In an act of unprecedented cooperation between Chicago's transit agencies, the CTA, Metra and Pace suburban bus system Wednesday unveiled their plan to create an app that can be used to pay for rides on all three transit systems.
The app is not a universal fare card, but will be accepted by Ventra readers at CTA rail turnstiles, onboard CTA and Pace buses and by employees checking fares on Metra trains.
The app will be rolled out in four phases, starting in the spring. The CTA and Metra said they will begin testing the app with a small group of riders in February and hope to have the app available to the rest of the public in May.
Here are answers to some questions riders may have about the app.
Do I need the app?
Technically, no. But if you are a Metra or CTA rider, the app may make life easier.
Metra riders will be able to use the app to buy mobile tickets they can show Metra employees on board to prove they paid their fare.
For CTA riders, the app initially will help riders manage their accounts from their phones, instead of at rail stations, retailers or from their home computers. Ventra already has a mobile site, which some riders have reported is difficult to use.
In the initial phase, the app will allow CTA riders to load value and passes, see their balance and get notifications when their unlimited pass is expiring. Starting in 2016, riders will be able to easily tap their smartphones on Ventra readers to pay for fares instead of using the complicated phone payment system now.
How can I get the app?
After testing is complete, the app will be offered to the public in May, the CTA said. The app will be available for free download to Android and iPhone users at first. Eventually, other smartphone users will be able to download the app.
The CTA said its most recent customer service survey showed that 78 percent of its ridership uses a smartphone.
Riders don't need to have a registered Ventra account to download the app but will need a registered account if they want to have a "virtual" Ventra card instead of a hard card.
Registration of Ventra hard cards have not been popular with riders despite the incentive to get the $5 they spent to get the hard card back as transit credit. About 43 percent of riders have registered their Ventra cards, as of this spring.
Will this app work?
After a disastrous rollout of Ventra last year, Mike Gwinn, CTA director of revenue and fare systems, promised Wednesday the CTA will "test, test, test" the new app.
Cubic Transportation Systems, the Ventra vendor, has been working in partnership with GlobeSherpa, a Portland, Ore.-based software company that specializes in mobile tickets. GlobeSherpa has created mobile ticketing systems for the Portland and Los Angeles transit systems.
Where things may be problematic for CTA riders, though, is in the Red and Blue Line subways, where cell service is spotty. Riders need to have Internet access to use the app and the Blue Line is not expected to be outfitted with 4G wireless capability until the spring and the Red Line not until later next year.
What if I just want to use my personal bank card to pay for fares?
Ventra readers currently accept personal bank cards with the Blink logo to pay for fares. The problem is riders can't register their bank cards to manage their accounts online. They can manage their accounts only at Ventra vending machines at rail stations. Gwinn said riders should be able to register their bank cards in coming months.
What are the phases of rollout?
The CTA and Metra will test the app with a small group of riders before offering it to the public in May.
Phase 1: May
Riders will be able to use the app to:
- Load value and passes
- Set up autoload with a credit card
- See balance, a list of passes and transit history
- Buy Metra mobile tickets
- Get notifications of an expiring unlimited pass
Phase 2: Date to be determined
Riders will be able to use the app to:
- Set up autoload with a bank card
- Buy limited-use CTA tickets such as single-ride tickets
Phase 3: Date to be determined
Riders will be able to use the app to get door-to-door transit trip planning.
Phase 4: 2016
Riders will be able to tap smartphones on Ventra readers to pay for fares.
tswartz@tribune.com | @tracyswartz