For the first time, a mobile wallet has been incorporated into the Ventra app, allowing for the fast, convenient purchase of transit value and passes
The award-winning Ventra transit app has transformed the way many CTA, Metra and Pace customers purchase fares, allowing them to buy multiple-day passes, add value to their Ventra cards and manage their accounts conveniently from their phones and mobile devices.
The CTA announced today that the award-winning Ventra app has now added Apple Pay as a way to purchase CTA and Pace fares and Metra mobile tickets, providing additional convenience for transit customers. Apple Pay, a mobile payment and digital wallet service by lets users make payments using an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac, can now be used on the app to purchase transit value or 1-, 3-, 7- and 30-day unlimited ride passes. CTA anticipates adding additional mobile wallets, including Google Pay, to the Ventra app in the near future.
“We are pleased to partner with Apple Pay to offer our users a faster, more convenient way to purchase their choice of transit fare,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “At CTA, we take every opportunity to leverage existing technology for the benefit of our customers so that they are able to pay their transit fare as easily and conveniently as possible.”
The ability to use mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay has already been available for customers to pay their fares directly at Ventra fare readers on CTA buses and trains. Now, for the first time, Apple Pay has been added to the Ventra app.
Launched in 2015, the free Ventra app has been downloaded 2.8 million times and nearly 45 percent of all Metra tickets are now purchased via the app. The Ventra app provides transit riders with a convenient “one-stop shopping” experience that includes account management and fare purchases. It also provides access to real-time transit tracker information. App users can also receive real-time account notifications when it’s time to purchase new passes or refill their accounts.
The Ventra app is the first transit app in the nation that allowed customers to pay for rides on multiple transit systems. The free app was developed and launched by the CTA in partnership with Metra, the Chicago area’s commuter rail system, and Pace, the suburban bus system. Future phases and upgrades to the app will offer additional services and conveniences.
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