(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Commuters may have fewer options as Metra braces for that fiscal cliff its leadership has been warning about.
Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski told board members that after federal pandemic funds run out in 2026, the agency will be facing a budget gap of $332 million the following year.
“The number we are throwing around mathematically is a 40% reduction of service to meet the budget hole in 2027,” Derwinski said.
He and other Metra administrators expect to get a sense of whether the state will give them any aid in the next few months, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker releases his budget proposal.
If there’s nothing, Metra could cut its budget and hike fares.
The board approved a nearly $1.1 billion budget for next year that’s balanced, and is about 4% higher.
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