AS SHARED BY 'PACE SUBURBAN BUS'...
Pace Moving Forward
Volume 10, Issue 19
November 15, 2013
Pace to distribute free Ventra Cards
Pace staff will be at suburban transit centers over the next few weeks in an effort to put Ventra cards directly into the hands of the agency's customers to ease their transition to the new fare payment system. A total of nine events will occur during the weeks of November 18 and December 2. As a thank you for trying Ventra, Pace has pre-loaded the cards with $2 of transit value, enough for one adult fare and up to two transfers within two hours.
"The network of retail locations that sell Ventra cards and allow customers to add passes or transit value to their account is still growing," said Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski. "We felt that eliminating the step of locating a place to purchase a card was the easiest way to get our customers to begin using Ventra and learning about the benefits it offers."
To receive one of the free cards, customers must fill out a registration form available on-site. A valid, state-issued photo ID must be presented in order for Pace representatives to verify name and address information. Customers have the option of waiting for staff to complete the registration process on-site to receive a card immediately or turning in a verified form and receiving their card by mail within 3-5 business days. To participate, customers must present their form in person; forms submitted via post will not be accepted. RTA Reduced Fare and Ride Free Program customers are not eligible to participate, as they already have or will soon receive a free, Ventra-compatible card from the RTA. Customers who already have a Ventra card are also ineligible to participate.
Once customers have their Ventra card, they can add passes or transit value at vending machines, VentraChicago.com, by phone at 877-NOW-VENTRA, or at a participating Ventra retail location. Retail location information is available online or by phone. Before Ventra, Pace had only 50 retail locations at which customers could buy Pace passes. Ventra's retail network now has nearly 300 suburban locations, and will eventually grow to 500.
For a list of dates, times and locations of the Ventra distribution events, please visit www.pacebus.com.
Pace Board delays some Ventra dates
The Pace Board of Directors approved fare policy changes that differ slightly from the proposals discussed at public hearings in October. The issuance of Transfer Cards to cash-paying customers will continue until July 1, 2014, instead of the originally proposed date of December 15. Although the sale of Pace 10-Ride Plus tickets and magnetic stripe passes will end November 18 as originally proposed, these passes will continue to be accepted for fare payment until July 1- also instead of December 15.
"We will use the extra time to continue our customer outreach and education efforts while also working with the CTA and our vendor to ensure optimal customer experiences with Ventra," said Pace Board Chairman Richard Kwasneski.
Pace's Student Haul Pass, a monthly pass for high school and middle school students, was to have been replaced by the Pace 30-Day Reduced Pass for December. The Student Haul Pass will be extended one more month to allow students more time to apply for eligibility to purchase the Reduced Pass. More information, along with the form to apply for the student entitlement, is available in the FAQ section on VentraChicago.com. More information about Pace's updated milestone dates for the Ventra transition is available at www.PaceBus.com/Ventra.
The newsletter for stakeholders of America's most efficient suburban transit agency
www.pacebus.com
Customer Relations: (847) 364-7223
Copyright 2013, Pace Suburban Bus
Pace Moving Forward
Volume 10, Issue 19
November 15, 2013
Pace to distribute free Ventra Cards
Pace staff will be at suburban transit centers over the next few weeks in an effort to put Ventra cards directly into the hands of the agency's customers to ease their transition to the new fare payment system. A total of nine events will occur during the weeks of November 18 and December 2. As a thank you for trying Ventra, Pace has pre-loaded the cards with $2 of transit value, enough for one adult fare and up to two transfers within two hours.
"The network of retail locations that sell Ventra cards and allow customers to add passes or transit value to their account is still growing," said Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski. "We felt that eliminating the step of locating a place to purchase a card was the easiest way to get our customers to begin using Ventra and learning about the benefits it offers."
To receive one of the free cards, customers must fill out a registration form available on-site. A valid, state-issued photo ID must be presented in order for Pace representatives to verify name and address information. Customers have the option of waiting for staff to complete the registration process on-site to receive a card immediately or turning in a verified form and receiving their card by mail within 3-5 business days. To participate, customers must present their form in person; forms submitted via post will not be accepted. RTA Reduced Fare and Ride Free Program customers are not eligible to participate, as they already have or will soon receive a free, Ventra-compatible card from the RTA. Customers who already have a Ventra card are also ineligible to participate.
Once customers have their Ventra card, they can add passes or transit value at vending machines, VentraChicago.com, by phone at 877-NOW-VENTRA, or at a participating Ventra retail location. Retail location information is available online or by phone. Before Ventra, Pace had only 50 retail locations at which customers could buy Pace passes. Ventra's retail network now has nearly 300 suburban locations, and will eventually grow to 500.
For a list of dates, times and locations of the Ventra distribution events, please visit www.pacebus.com.
Pace Board delays some Ventra dates
The Pace Board of Directors approved fare policy changes that differ slightly from the proposals discussed at public hearings in October. The issuance of Transfer Cards to cash-paying customers will continue until July 1, 2014, instead of the originally proposed date of December 15. Although the sale of Pace 10-Ride Plus tickets and magnetic stripe passes will end November 18 as originally proposed, these passes will continue to be accepted for fare payment until July 1- also instead of December 15.
"We will use the extra time to continue our customer outreach and education efforts while also working with the CTA and our vendor to ensure optimal customer experiences with Ventra," said Pace Board Chairman Richard Kwasneski.
Pace's Student Haul Pass, a monthly pass for high school and middle school students, was to have been replaced by the Pace 30-Day Reduced Pass for December. The Student Haul Pass will be extended one more month to allow students more time to apply for eligibility to purchase the Reduced Pass. More information, along with the form to apply for the student entitlement, is available in the FAQ section on VentraChicago.com. More information about Pace's updated milestone dates for the Ventra transition is available at www.PaceBus.com/Ventra.
The newsletter for stakeholders of America's most efficient suburban transit agency
www.pacebus.com
Customer Relations: (847) 364-7223
Copyright 2013, Pace Suburban Bus
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