Chicago: Changes Follow Criticism of CTA's Ventra Card Plan

IL: Changes Follow Criticism of CTA's Ventra Card Plan

Jon Hilkevitch
Source: Chicago Tribune
Created: May 24, 2013


The CTA will waive a $5 fee for customers who obtain the new Ventra transit card in 2013 and it also will eliminate or reduce some of the controversial service charges related to the optional Ventra debit MasterCard account, officials said Friday.

The changes, made in the face of strong criticism about the myriad prepaid debit account fees from elected officials, consumer groups and CTA riders, will come at a price for the CTA.

Under the renegotiated deal reached between the transit agency and its Ventra partners, the CTA gave up a guaranteed half-million dollar annual minimum share of some prepaid debit fees that will be collected. The actual revenue generated for the CTA from the ancillary fees was projected to be much higher than $500,000, officials had said.

"We reduced the amount to zero,'' said CTA spokesman Brian Steele. But the CTA will still receive revenue from Ventra-related advertising and from the transit benefits program that provides a tax savings to participating transit users, he said. .......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/10949374/il-changes-follow-criticism-of-ctas-ventra-card-plan