In the city that has appeared to be totally relentless regarding increased fees, fines, and taxes since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office last May, another harsh fee increase is going to join the list on Wednesday. Persons who use the Metra train to commute to and from the city will be hit with a new and unwanted fare increase averaging 25-to-30% for travelers.
Depending on the zone one comes from in the Metra system – related to the distance one travels – the increases vary. Riders in the middle-distance E-zone of the system will be paying 29% more for a monthly pass which is an increase from $116 to $149.50. Over a year’s time, that’s $402. And there are persons who are paying more if they come from a greater distance.
Ahmad, a college student in Palos Hills said:
I was just promoted to part-time manager at a restaurant near the Hancock Center. I could hardly afford the ticket cost before considering my school expenses. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. Guess I’ll just have to pay it while considering whether or not I can keep the job in the city. Everything’s getting too expensive for people like me to even work in Chicago.
Metra claims that the only other alternative to the increased fares would be to reduce services, and they chose not to reduce the public’s accessibility to the transportation. The increased fares are to deal with more than $50-million in the transportation system’s debt. While there are some funds available, they are earmarked for maintenance costs.
The recent history of fare hikes were a 10% fare increase in 2008 and a 5% increase just two years before that. The current increased-ticket prices will be as much as 35% for some, though Metra claims the average increase is 25%.
Source: ABC
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