As winter break approaches, please be aware that you can continue to use your Ventra U-Pass card as a transit card when school is not in session simply by adding funds to your account.

It’s easy and convenient to add money to your Ventra card. You can add funds or load an unlimited-ride 1-day, 3-day, 7-day or 30-day pass online at VentraChicago.com if you have a registered transit account or at any Ventra Vending Machine located at CTA rail stations and at hundreds of participating retail locations – visit VentraChicago.com to find a location near you.

For Main Campus and ID students who register full time by January 3, 2015, the Ventra U-Pass unlimited riding privileges automatically resume January 12, 2015. Please note if your transit account has a negative balance your UPass will not reactivate until the balance is paid.

As a reminder, U-Pass is to be used only by the student for whom it is issued. CTA is increasing its efforts to monitor the use of UPass fare cards and will confiscate the card if anyone other than the person appearing in the U-Pass photo is using the card. Upon confiscation, a student will not be eligible for another U-Pass until Fall 2015. You will still have to pay the UPass fee for the Spring semester and once you are eligible again you will have to pay the $50 replacement fee.

Should you lose your U-Pass during break, a new one can be ordered online at http://tinyurl.com/lostupass.

More information about how U-Pass functions when school is out of session at transitchicago.com/upass.