Contactless Card on Blue Line

Question

Let me preface this by saying we used to live in the Chicago area, but moved away 7 years ago. And, of course living there we would drive into the city not needing to use the CTA, so we are now a bit vague on some things!

We will be arriving at ORD and will probably take the Blue Line to the Palmer House (at the Jackson Stop). Reading on the CTA website, we can use our contactless card - tapping in. Question - do we tap off? (Like in London, Amsterdam - tap in/tap off for the distance and fare usage.) I did not see anything on the CTA site that mentions tapping off. so maybe it is just a tap in on the card reader?

Thanks!

Answer

Welcome back to Chicago! When using a contactless card (like a Ventra Card or a credit/debit card with contactless payment) on the CTA Blue Line, here's what you need to know:

Unlike transit systems in cities like London or Amsterdam, where you "tap in" and "tap off" to calculate your fare based on distance traveled, the CTA system is a bit simpler. For CTA rides, you only need to "tap in" when you board the train. There is no need to tap off when you reach your destination.

Here's how it works:

Upon entering the station, tap your contactless card on the reader at the turnstile or at the entrance gate before proceeding to the platform.
Once you're done with your ride, you can simply exit the train and leave the station without tapping again. The fare is automatically calculated based on the route you took, and there’s no need to tap off.

As long as you tap in when you enter the station, the CTA will handle the fare calculation based on your route. It’s pretty straightforward and doesn't require any additional action once you exit the train. So you won’t need to worry about tapping off at your destination.

It’s great to hear that you’re revisiting Chicago, and I hope you enjoy your time in the city! Let me know if you need any more tips on navigating the CTA or other travel advice.

Contactless Card on Blue Line

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