Chicago Transit Authority

Mass transit

The city of Chicago, Illinois has the second most extensive transportation system in the US – and the Chicago Transit Authority is responsible for managing that mass transit system. The mass transit system of Chicago provides both buses and rapid transit routes within Chicago, and to some parts of the suburban areas. As of 2006, the Chicago Transit Authority was able to provide up to 494.8 million rides to passengers.  The Chicago Transit Authority never halts its services, operating round the clock with 1.6 million passengers using the buses and trains under its jurisdiction per average weekday. Over 11,000 employees man the mass transit system of the Chicago Transit Authority at present. Around 2,000 buses work the Chicago routes, that has over 12,000 posted bus stops.

Transit cards

There are three ways to pay for mass transit under the Chicago Transit Authority: for buses, you can use cash; for rail rides, you can use transit cards; and for either bus or rail, you can use the Chicago Card smart card (a form of contactless transit card.) You can gain a $2 bonus whenever you load your Chicago Card smart card with $20. You can buy transit cards at the Chicago Transit Authority or at rail station stops. You can choose either the stored value transit cards or the unlimited value transit cards. Reduced fare cards are issued to special riders like the senior citizens, and physically challenged people, and some students of Chicago schools. Use the Chicago Card smart card to pay less.