Ventra Is Finally Debuting Its New App Next Week

By Kate Shepherd in News on Nov 13, 2015 5:30PM

Image courtesy Chicago Transit Authority.

The long-awaited Ventra app is finally dropping next week. The CTA, Pace and Metra are bringing their technology up to 2015's speed by allowing riders to use their phones and tablets to pay for fares, passes and tickets, according to the Tribune.

On Nov. 19, the free app will be ready to download for all iOS and Android phones, laptops and tablets. Riders will be able to pay for rides using credit or debit cards on CTA, Metra and Pace, check their account balances and access real-time travel and service information.

Using the app, customers can add money from $5 to $100 onto their Ventra accounts, CTA and Pace riders can purchase one-, three-, seven- and 30-day passes and Metra riders can buy single tickets, 10-ride tickets or monthly passes.

It's the first time paperless ticketing will be available for Metra riders. The commuter train system will still continue to sell the paper monthly and weekend passes and tickets.

Glitches have delayed the app rollout for quite a while, it was supposed to debut in May or June.