The creation of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in the 1970's helped keep fares relatively stable through that decade. Public transit would now be subsidized. But in the early 1980's, the state subsidy to the RTA was dropped, resulting in a funding crisis at the RTA. Transit fares skyrocketed, including the CTA fare going up to 90 cents in 1981. The state subsidy was restored in 1983, and the 1990's began with the fare at $1.00, with transfers at 25 cents. But state and federal transit subsidies often have not been adequate enough, and at the end of 1995, the fare became $1.50, with 30 cents for a transfer. This lasted until the beginning of 2004, when the fare became $1.75, with 25 cents for a transfer.
With its next fare increase at the beginning of 2006, the CTA took a few unusual and creative steps. The CTA had recognized, that there are certain expenses associated with the collection of cash fares. And the CTA had developed the Transit Card and Chicago Card, stored value cards described below. So this fare increase would most significantly affect riders paying cash. Fares and transfer charges would remain the same for riders using Transit Cards and Chicago Cards, except that with the Transit Cards, the rapid transit fare would be $2.00. But the cash fare would increase to $2.00 for buses and trains, with transfers no longer available.
The CTA next increased fares in 2009, generally to $2.25. But $2.00 on buses for riders using Transit Cards and Chicago Cards, with transfers still available at 25 cents for those riders.
Transit in Chicago traditionally has used a "flat fare" system throughout its history. On the rapid transit, once one has paid a fare and has proceeded through a turnstile, one can do an unlimited amount of rapid transit riding and transferring, until exiting the system through a turnstile. No ticket or proof of payment is required to exit. However, for transit fans exploring the rapid transit system, the Skokie Swift/Dempster St. terminal on the Yellow Line is configured, such that one does need a new fare to reenter the system after arriving in Skokie.
Throughout its history, there have been a few periods when higher "zone" fares have been used for certain rapid transit trains and buses, particularly express routes and certain routes serving suburbs. There have also been a few periods, when lower "shuttle" fares have existed to and from downtown Chicago commuter railroad stations.
As fare collection at rapid transit stations has become automated, the need for agents to collect fares has been eliminated. Transit Cards are sold by vending machines, and the agents are now "Customer Assistants", who no longer are necessarily confined to the agents booths.
For many years, many rapid transit stations had been left unattended during slack periods, with fare collection by conductors on the trains. But with one person operation now implemented on the CTA, stations must now be staffed at all times a line is in service.
In 1950, the CTA started selling tokens for use on the surface system, and tokens eventually became accepted on both buses and rapid transit trains. The original tokens said "CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY" on one side, and "SURFACE SYSTEM TOKEN" on the other side. Later tokens said "CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY" on both sides. Regular fare tokens were silver and slightly smaller than a dime, while reduced fare tokens were made of bronze and approximately the size of a nickel.
Tokens were discontinued in 1959, and revived in 1969, when the CTA adopted the exact fare system on buses.
In 1997, the new Transit Cards began replacing the tokens, and tokens were completely eliminated in 1999.
Various passes are also available for sale through the CTA Web site.