CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --- Metra has unveiled its proposed budget for next year and there are no plans for any fare increases.
The $900 million spending plan for 2022 is $100 million more than this year. In a press release, officials said there would be changes in the 10-ride pass. The pass will be valid for only 90 days instead of a full year.
One-way tickets would be valid for two weeks instead of 90 days.
Metra also plans to introduce a pilot program for a $6.00 day pass “to incentivize short trips and attract more customers”, according to the press release. Riders could use this pass all day long over three zones.
The budget also includes $458.8 million in revenue from the regional transportation sales tax and $202 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding. Metra is also requesting an additional $92.8 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the Regional Transportation Authority, which is responsible for distributing the third round of federal aid.
Ridership remains at about 25 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Metra’s administration predicts it will rise to 35 percent over the course of the next year.
“After nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there remains a great deal of uncertainty about how and when things will return to normal,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski in a statement.
“We feel the most responsible approach is to be cautious with our assumptions about the growth in ridership while at the same time ramping up our service, so we are ready when My Metra riders are ready.”
Public hearings regarding next year’s budget are scheduled on Nov.
3 and 4 across the area. For information on attending in person or virtually or to make a comment, visit metra.com/options-public-comment-2022-budget.
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