The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will again offer “First Day, Free Rides” for all K-12, Chicago-area students as the agency sticks to tradition and contributes to the start of an exciting 2025-2026 school year. The Chicago Transit Board, during its monthly meeting on Wednesday, approved of continuing the free rides program for the 2025 and 2026 academic years. For 2025, CTA is partnering again with Butcher Boy Cooking Oils for a fifth straight year to provide free bus and train rides on Monday, Aug. 18, for students at public and private schools along with an accompanying adult. Students can take advantage of discounted fares of 75 cents on school days, between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., during the academic year. Beyond school hours, elementary students, ages 7-11, are eligible for reduced fares of $1.10 for a bus ride and $1.25 for a train ride. Students who are age 12 and older will continue to pay the full fare of $2.25 on buses and $2.50 on trains. Children age 6 and younger ride free with a fare-paying customer. For more information about Student Reduced Fare, please visit: www.transitchicago.com/students/