Metra Fare Increases Begin Feb. 1

Metra fare increases begin Feb. 1 in an effort to generate additional funding for backlogged capital projects. (LHOON / Flickr)Metra fare increases begin Feb. 1 in an effort to generate additional funding for backlogged capital projects. (LHOON / Flickr)

As of Wednesday, CTA trains won’t be the only elevated feature of local railways. Metra fare increases going into effect at the start of the month include 25-cent increases for one-way tickets and an $11.75 jump for monthly passes.

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The Metra Board of Directors approved the price hikes in November in an effort to produce more funding for capital improvement projects. While Metra expects the fare increases to generate $16.1 million, the agency reported that its extensive backlog of projects requires $1.2 billion annually over the next decade. The agency projects it will have less than $300 million yearly, leaving a significant gap in the budget even after the price increases.

Fare increases as stated by Metra include:

  • One-Way Tickets: Customers will pay 25 cents more per ticket, or 2.4 percent to 7.1 percent more depending on Metra zone. If these customers take the train 30 times a year, they will pay an additional $7.50 annually to ride Metra.
  • 10-Ride Tickets: Customers will pay $2.75 more per ticket, or 2.9 percent to 8.9 percent more. That works out to an additional 27.5 cents per trip.
  • Monthly Passes: Customers will pay $11.75 more per month, or 4 percent to 12.3 percent more. That works out to about 27 cents more per trip and $141 more annually to ride Metra.
  • Reduced-Fare Tickets: Customers eligible for reduced fare tickets will pay an additional 25 cents for a One-Way Ticket, an additional $1.50 for a 10-Ride Ticket and an additional $7.50 for a Monthly Pass.

Oh, and if your destination is Chicago, don’t forget to bring additional bags for shopping, as the 7-cent checkout bag tax also kicks in on Wednesday. 

Still wondering why Metra decided on these fare increases? The agency provided a video to explain the 2017 budget and the reasoning behind their decision: 


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