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.
In addition to this special first day of school offer, full-time students attending primary or secondary schools can purchase reduced fare tickets for all journeys. When using a reduced fare ticket, students must present a valid student ID or a valid certificate from their school on school paper (both are valid until the end of the calendar year) with the student’s name, school name and a certified signature. Children aged 7 to 11 are also eligible for reduced fare tickets and children under 7 travel free when accompanied by a paying adult.
