CTA Bus - Chicago | BXImpact.com

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates bus service in the City of Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs. Considered the nation's second largest public transportation system, CTA has 1,888 buses that operate over 127 bus routes. With that many routes, catching a bus is easy in Chicago.

Most routes run daily through late evening, every 10 to 20 minutes. Sunday schedules apply on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Buses stop every few blocks and several CTA bus lines operate 24 hours.

CTA buses stop at posted signs with the numbers, names, times and descriptions of routes that stop there.

CTA Bus Tracker CTA Bus and Train schedule RTA Train Connections

Metra Schedules Traveling with Children Night Owl map

Paying your bus fare

Paying your fare to board a CTA Bus is as easy as:
Paying your exact fare into the fare box, or use a
Reloadable Ventra Card,
A contactless bankcard, or the
Wallet app on your mobile phone.

Simply tap the media on the reader and board the bus.

CTA Ventra and Pace Fares

Fares

Ventra - Full Fare

Ventra - Reduced Fare*

Cash Fare

Cash Reduced*

CTA 'L' train fare

$2.50

$1.25

$2.50

$1.25

CTA Bus fare

$2.25

$1.10

$2.50

$1.25

Pace Bus fare

$2.00

$1.00

$2.25

$1.10

Pace Premium Bus fare

$4.50

$2.25

$4.50

$2.25

CTA Transfers
Up to 2 additional rides within 2 hrs

Free

Pace Transfers
Up to 2 additional rides within 2 hrs

$.30

$.20

$.30

$.20

Pace Transfer to Premium Route
Up to 2 additional rides within 2 hrs

$2.80

$1.45

$2.80

$1.45

* Passengers with RTA-issued Reduced Fare permits and children ages 7 to 11. Children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying customer. Call the RTA at 312-913-3110 for more information about RTA Reduced Fare permits.

CTA and Pace Passes

Passes

Full Pass

Reduced Pass

1-Day CTA Pass

3-Day CTA Pass

$15

7-Day CTA

$20

7-Day CTA/Pace Pass

$25

30-Day CTA/Pace Pass

$75

$35

30-Day Pace Pass

$60

$30

30-Day Pace Premium Pass

$140

$70

Other Fares

Fares

Full Fare

Reduced Fare

'L' train fare from O'Hare
Deducted on entry at O'Hare station, only, from Ventra transit account using Ventra Card or via contactless Pay-As-You-Go payment methods.

Tip: Use an unlimited pass to board at O'Hare for no additional charge.

$1.25

Bus fare with cash on bus
Fare applies if using cash/coins directly at farebox when boarding. (Transfers are not available.)

$2.50

$1.25

Regional Connect Pass
Valid on CTA and Pace at all times. Pass sold by Metra or on the Ventra App to use with Metra Monthly Ticket. This new pass replaces Metra Link-up and Pace PlusBus.

$30

128 Soldier Field Express
Round-trip fare. Cash & Passes are accepted.

$5.00

$2.50

Getting Around Chicago Chicago L Train CTA Bus Chicago Taxi Metra PACE Ventra Card

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