CTA and Pace riders are set to have an easier time to transfer from one public transit system to the other with the restructuring of the pass system.
On Dec. 14, the CTA and Pace announced they plan to offer uniform one-day, three-day, seven-day and 30-day unlimited passes that can be used by riders on either system.
“CTA has made strides since 2021 to make our fares ultra-affordable and we want to expand those benefits to our riders who also use Pace. Now more than ever, we are working to strengthen ridership and find innovative ways to make taking public transit the first choice for travel across the region,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr said in a statement. “This initiative is just another step for us to adapt to our riders’ needs by making travel on one or all of our transit systems even more convenient, affordable and seamless.”
Under the new fare structure, the CTA’s one and three day passes can now be used on Pace buses, according to the statement. A new single seven-day pass will be available that can be used on either system, removing the current $5 surcharge on the seven-day shared pass between the CTA and Pace.
The shared pass prices will remain the same with $5 for the one day, $15 for three days, $30 for seven days and $75 for 30 days.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the CTA on these changes which will open more doors to employment, education, and essential services throughout our region,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger added in the statement.
The agencies did not state a specific date when the new pricing policies would go into effect, but indicated it would come in the beginning of 2023 and riders would be informed once the implementation date approaches.
In a separate move, Pace will be eliminating regular transfers from one Pace route to the next and reduce premium transfers throughout the system at sometime early next year, according to spokeswoman Maggie Daly Skogsbakken.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.