NITA expands income-based reduced fare pilot Access across Metra, CTA and Pace

October 1, 2026

The Access Pilot Program has offered reduced fares to Metra riders who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since 2024. With its expansion to CTA and Pace, Access is now also available throughout NITA’s transit network to riders who receive the Illinois Department of Human Services’ FRESH Program benefit.

CHICAGO — Oct. 1, 2026 — Today the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) in partnership with CTA, Metra, and Pace, expands the Access Pilot Program across its transit network to include CTA and Pace, creating a regionwide reduced fare program for households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. With its expansion, the program is now also available to riders who receive the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) FRESH Program benefit. Eligible riders can apply for the program at GetAccess.org.

The Access Pilot Program launched on Feb. 1, 2024, following the conclusion of the Fair Transit South Cook Pilot. Access expanded eligibility for reduced fares from two Metra lines to all Metra riders who were enrolled in the SNAP program. Under NITA, those who qualify for the program can now ride at reduced fares of $1.00 for Pace, $1.10 for CTA bus and $1.25 for CTA trains, bringing the benefits of the program regionwide.

Survey data suggests that about 15 percent of CTA riders and 20 percent of Pace riders participate in SNAP currently and would be eligible to enroll in Access, representing an average of more than 127,000 daily riders. If these riders use transit for a 5-day work week, they can save up to $650 a year with Access. Permits are valid for four years and will remain so even if changes are made to federal regulations on SNAP.

There are currently 9,000 active Access permits being used on Metra. All these will be expanded automatically to include CTA and Pace; riders do not need to re-enroll in the program but will be sent a new card in the mail that is enabled for use on CTA and Pace. More than 350,000 rides have been taken through the program since its launch, with the majority on the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines serving the south side of Chicago and into Southern Cook County.

“Expanding Access to CTA and Pace is an important first step as NITA takes on its new responsibility to set regional fare policy,” said NITA Chair Tom Kotarac. “By making Access available across CTA, Metra and Pace, we’re turning a successful pilot into a regional benefit and making transit more equitable and affordable for riders who need it most.”