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

October 1, 2026

Under NITA, Access — a popular fare pilot that enables Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to ride Metra at a reduced fare — expanded to CTA and Pace on October 1. 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 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 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.”

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 

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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.