Chicago's suburban commuter railroad, Metra, has proposed significant changes to its fare structure in response to new commuting patterns in a post-COVID-19 world. The proposed changes include the elimination of 10-ride passes, a reduction in fare zones from 10 to four, and suspension of promotional day passes. The Chicago Sun-Times reports these measures are part of Metra's $1.1 billion budget for 2024.
Since the onset of the pandemic, Metra's ridership has dropped by over half, largely attributable to a shift in working patterns as remote and hybrid work schedules become more prevalent. To address these changes, Metra is proposing a revised fare structure and seeking public input to gather feedback through surveys, as outlined on their website.
The revised fare structure aims to provide greater accommodation for various types of commuters, by reducing the 10 fare zones to four for one-way tickets, weekday day passes, and monthly passes, in addition however, to eliminating the 10-ride ticket. Instead, it proposes a "Day Pass 5-Pack," mostly available via the Ventra app, thereby encouraging usage of the app whilst maintaining a degree of flexibility for riders.
Under the new fare structure, one-way fares ought to be equal to or lower than existing prices, with trips not starting or ending downtown being flat rated at $3.75, regardless of distance. Twice the price of one-way tickets would cost Weekday day passes. Monthly passes might have a pricing below pre-pandemic levels. The incremental fare system will be abandoned, thus requiring riders to purchase tickets specifically valid for their individual journeys, as detailed on Metra's website.
A survey from over 14,000 respondents revealed a generally positive response to the proposed changes. The survey indicated that 55% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal, 53% approved the revised fare zones, and 40% supported the new ticket options. This suggests that most riders are open to changes that respond to their commuting needs.
Metra's proposed budget for next year has earmarked 63% of funds to construction and repair needs. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is also developing a set of recommendations for regional transit agencies, keeping in mind the forecasted "fiscal cliff" once pandemic federal relief ends in 2025. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, these recommendations could include a potential hike in rates, increase in sales tax, and even considering the consolidation of regional transit agencies.
