More convenience on tap for commuters in Vernon Hills
The daily routine for commuters using the Vernon Hills train station will be a little easier by fall.
Instead of fumbling for cash to stuff into a slot for the daily $1.50 parking fee, Metra riders will be able to pay on the fly using a credit or debit card.
"You could have your charge card in your pocket, swipe it and boom, you're done," said Village Manager Mike Allison.
The village board on Tuesday authorized the use of an electronic payment program at three new fare boxes to be installed by about Sept. 1.
While the equipment was beginning to deteriorate, the move also represents another money-saving measure for the village. The current operation is labor intensive to collect and record the fares.
"Those coin boxes were getting old, getting rusty, getting difficult to empty so there was a useful life issue," Allison said.
Staff estimates the annual savings to be more than $11,500, which would be used initially to pay for the electronic fare collection boxes, which cost $40,800.
The switch will put Vernon Hills in the relatively small number of Metra stations that offer the service.
About 10 percent of Metra's 240 stations on 11 commuter lines are equipped for electronic payments.
"There's at least two dozen stations that have those," said Michael Gillis, a Metra spokesman.
"Most of them have the coin slot boxes but a lot of suburbs are going to the electronic ones," he added.
Elburn recently decided to upgrade its system and Wheeling did so last February. Crystal Lake, Elgin, Pingree Grove, Orland Park and Bensenville are other communities that accept electronic payments.
Locally, neither Grayslake nor Libertyville have that capacity.
Vernon Hills plans to relocate the fare box shelter adjacent to the station. A receipt will be generated for every transaction with the space number and date.
Vernon Hills will use the Illinois Funds e-pay program available to local governments and agencies. The village will absorb the 2 percent transaction fee rather than increasing parking rates at the 752-space lot on Route 45.
"This should be hugely more convenient for people," Allison said.