CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors has voted to maintain its current special post-pandemic fare discounts — a $100 flat-rate “Super Saver” monthly pass and $10 and $6 day passes — through the end of 2023 as part of the operating budget for the coming year approved on Friday.
The current fare structure was one of several options that also included monthly passes at a higher rate than the current pass but lower than the regular pre-pandemic formula that determined the price.
“We hope that these flexible and affordable fare products will continue to draw former and new riders to our system and continue to grow our ridership,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “Part of our commitment to My Metra riders is to offer service and fares that meet their evolving needs.”
The budget approved Friday matches the proposed $980 million operating budget and $504.6 million for capital projects introduced in October [see “Metra releases draft budget, new strategic plan,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 14, 2022]. The operating budget is an 8.9% increase, reflecting inflation, contract cost increases, and the costs of restoring service to pre-pandemic levels. The largest portion of the capital budget is a $119.5 allocation for station reconstruction.
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