in an effort to make purchasing CTA fare media more convenient for commuters attending events such as the 2007 Chicago Auto Show and St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Visitor Passes also may be purchased at vending machines at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, CTA's Red Line Chicago station (at State), CTA's Blue Line Cumberland and Rosemont rail stations and at the Water Works Visitor Information Center at Chicago and Michigan. Value cannot be added to Visitor Passes and they cannot be shared.
Information on sales locations for CTA fare media and CTA service information can be found on www.transitchicago.com. Service information is also available by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.
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