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Metra Fare Increases Kick In

By Sam Cholke | February 1, 2017 10:16am | Updated on February 3, 2017 11:18am
 Metra fare hikes kicked in on Wednesday.
Metra fare hikes kicked in on Wednesday.
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DNAinfo/Justin Breen

HYDE PARK — It's now more expensive to ride Metra as new fare hikes have kicked in.

One-way tickets went up by 25 cents as across-the-board fare increases begin in an effort by Metra to pay for $16.1 million in overdue capital projects.

Ten-ride tickets went up by $2.75 and monthly passes will cost $11.75 more per month.

Reduced-fare tickets went up by 25 cents for one-way tickets, $1.50 for 10-ride tickets and $7.50 for a monthly pass.

“We understand raising fares will affect our riders, but this increase will be strictly allocated as an investment in our trains and our system,” Metra Executive Director and CEO Don Orseno said in a statement. “Metra is committed to improving the quality of service and creating a better passenger experience, while addressing a serious capital funding shortfall.”

Metra will devote all of the new revenue to capital projects.

The agency said it needs $11.7 billion over the next 10 years, or approximately $1.2 billion annually, to cover the backlog of needed repairs but brings in only $300 million a year to cover the costs.

This is the third year in a row Metra has raised fares in an effort to close its funding gap for capital projects.