Metra riders, brace for 10 percent fare hike starting Friday

Like it or not, you'll be paying more to ride Metra Friday, despite a new state sales tax.

Metra leaders are forging ahead with a 10 percent ticket hike that they say is necessary for capital improvements and to recoup lost revenues.

This means a 10-ride pass costing $16.60 today goes up to $18.30, for example, and a $52.65 monthly pass in January will be $58.05 in February.

Earlier this month, the General Assembly approved increasing sales taxes in the region to help fund shortfalls in the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace. The sales tax boost should go into effect in April.

The controversial policy was enacted to save riders from a projected public transit doomsday with route cuts, layoffs and fare hike.

Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said the agency has received some flak from riders questioning why they're facing a ticket increase in addition to the new sales tax.

Metra's board of directors adopted the increase Jan. 11. They justified the change, saying underfunding had forced them to use up money in their capital budget.

"We devoted so much money from capital into operating expenses," Pardonnet said, "we need to redevelop our capital plan."

The new fares should generate about $16 million a year, Pardonnet said. Capital projects contemplated included new cars, station improvements and modernized railroad infrastructure aimed at reducing delays.

With the extra dollars coming in from the new prices, Metra administrators pledged not to raise fares in 2009 and 2010 or cut service as they had contemplated prior to the sales tax passing.

Riders with tickets issued under the old prices will be able to use them for a year, officials said.

The last time Metra upped fares was in 2006, when a 5 percent increase was set.