NITA expanding Access Pilot Program to CTA and Pace starting October 1, offering income-based reduced fare transit…

SUMMER 2026

NITA IMAGE LIBRARY

AUSTIN GREEN LINE and 315 BUS

Under NITA, Access — a popular fare pilot that enables Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to ride Metra at a reduced fare — is expanding to CTA and Pace beginning October 1. Eligible riders can apply for the program at GetAccess.org using their SNAP eligibility letter.

The NITA Board of Directors met for the first time on September 10 and hit the ground running by approving this Access Pilot Program expansion. The Access Pilot Program launched on February 1, 2024, following the conclusion of the Fair Transit South Cook Pilot. With the Board’s action to expand the program, those who qualify can now ride CTA and Pace at 50 percent off, making CTA bus rides $1.10 and L rides $1.25, and Pace bus rides only $1.

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.

“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 Board Chairman Tom Kotarac. “By making Access available across CTA, Metra, and Pace, we’re making a successful pilot available to thousands more riders, providing a regional benefit and making transit more affordable for riders who need it most.”

Current Access riders

There are currently 9,000 active Access permits being used on Metra. All of 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.

One Metra rider enrolled in the Access Pilot Program, Tiana Love of Chicago, said she and her family ride Metra much more often now that she’s able to purchase tickets at a reduced fare.

“My husband doesn’t drive, and his mother lives in Schaumburg, so instead of driving, we get on Metra now,” Love said. “I have kids, so the train ride is a lot more interesting,” she added with a laugh. “They like the train.”

Love said the application process was quick and easy, and having access to Metra makes certain trips much more convenient.

“Without Access, I would have to drive …,” she said. “I get tired of driving sometimes. When you’re the driver, you can’t look at the scenery and enjoy the view—and I hate traffic. [Riding Metra at a reduced fare,] we save a lot of money, so now we have enough money left over for the next week.”

More from NITA

The first issue of the NITA News e-newsletter will be sent on Friday, September 11. Register online to receive news from the agency. Riders can also look for updates to On Track: A blog from NITA.

The next meeting of the NITA Board of Directors takes place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. Learn more on the Meeting Materials page.