The offer is valid on this day for all primary and secondary school students in the region.
Elementary and high school students across the region can also ride CTA, Metra and Pace for free on Monday, August 26, the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools and many suburban schools.
This is the third year in a row that Metra and Pace have offered free rides to students on the first day of school. The CTA traditionally offers free rides to Chicago elementary and high school students on the first day of school. All three modes of transportation will allow students in grades K-12 who attend public or private school and one accompanying adult to ride buses and trains for free on August 26 from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We are pleased to continue this special back-to-school tradition for students in the Chicago area,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “An affordable and convenient ride on the first day can help set the stage for a successful school year.”
“We are pleased to help families get a positive start to the school year by offering free rides to students who take Metra to class,” said Jim Derwinski, CEO and general manager of Metra.
“Back to school sets the tone for the entire year, and Pace is committed to ensuring that all students across the region can start the year on a positive note,” said Melinda Metzger, Pace’s executive director. “Free back to school rides are one small step to support our students’ success in the coming year and help encourage independence and lifelong transit use.”
CTA has been offering Chicagoland students reduced fares throughout the school year for many years. Throughout the school year, students can benefit from reduced fares of 75 cents on school days between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Outside of school hours, elementary school students ages 7-11 are eligible for reduced fares of $1.10 for a bus ride and $1.25 for a bus ride.
for a train ride. Students ages 12 and older will continue to pay the full fare of $2.25 on the bus and $2.50 on the train. Children ages 6 and under ride free when accompanied by a paying passenger. For more information on the reduced student fare, visit: www.transitchicago.com/students/
In addition to this special first-day-of-school offer, full-time students attending elementary or high school can purchase discounted fares for all Metra rides. When using a discounted fare, students must present a valid student ID or certificate from their school on school paper (both are valid through the end of the calendar year) with the student’s name, school name, and a certified signature. Children ages 7 to 11 are also eligible for discounted fares, and children under 7 ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. For more information, visit metra.com/fares.
On August 26, fares on Pace buses, On Demand and ADA paratransit services will be waived for all elementary and high school students in Chicago and the suburbs and one accompanying adult. On other days, students can take advantage of reduced fares by purchasing the Pace 30-Day Reduced Fare Pass for $30 (unlimited rides all day, every day, regardless of the purpose of the trip and with no school hour restrictions for 30 days) and paying with the fare value.
their Student Ventra Card for a $1.00 discounted fare with free transfers, pay $1.10 in cash (with exact change) upon presentation of a student ID, or pay a $1.10 surcharge with Ventra Transit credit when using the 30-day discounted fare on Pace Premium routes. Please note that transfers are not available when paying with cash. For more information, visit www.pacebus.com/student-fare-information.
