The plans (download below) will be the subject of public feedback, including hearings, before the commuter railroad’s Board of Directors votes in November.
“Like CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] and Pace [Suburban Bus], Metra initially expected to be facing a larger funding shortfall next year, brought on by the expected exhaustion of federal COVID-relief funds,” the railroad reported Oct. 10. “The agencies have been using the relief funds to cover drops in fare revenue due to lower post-pandemic ridership. But thanks to a variety of factors, Metra now expects to be able to get through most of 2026 before those relief funds are fully spent. And it expects to be able to cover the smaller shortfall with prioritized hiring, delayed discretionary spending, delayed service expansions, better operating results, and higher sales taxes.”
However, Metra said it anticipates a $276.3 million shortfall in 2027 and a $304.8 million shortfall in 2028. “Severe service cuts and other actions will be needed unless the Legislature acts to increase funding for public transportation in Illinois to replace the COVID-relief dollars,” it reported.
Illinois’ Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) required Metra, CTA, and Pace to raise fares by a minimum of 10% next year to help address deficits brought on by the exhaustion of federal COVID-relief funds, according to Metra. This would be the first across-the-board fare increase since 2018. Due to the need to round fares to the nearest quarter to assist onboard fare collection, Metra said fares would increase 13% to 15% depending on the fare product and the number of zones traveled.
For instance, the cost of a One-Way Ticket would increase to $4.25 from $3.75 for Zone1-2, to $6.25 from $5.50 for Zone 1-3, and to $7.75 from $6.75 for zone 1-4. The cost of a Monthly Pass would increase to $85 from $75 for Zone1-2, to $125 from $110 for Zone 1-3, and to $155 from $135 for zone 1-4. The cost of Day Passes, Day Pass 5-Packs, weekend passes, and all reduced fare products would also increase. See below for a comparison between all current and proposed fares.
The proposed operating budget of $1.1 billion is about $18 million, or 1.7%, lower than the 2025 budget. The decrease, Metra said, is largely driven by “operating efficiencies and other reductions offset by expected inflationary, contractual, and market increases.”
The budget is funded by system-generated revenue of $325 million, including $207.8 million in fares. It also is funded by $635.9 million in regional sale tax receipts and Metra’s remaining $206.1 million in federal COVID-relief funding. Metra said it is proposing to set aside $60 million in fare revenue for capital needs, including for a “critical program to replace or rehab hundreds of aging bridges.”
Metra said its $575.3 capital program is funded by $426.7 million in federal formula funding and discretionary grants, $88.6 million in Illinois PAYGO funding, $100,000 in an RTA Access to Transit grant, and $60 million in Metra capital funding. The program is said to allocate $268.2 million to rolling stock; $68.4 million to bridges, tracks and structures; $59.1 million in signals, electrical and communications; $27.3 million in facilities and equipment; $59.9 million in stations and parking; and $92.3 million in support activities.
Public hearings about the budget will be held throughout the region on Nov. 5 (in Will, DuPage, and Lake counties) and 6 (South Suburban Cook, Kane, North Suburban Cook, and McHenry counties) between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The City of Chicago’s Nov. 5 hearing, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., can also be attended virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Further Reading:
- Report: RTA Redirects Funds From Metra, Pace to Prevent CTA Service Reductions
- Reports: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Replace Chicago RTA
- Reports: UP Takes Metra to Court
- STB Grants Metra’s ‘Terminal Trackage Rights’ Application
- Metra’s MACs: From Freight Haulers to Commuter Service
- Metra Awarded $104MM for Station Upgrades, Switchers
- Metra Outlines 2025 Construction Program
