Metra fares
Fare on Metra fare is determined by the number of fare zones traveled. The system has 10 fare zones designated by letters. Zone A is for the central Chicago stations and the letters go up from there. (some lines skip a letter zone, so a station in zone H means 2 zones from a station in zone F, even if it is just one stop away.)
Tickets are sold at station ticket counters, a mobile app, ticket vending machines, and onboard the trains. There a $5 surcharge for onboard ticket purchases when boarding at stations that have an open ticket counter.
Onboard the trains, conductors punch tickets, sell tickets to those who board without having one, and check for passes along with mobile tickets. Riders with a paper ticket should place ticket in the metal clip in front (lower level), or by the ledge (upper level).
Issues such as transferring, stopover, and ticket upgrade (riding beyond zones purchased) need to be communicated with the train conductor.
Ticket types
One way tickets sold at ticket counters are good for 90 days after purchase until punched by onboard conductors.
10 ride ticket are good for 1 year after sale.
Monthly pass are good for unlimited rides within the calendar month and are not transferable.
Ventra app 📱 can be used to pay for train fares and passes. Download app and buy ticket on app before boarding train. "Activate" ticket after boarding train. Show the mobile device to the conductor when tickets are checked. The Ventra app is not the same as card, which is accepted by CTA and Pace but not Metra. However the app can link with a card so the payments for card and app can centrally managed.
Weekend pass costs $8 and is good throughout the system on Saturdays and Sundays.
Special user tickets eligibility:
- Senior (65 or above) and disabled riders with reduced fare permit issued by RTA.
- K-12 students with a valid school ID or certification letter. Required for purchasing tickets and riding onboard.
- Children ages 7 through 11.
- US active military members (all branches) with valid military ID.
Fare chart
Effective February 2018.
| Zones traveled | Full fare one way | 10-ride | Monthly | Special user one way | Special user 10-ride | Special user monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.00 | $38.00 | $116.00 | $2.00 | $19.00 | $70.00 |
| 2 | $4.25 | $40.50 | $123.25 | $2.00 | $19.00 | $70.00 |
| 3 | $5.50 | $52.25 | $159.50 | $2.75 | $26.25 | $96.25 |
| 4 | $6.25 | $59.50 | $181.25 | $3.00 | $28.50 | $105.00 |
| 5 | $6.75 | $64.25 | $195.75 | $3.25 | $31.00 | $113.75 |
| 6 | $7.25 | $69.00 | $210.25 | $3.50 | $33.25 | $122.50 |
| 7 | $7.75 | $73.75 | $224.75 | $3.75 | $35.75 | $131.25 |
| 8 | $8.25 | $78.50 | $239.25 | $4.00 | $38.00 | $140.00 |
| 9 | $9.00 | $85.50 | $261.00 | $4.50 | $42.75 | $157.50 |
| 10 | $9.50 | $90.25 | $275.50 | $4.75 | $45.25 | $166.25 |
Fare zones
The fare change occurred on Feb 1, 2024 reduced the number fare zones and the overall fare.
Inter-agency fare arrangements
Metra Link-up Pass - $55
For monthly pass holders. Good on CTA on weekdays from 6am to 9:30pm and from 3:30pm to 7pm and Pace at anytime.
Metra/Pace PlusBus Pass - $30
For monthly pass holders. Good on Pace only.
