Chicago
Enabling the future of the nation’s first major account-based system
Ventra™ – CTA (Chicago, IL)
In 2013, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) launched the Ventra® fare collection system in two years, as a comprehensive account-based system with open payments, with support from Trevor Findley as the technical lead. In 2019 CCG was engaged to support the CTA in a system upgrade to Ventra 3.0 by leading the technical aspects of the contract negotiation, proposing new or modified requirements, and negotiating true open architecture – technically and contractually. This new contract maximized agency benefits and unlocked many innovation possibilities. After the contract execution, CCG was engaged to support the upgrade project by providing API/open architecture review, design document review, and participation in design workshops.
Period of Performance: September 2019 to Present
Project Responsibilities
- Lead technical negotiations for a major expansion to Ventra system (Ventra 3.0)
- Provide technical advisory services throughout legal and technical negotiations with Cubic
- Develop critical open architecture approach and technical requirements
- Oversee necessary revisions to existing technical requirements to support system expansion
- Negotiate requirements governing the migration of Ventra 3.0 to the cloud
- Define comprehensive and efficient plan for design, testing and deployment
- Support design review of new Ventra 3.0 systems
Key Accomplishments
- Drafted open architecture technical requirements
- Developed plan for design, testing and deployment
- Led open architecture contract negotiations
- Led open architecture design workshops with vendor and agency
- Supported Ventra 3.0 design review and workshops
References available upon request.