In 1995, the CTA began replacing paper transfers with new "Transfer Cards", with a magnetic stripe. The first Transfer Cards were mainly brown, and were replaced with a newer design with red and black. Eventually the Pace logo was added, and these same Transfer Cards are also issued by Pace. Although after CTA stopped issuing Transfer Cards, Pace began issuing its own Transfer Cards.
The changeover to Transit Cards was first completed with the buses, and in 1997 was completed with the rapid transit, where new turnstiles were installed to be compatible with the new system. The new turnstiles could read a transfer and determine whether to allow a rider through, or dispense a transfer upon payment of a fare. On buses, the new transfer readers/dispensers were attached to the fareboxes. This same equipment would able to work with stored value "Transit Cards", which the CTA has adopted.
The smaller size of the new Transfer Cards prevented the inclusion of all rules, and Spanish is no longer included. More complete rules were posted on CTA trains and buses after adoption of the Transfer Card. The transfer regulations were similar to those adopted in 1986, except that in early 1997, the CTA lifted its rule against using a transfer on the route of issue. However, the new Transfer Cards would be rejected if used at the same station or on the same bus within 15 minutes. This would prevent fare cheating, eliminating the possibility of two people riding for just one fare and a transfer.
Conventional transfers or Transfer Cards were finally eliminated at the beginning of 2006, as the CTA encouraged riders to instead use the Transit Cards or Chicago Cards. Those stored value cards would automatically handle the appropriate charges for transfers, according to the same established transfer regulations.
CTA expressly reserves the right to make changes to the Transfer Card Regulations at any time without advance notice.
1. A Transfer Card is issued at the time a fare is paid.
2. Use of a Transfer Card by any person other than the person to whom the Transfer Card was issued is unlawful.
3. A Transfer Card is good on any bus route or rail line for two rides within two hours from the time of issue, except as noted in #4 below. The expiration time and expiration date is printed on the back of the Transfer Card.
4. A Transfer Card is invalid when used on the same bus route or rail station of issue or twice in a row on the same bus route or rail station during the pass back period. The pass back period lasts about 15 minutes and occurs just after the transfer is issued.
5. Transfer Cards rejected by fare collecting equipment, including expired, torn, mutilated, and counterfeit Transfer Cards, are invalid.
6. Transfer Cards rejected by fare collecting equipment without an expiration time and date printed on the back are invalid.
7. Valid Transfer Cards are issued only by CTA or Pace.
8. Reduced Fare Transfer Cards are valid only when presented with a valid CTA or RTA Reduced Fare Permit. Exception: Children under 12 years of age will not require a permit, but if they appear to be 12 years of age or older, a CTA Proof of Age card may be required.
9. Anyone using a Transfer Card in violation of these regulations is subject to a fine of $200.00 for each offense.
10. The Chicago Transit Authority reserves the right to change the above regulations at any time without advanced notice.
CTA drivers and rail agents are able to issue an "Emergency Transfer Card", primarily for service disruptions. Emergency Transfer Cards have also been used where CTA routes would connect with bus routes from Indiana. Although funding problems in Indiana have resulted in such bus services not always existing. A paper transfer from an Indiana bus could be presented to the driver, who would exchange it for an Emergency Transfer.