Metra To Begin Ventra Transition In Summer 2014

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2013 8:20PM

While CTA and Pace continue to deal with the fallout from Ventra, Metra has revealed a timetable to implement the troublesome shared fare payment system by next summer.

Metra announced back in August they would join CTA and Pace in adopting Ventra and began the formal process with a letter to the two agencies last month. A timetable unveiled by Metra at last month’s board of directors meeting indicated that intergovernmental agreements between Metra, CTA and Pace would be adopted, followed by putting in place the rules, procedures and infrastructure for Metra to process Ventra cards.

Metra spokesman Michael Gillis told the Niles Herald-Spectator one of the problems the rail agency faces in transitioning to Ventra will be making sure the technology is available for conductors to scan Ventra and other contactless debit cards for payment. From our experiences riding Metra in recent months it’s quite often fares take on an honor-based system, especially as a single conductor has to walk the length of a crowded train collecting money. It will be interesting to watch Metra switch from its current, old-timey paper ticket system conductors use to Ventra and if it will lead to collecting more fares.

Transferring between Metra trains, CTA trains and buses or Pace buses will also need to be sorted out. Gilles said Metra has no plans to offer inner-system transfers.

The timetable laid out by Metra calls for a Ventra pilot program to launch in August 2014. By the end of the year Ventra will be accepted on three rail lines, with the rest of the system following suit by 2015. That final target date is critical as a law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn calls for the three transit agencies to have a shared fare payment system in place by then.

Gillis called the timetable “aggressive” and that they’re committed to making the final deadline. CTA’s own accelerated (and currently suspended) timetable to transition to Ventra is one of the major criticisms from riders now using the system. Even though CTA and Pace have been losing the public relations battle so far with Ventra, we ultimately have confidence they’ll solve this mess and make Ventra work for riders. Given the messes with Metra’s board and service in recent years, we aren’t sure if Metra can meet their timetable.