Metra Could Hike Fares, Cut Services, If State Budget Impasse Continues
By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jun 19, 2015 9:30PM
Metra is preparing for the possibility of another round of service reductions and fair hikes, in case the state budget impasse doesn't improve.
Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget would cut $170 million from Chicago mass transit agencies, 20.8 million of which would be taken from Metra, according to the Tribune. But with legislators rejecting Rauner's budget so far, it's possible Metra operators will have to tighten their belts at least through the summer.
"As we get closer to the impasse, something either has to give, or we have to make some tough choices," Metra Executive Director Don Orseno told the Tribune.
Right now, officials are calling the fare hike and service reduction combo as a "contingency plan," only to be borne out if the budget impasse is not overcome.
Metra already had a fare hike for some types of tickets take effect earlier this year, and in 2012 a larger fare hike kicked ticket prices up about 35 percent.