Metra meeting on raising rates doesn’t draw a crowd

Metra kicked off two days of regional hearings on a fare hike Wednesday.

The agency is contemplating raising rates between 9 percent and 30 percent to fix a budget shortfall.

Attendance was minimal at a forum in Arlington Heights, but one commuter questioned why such a sudden, steep increase is necessary.

“I understand everything goes up, but I don’t understand why this is happening all at once,” Arlington Heights resident Bob Koertgen said.

Metra officials have said previous administrations kicked the can down the road by subsidizing operating budget deficits with capital funds, intended to pay for equipment, rail infrastructure and system expansion.

If approved, the change will mean 10-ride and monthly pass holders pay 29 percent more if they’re traveling from Chicago, which is fare zone A, to suburbs such as Arlington Heights in zone E.

As an example, a 10-ride pass between zones A and E would rise from $36.55 to $47.25, and a monthly pass would go from $116.10 to $149.50.

One-way tickets would jump by 17 percent. Short trips between two zones, such as Lisle (zone E) to Naperville (zone F), would increase by 20 percent for one-way tickets and 35 percent for 10-ride and monthly pass holders. Metra is facing a $53 million deficit in 2012, caused in part by steep diesel fuel costs.

The rate hike would go into effect in February.

The hearing in Arlington Heights was one of several sessions held around the region.

Other budget forums will occur from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Clarendon Hills Village Hall, 1 N. Prospect Ave., and Grayslake Village Hall, 10 S. Seymour.

Other changes include:

타 One-way tickets will only be valid for 14 days instead of a year.

타 Monthly passes will only last until the last day of the month.

타 The subsidy for the Link-Up and PlusBus programs will be cut.

타 Young adult fares on weekends and holidays will be discontinued although rates for weekend passes will stay the same.

Metra directors will vote on the plan Nov. 11.