Is the Fare Fair? Metra Will Likely Raise Ticket Prices to Keep Southwest Service Steady
Instead of SouthWest Service line cuts, Metra's Board of Directors will vote next month on several changes to the fare structure before letting the public have a say.
Metra's Board of Directors has decided against a proposal that would have cut weekday and weekend trains along the SouthWest Service Line, but the board is looking at an average 30 percent fare hike to plug next year's budget hole.
Directors have settled temporarily on a proposal from Metra staff to raise one-way tickets by 17 percent, monthly tickets by 29 percent, and 10-ride tickets by 32 percent.
In the meantime, they also agreed to discontinue the subsidy for Link-Up and PlusBus passes, round all tickets to the nearest quarter, and shorten all expiration and refund dates on sales. Ten ride tickets, for instance, would be redeemable for only 30 days, down from one year, with a $5 processing fee.
The commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transit Authority is facing a $65 million deficit in 2012 and $100 million deficit in 2013.
"Never before in Metra's history have we been faced with a challenge of this magnitude," Metra CEO Alex Clifford said.
However, most directors put their foot down on a recommendation to eliminate weekend passes.
“Toll ways are going up, parking downtown is exorbitant,” Director Jack Schaffer said. “We’re cutting Chicago off from the suburbs. This, long-term, cannot be good for the health of the city.”
This summer, Metra staff presented the board with several options for cutting service, blaming high fuel costs, decreased state aid and poor long-term planning on behalf of the previous leadership for the hole they’re in. Some weekday trains between Orland Park and Manhattan—numbers 815 and 830—and all of the Saturday service for SWS were on the chopping block, as were certain trains along the Union Pacific North and Milwaukee lines.
Clifford said SWS was part of a two-year demonstration program from the RTA—in response to highway and CTA repairs—and due to low ridership, the cost of the service was no longer justified.
“We predicted 200 riders per train on Saturday. The total ridership was 400 for the entire day,” Judy Pardonnet, a spokeswoman for Metra, said, which is about 28 percent of the passengers they initially targeted.
In total, this option was estimated to save about $900,000, which doesn’t amount to “all that much,” given the size of the deficit, Director Brad O’Halloran said.
Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) and 22 elected officials along the Southwest Service line recently sent a pointed letter to Metra expressing their opposition to reduce service, saying that such service cuts would “disenfranchise” commuters in the southwest suburbs.
At Friday’s board meeting, the discussions veered toward revenue rather than service.
“Our fares have not kept pace with inflation,” said Senior Division Director Lynette Ciavarella. Had they, she added, a ticket purchased in Zone E to downtown would cost $7 today, $2 less than what has been proposed with the hike.
A campaign, entitled “Be Fair, Pay the Fare,” allots space on the commuter company’s website where riders can fill out a form detailing instances when other riders have evaded fares or rode beyond their ticketed zone. The results of a recent survey show that some riders have noticed conductors failing to collect fares.
Clifford said he would keep an eye on Obama’s Job Plan for transportation funds and vowed to go after additional state and federal funds “aggressively.” In response, Director Mike McCoy said Metra needs to begin thinking of itself as a private-sector business, with less reliance on grant funds and a “fare structure that … we can manage and be stable over the years.”
Clifford will return to the board next month with a final recommendation for fares. He said he and his staff still have some “fine-tuning” to do, but noted that the numbers discussed Friday were “very close.”
Metra is planning to hold a public hearing on the 2012 budget in each of the six counties it services before calling a final vote in November. RTA then needs to approve the budget in December.
Any fare hikes would take effect in February.
Jim Vondracek
8:58 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
It's great that service here won't be cut. I rode the train yesterday, probably should do so more often rather than driving.
Sue N.
10:00 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
Being a regular commuter, I am also happy service won't be cut. But feel a little deceived by this increase %. In all the surveys they asked us to complete, they talked about 20 or 25%...now all of the sudden, we're looking 30% increase.
In previous Metra releases, they justified the 25% increase because their fares were much lower than other cities, like NY. Well...there was a reason for that, those living in NY or the other cities are paid more for the same jobs because it costs more to live there. We don't have the same salaries they do to pay for the same fares they do.
Quite frankly, with all the constant delays on the Southwest Service and Rock Island lately, its not even the dependable of a service they advertise it to be for us regular commuters who will be paying the most for this service. And with downtown buildings losing tenants to the suburbs, more and more of them offer deep discounts for monthly parking. So based on 30% increase, its definitely going to be cheaper to drive and park downtown monthly, as well as be more reliable, then ride Metra if you're a monthly commuter coming from Zone D or longer. 15-20% increase is ok...not 25-30+.
Joe Skibinski
10:40 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
A 30 day expiration on the 10 ride will most likely prompt the occasional rider to consider the ticket not worth the risk of expired fares and the train not worth the effort. They will just drive downtown or take the Orange Line. A 90 day shelf life for the 10 ride may help to preserve its value and attractiveness for the occasional rider who has many, much more convenient alternatives. It Metra wants to change its perspective to that of a profit making enterprise it will have to learn to deliver superior value for what it charges.
Will
10:45 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
People fell for the "dummy" move by filling out the survey. Now the fare increase will be blamed on the voters not wanting service cuts!
Will
10:52 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
What happens (on the electric as an example) is this. Passengers getting on at stops outside of downtown buy 10 rides not because conductors dont check tickets but because with 30 people jumping off and 40 jumping on it impossible to remember every person that's boards. Some all the conduct can do is say, "tickets please" and hope they show tickets. Passengers blend in with each other and their tickets don't get checked so that 10 ride ticket becomes a 45 day ticket. As a passenger I know ALL the tricks but prefer to be honest! 10 rides good for only 30 days will help. As for the passengers that will drive because the 10 ride is only good for 30 days well, that's just silly!!! Buy a couple one way tickets. It's still cheaper than gas, parking and the aggravation of traffic IMO!!
Metra Stinks!!!!
11:10 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
The southwest line totally stinks. It is late every morning and most evenings. The line used to be mostly on-time until about a year ago. If they raise fares more than 5-6%, I'm done with the train. There are more options than people think: drive (you can get discounted early bird parking for $10 if you look hard enough and it only takes 45 minutes going in on Dan Ryan and about an hour coming home), orange line, and park at U.S. Cellular for free and take Red Line. If monthly pass goes up 30% compounded with parking fees at the garage, I'm finished with Metra.
Josh Tibbs
4:21 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011
how much more can they charge us regular riders? Soon it will not even be worth it and I will avoid public transportation and commute in a car instead.
Concered Citizen
10:24 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011
Weekend ridership would be better if the schedules were better. When we go downtown on the weekends we take the Burlington because they have more trains and better choices for schedules.
Cezar Jenkins
11:28 am on Sunday, September 18, 2011
I love everyone talking about driving. They could double the fare and it still be cheaper for me to take the train. Don't tell me driving is more convienient. Only if you in the middle of the night!
I don't understand how someone can sit in that traffic day in and day out.