Chicago's Metra customers use Ventra App for 1 millionth ride
The milestone was reached exactly two months after the app was launched by Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace.

Joe Ravi

Joe Ravi
Chicago Metra customers have now taken more than one million rides using mobile tickets on the new Ventra App.
The one millionth ride was taken Tuesday, exactly two months after the app was launched by Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace. The free app is now available for download and use on Apple and Android smartphone and tablet devices via the App Store and Google Play. Since it debuted in November, the app has been downloaded by more than 250,000 people.
The Ventra App is the first of its kind to allow customers to pay for rides on all three transit systems — CTA, Metra and Pace — from their mobile devices. The app offers customers a wide range of functionality, including Metra mobile tickets, Ventra account management, loading of transit value/passes, account notifications and real-time transit tracker information for CTA, Metra and Pace all in one place.

“We’re extremely happy with the way our customers have adopted mobile ticketing on the Ventra App,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “More and more riders every day are discovering that this new app is convenient, handy and very easy to use — and not just for Metra customers, but for CTA and Pace customers as well.”
The app has so far been used to buy 221,000 Metra tickets, and those mobile tickets have now been used to pay for one million rides. That includes 131,000 one-way tickets, 47,300 10-ride tickets, 20,000 monthly passes, 11,500 weekend passes and the rest special event or reduced fare tickets.
The app has also been used to purchase more than 240,000 fare products for use on CTA and Pace, including one-, three-, seven- and 30-day unlimited pass products and includes transactions that added transit value to Ventra accounts of varying dollar amounts.
More Rail

Scenes from APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
Transit leaders, manufacturers, and industry professionals gathered in Chicago to explore new technologies, share ideas, and discuss the future of public transportation.
Read More →
USDOT Awards $416 Million for Florida Rail Crossing Safety Upgrades, New Brightline Station
The projects aim to reduce risks for motorists and pedestrians at rail crossings while expanding passenger rail access along Florida’s Space Coast.
Read More →
OCTA Declares Emergency to Protect Rail Corridor From Coastal Erosion
The California agency is accelerating shoreline protection and plans to place approximately 690,000 cubic yards of sand along the San Clemente coast to protect a key passenger and freight rail link.
Read More →
More Than a Summer Job: Building the Next Generation of Transit Talent
The Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO have transformed their internship program into a hands-on professional development experience that introduces students to the breadth of transportation careers — and creates a pipeline for future employees.
Read More →
Airo Trains Make Their Amtrak Cascades Debut in the Pacific Northwest
Effective immediately, two cutting-edge Airo trainsets will join the Amtrak Cascades route, operating four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon, marking the first introduction of Airo trains into passenger service anywhere in the country.
Read More →
Florida's Brightline Announces Financial Restructuring
Brightline Florida says train operations will continue as normal as certain parent entities enter Chapter 11 and financial stakeholders provide $490 million in new long-term capital.
Read More →
ENC Lands MATA Contract and More in Biz Briefs
In this edition of Biz Briefs, we spotlight the latest developments shaping the future of mobility.
Read More →
Strada360’s Steve Lassey on Turning Transit Data Into Better Decisions
From breaking down data silos to preparing for AI, Strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can use technology to improve operations, customer information, and long-term decision-making.
Read More →
SEPTA Details Accelerate Vision for Transit System
The plan outlines investments in trolley modernization, new Metro and Regional Rail vehicles, accessible stations, and more frequent bus and rail service.
Read More →
FTA Ends Direct Oversight of MBTA Safety Actions
The federal agency closed its remaining special directive to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities following a safety review that began in 2022.
Read More →