Metra commuters, brace yourselves for a change-up. Beginning next month, you'll be saying goodbye to ticket windows across the system's lines, including the downtown Chicago stations. BNSF line users have already seen closures earlier in January, and by Feb. 1, it'll be a complete shift to vending machines and mobile app purchases, as reported by NBC Chicago.
Those trusty 10-ride tickets are a thing of the past, too. In their stead, passengers can buy a five-pack of Day Passes which will go for 9.5 times the rate of a single-ride fare, according to Metra. No more zone juggling with incremental fares, that scheme is getting the ax starting Feb. 1. And for avid travelers, the Regional Connect Pass – it's now an exclusive offering on the Ventra app – a $30 deal that grants unlimited rides on both CTA and Pace.
Metra's simplifying its fare system could mean pocket-friendlier travel for many. Distilling the confusing 10 zones down to a mere four, the agency pledges that nearly all their lines will see reduced prices, with the exception of the Metra Electric Line where a discounted fare program will wrap up come February. These changes come as Metra faces a hangover of lagging ridership post-pandemic, with the average number of weekday riders at 57% of pre-pandemic levels in November, detailed The Chicago Tribune.
And there's more – think of it as a helping hand from Metra. A new program kicks in for the wallet-watching commuters, the Access Pilot Program, designed to cut fares for low-income riders across all lines. This initiative welcomes SNAP benefit recipients in the Chicago area, which totaled about 777,000 adults in 2020. The program, backed by $10 million from Cook County and other sources, is set to run through July 31, 2025, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Metra's also betting that bikers and rule-following passengers will be pleased. From the same reporting source, Metra's new bike policy greenlights bikes aboard all trains at any time of the day, a permanent nod to a pandemic-era easement. Plus, the passenger code of conduct is set to bolster safety, with consequences for those threatening the peace – ranging from a confiscated fare to up to a year's suspension for the rowdiest of riders. "The safety of our riders and our workers is paramount, and Metra intends to make full use of this new state law to make sure we are protecting both riders and workers to the best of our ability," stated CEO Jim Derwinski.
