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Old 08-22-2011, 10:34 PM
 
Location: Detroit
32 posts, read 69,048 times
Reputation: 16

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Instead of paying fares over and over, where can I buy a monthly bus pass and a train pass? Is there a difference between the two?

Is it a smart idea to even get a pass?
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Old 08-22-2011, 10:42 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,166,939 times
Reputation: 29983
Depends on which trains you want to ride, the CTA trains or the Metra regional commuter trains. For Metra trains you would need a separate pass. A CTA pass is good on CTA trains and buses. You can also use it on PACE buses that primarily serve the suburbs.

CTA offers 30-day passes, Metra offers monthly passes -- there is a difference. A CTA 30-day pass is good for 30 days from the first day you use it, no matter what day of the month. If you get a Chicago Card Plus, you have the option to automatically renew it every 30 days. Metra offers monthly passes that are good from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. So if you went and bought an August monthly pass from Metra, you'd be wasting your money because it would only be good for the next 8 days.
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Old 08-22-2011, 11:25 PM
 
Location: Chicago
439 posts, read 954,174 times
Reputation: 188
Depends how much you plan to use the CTA. Your going to need to make a certain number of trips in a 30 day period for it to be cheaper than paying for each individual ride.
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Old 08-22-2011, 11:41 PM
 
Location: Detroit
32 posts, read 69,048 times
Reputation: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Depends on which trains you want to ride, the CTA trains or the Metra regional commuter trains. For Metra trains you would need a separate pass. A CTA pass is good on CTA trains and buses. You can also use it on PACE buses that primarily serve the suburbs.

CTA offers 30-day passes, Metra offers monthly passes -- there is a difference. A CTA 30-day pass is good for 30 days from the first day you use it, no matter what day of the month. If you get a Chicago Card Plus, you have the option to automatically renew it every 30 days. Metra offers monthly passes that are good from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. So if you went and bought an August monthly pass from Metra, you'd be wasting your money because it would only be good for the next 8 days.
Thanks for explaining the difference...Yeah, I'm gonna need a CTA pass then. Anything else I should know?
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Old 08-23-2011, 12:19 AM
 
Location: Detroit
32 posts, read 69,048 times
Reputation: 16
I just realized something...is the Red Line, Blue Line, etc part of the Metra trains or are they part of the CTA trains?

I feel so dumb now because I don't know the difference! And what about subways? How are those classified?
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Old 08-23-2011, 12:35 AM
 
427 posts, read 463,141 times
Reputation: 121
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperflyMayfield View Post
I just realized something...is the Red Line, Blue Line, etc part of the Metra trains or are they part of the CTA trains?

I feel so dumb now because I don't know the difference! And what about subways? How are those classified?
Try looking at the CTA website and reading a little bit.

Deprecated Browser Error
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Old 08-23-2011, 12:48 AM
 
Location: Detroit
32 posts, read 69,048 times
Reputation: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Depends on which trains you want to ride, the CTA trains or the Metra regional commuter trains. For Metra trains you would need a separate pass. A CTA pass is good on CTA trains and buses. You can also use it on PACE buses that primarily serve the suburbs.

CTA offers 30-day passes, Metra offers monthly passes -- there is a difference. A CTA 30-day pass is good for 30 days from the first day you use it, no matter what day of the month. If you get a Chicago Card Plus, you have the option to automatically renew it every 30 days. Metra offers monthly passes that are good from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. So if you went and bought an August monthly pass from Metra, you'd be wasting your money because it would only be good for the next 8 days.
From the website:
Deprecated Browser Error
Note: CTA unlimited-ride passes are not valid on Metra (commuter railroad) trains or Pace buses (see exceptions)*. Passes cannot be shared or recharged.

I'm so confused. So the CTA unlimited pass is only good for CTA buses? It doesn't cover trains at all?
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Old 08-23-2011, 12:55 AM
 
427 posts, read 463,141 times
Reputation: 121
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperflyMayfield View Post
I'm so confused. So the CTA unlimited pass is only good for CTA buses? It doesn't cover trains at all?
It covers CTA trains too.
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Old 08-23-2011, 01:07 AM
 
Location: Detroit
32 posts, read 69,048 times
Reputation: 16
Never mind...I get it now!
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Old 08-23-2011, 01:12 AM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,166,939 times
Reputation: 29983
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperflyMayfield View Post
From the website:
Deprecated Browser Error
Note: CTA unlimited-ride passes are not valid on Metra (commuter railroad) trains or Pace buses (see exceptions)*. Passes cannot be shared or recharged.

I'm so confused. So the CTA unlimited pass is only good for CTA buses? It doesn't cover trains at all?
It covers CTA trains. It does not cover Metra trains. You can't use any kind of CTA pass on Metra trains, "unlimited" or otherwise. Metra monthly passholders can use their Metra pass on CTA trains and buses during rush hour periods for an extra 40 bucks a month but there is no reciprocal arrangement for CTA 30-day passholders.
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