Chicago's new transit card program takes flak

The Chicago Transit Authority is promoting its coming general purpose reloadable (GPR) transit card, in the face of criticism from the Chicago media over the card's controversial fees. In the wake of the criticism, the CTA eliminated a reported $10 "research" fee that was to be charged certain cardholders for making customer service calls, as well as a $2.95 fee to reload the card online using a bankcard.

The Chicago Tribune reported that at an April 1 hearing state legislators peppered Forrest Claypool, President of the CTA, about concerns that the MasterCard Worldwide-branded Ventra card would charge cardholders excessive fees. Lawmakers reportedly expressed concern that the GPR transit card would be used more as a revenue generating tool for the CTA rather than as a low-cost service for Chicago transit riders.

On the website dedicated to the Ventra card (www.ventrachicago.com ), potential fees include:

• Reload: up to $4.95 (depending on the reload network agent)
• ATM withdrawals (domestic/international): $1.50/$3.00
• Bank teller over-the-counter: $2.00
• Money transfer: $2.00
• Monthly maintenance (after 18 months of load inactivity): $2.00
• ATM balance inquiry: $3.00
• Balance refund check: $6.00
• Customer service and balance inquiry through live operator: $2.00
• Lost or stolen card replacement (standard/expedited delivery): $5.00/$15.00

On its website, the CTA said the Ventra card will make its debut in summer 2013, when the agency will begin transitioning its fare payment system to an open, contactless system and phasing out magnetic stripe-based cards, which are expected to be completely decommissioned by early 2014. "You can expect an extensive campaign to educate people about the new system," the agency noted.

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