COOK COUNTY (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Low-income Metra riders could still see slashed fare prices even after the southern Cook County program ends.
The new reduced fare program would begin in February and would allow residents eligible for the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to apply for reduced prices on Metra rides, according to the Chicago Tribune.
It is set to begin after the Cook County-backed program, which started in 2021, ends in January. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle had hoped at the time to expand the program to all of the region's transit agencies, including the CTA.
RTA spokeswoman Tina Smith told the Tribune the new 18-month pilot is expected to cost $10 million, and the county is proposing to contribute $6 million to it in its budget.
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