Thousands of CTA Chicago Cards To Expire By July

The Chicago Transit Authority is warning commuters: if you purchased your Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus four years ago, it may expire soon. About 4,600 Chicago Cards will expire between April 6 and July 29, while more than 50,000 Chicago Card Plus cards are set to expire in 2009 -- most of them in July -- according to a notice posted Friday on the authority's Web site.

Commuters can check the expiration date of their Chicago Card online, by calling 1-888-YOUR-CTA, or by visiting either an information center in a rail station or the CTA headquarters at 567 W. Lake St. To avoid losing your balance or having your card deactivated, commuters need to get a replacement card, which they can do in person at the CTA headquarters or by calling the phone number above. While commuters can order a new card online, they can't transfer the balance.

According to its notice, the CTA plans to e-mail Chicago Card Plus customers 45 days in advance of their cards' expiration. At that time cardholders will need to verify their address online in order to receive a replacement card. [Trib]