The CTA will charge one penny for rides on all trains and buses starting at 10 p.m. tonight and ending at 4 a.m. tomorrow.

Between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., CTA customers will not use their fare cards to pay, as it will deduct the regular fare. CTA will not offer refunds to customers who accidentally use their fare cards.

In addition, some bus and rail services will be extended for the night. The Red Line will run more frequently, arriving at stops every 10 to 12 minutes from midnight to 6 a.m. The Blue Line will also run more frequently, arriving at stops every 12 to 15 minutes from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The rest of the service changes can be found here: http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?ArticleId=2967

According to a CTA official, the transit company is offering the penny service for three reasons: to show their appreciation for their customers, to give them an economical option for transportation and to discourage people from drunk driving.

Joe Pitsor, a sophomore at DePaul majoring in accounting and real estate, plans to use the trains and buses multiple times tonight.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Pitsor said. “It’s like the city giving everyone (regardless of income level) permission to get wild. They ought to do it for other major drunken holidays, like 4th of July and Saint Patrick’s Day.”