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Ventra Frustrations Take Center Stage At Public Hearing On CTA Budget

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The ongoing teething problems with the Ventra fare card were front and center at the CTA's only public hearing on its 2014 budget.

Ventra Frustrations Take Center Stage At CTA Public Budget Hearing

There are no fare hikes or service cuts in the CTA budget, so most of the 20 people who spoke vented about Ventra.

Rider Jacob Aronov says he doesn't want to get charged two or three times for the same ride because of the other contactless credit cards he uses.

"The same machine can zap and card with a magnetic strip on it such as a credit card or a debit card and take money off of it or demagnetize it as you are going through. I have not experienced it myself, I have heard horror stories from other people to that effect. It needs to be better tested out before you really put it into implementation," said Aronov.

Donald Ritchie say it just doesn't make work.

"The whole Ventra system is a $454 million fiasco," said Ritchie.

Some pleaded, some demanded, most said they want something done now.

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