Overview
- Metra launched a pilot at Millennium, Union, and Ogilvie that checks tickets at platform entrances before riders board select off-peak trains.
- Staff use handheld devices to scan Ventra QR codes or inspect paper tickets, blocking platform access for anyone without proof of fare.
- Riders who arrive without a fare are directed to buy a ticket before boarding, while conductors continue onboard checks with less waiting for phone screens to load.
- The agency is measuring scanner speed, functionality, and durability and is logging which ticket types people use as well as when and where purchases occur.
- Findings could influence a future unified fare system under the Northern Illinois Transit Authority that may use similar handheld scanning tools.