Here's How the Metra Fare Hike Would Affect Evanston

The following is from the City of Evanston:

[Thursday] at a special meeting of Metra’s Board, they tentatively approved a proposed a long-term, $2.4 billion modernization plan focusing on replacing the agency’s aging rail cars and locomotives and addressing ongoing needs to maintain safe and reliable service for commuters. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that “the plan calls for an average fare increase of 10.8 percent in 2015 and hikes of at least 3 percent each year between now and 2024, with a cumulative 68 percent rise over that 10-year period.” The proposed 2015 fare increase would be implemented on February 1, 2015.

All Evanston commuters traveling to downtown Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center from any of the three Evanston Metra stations, Main Street, Davis Street or Central Street, would see the cost of a one-way ride jump from $4.25 to $4.75. The cost of a ten-ride pass would increase from $42.50 to $42.75, and the cost of a monthly pass would increase from $121 to $135.50. These increases would be followed by smaller increases each year through 2024. (View the current fare schedule and the proposed fare schedule for 2015.) As part of the 2015 budget proposal, Metra would restore a discount on 10-ride tickets that was eliminated in 2013. The 10-ride ticket would now be priced at the cost of nine one-way fares, instead of the current 10 one-way fares.

Other proposed fare policy changes include:

• The grace period on monthly tickets would be restored, so that they would be valid on the first business day of the following month until noon.
• One-way tickets would be good for 90 days, instead of the current 14.
• The extra charge for buying a ticket onboard the train would increase to $5 from $3 (The surcharge is not applied if no ticket agent is available at the boarding station.)
• The price of a weekend pass would only increase to $8 from $7.
• A general no refund policy will be adopted, but exceptions could be outlined in the future.

Metra will host public meetings to discuss the Fiscal Year 2015 proposed program and budget on November 5 and 6, between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at locations throughout the Chicago area, including downtown Chicago, Hanover Park and Mundelein. View all public hearing locations and dates. Public comments can also be sent to 2015budgetcomments@metrarr.com.

***Residents are asked to attend the public meetings and send comments to Metra regarding the budget and proposed fare increase.