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How Much Will the Metra Fare Hike Cost You?

Metra's board voted to drop the discount on its 10-ride ticket.

 

Folks who ride the Metra regularly may now have to shell out an extra few bucks for every 10th trip.

That's because the Metra board of directors voted 8-2 on Nov. 16 to raise the cost of a 10-ride ticket.

The new 10-ride ticket would cost the same as 10 individual tickets. In the past, the discounted fare only charged the equivalent of nine rides.

The increased fare would go into effect Feb. 1, and 10-Ride tickets purchased Nov. 17 through Jan. 31 would be valid only through Feb. 28, according to the Metra website.

Even though the measure was passed by the board, the fare increase cannot legally be adopted until Metra holds a meeting for public comment. These public hearings will be held simultaneously at eight Chicagoland locations from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11. To view all public hearing locations, click here.

Take a look below to see how much the additional 10th ride would cost for Chicago commuters from various North Shore locations (all the way to Wisconsin).

  • All Evanston stations (Central, Davis, Main): $4.25
  • Wilmette Station: $4.25
  • Kenilworth Station: $4.75
  • All Winnetka stations (Indian Hill, Winnetka, Hubbard Woods): $4.75
  • Glencoe Station: $4.75
  • All Highland Park stations (Braeside, Ravinia Park, Ravinia, Highland Park): $5.25
  • All Highwood stations (Highwood, Fort Sheridan): $5.75
  • Lake Forest Station: $5.75
  • Lake Bluff Station: $6.25
  • All North Chicago stations (Great Lakes, North Chicago): $6.25
  • Waukegan Station: $6.75
  • Zion Station: $7.25
  • Winthrop Harbor Station: $7.25
  • Kenosha, Wisconsin: $8.25

Correction: A previous version of the article failed to mention that public hearings would be necessary for final adoption of the fare increase.

Related Topics: 10-Ride Ticket, Commuters, Fare Hike, and Metra

Lucy

12:09 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I bet they eventually do away with the 10 rides. Geez! What's a part time train rider to do?

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RationalTht

12:14 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

They are hoping to drive riders to purchase more tickets on the train, forcing them to pay the additional $3.

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Jordan Graham

1:44 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Do you think you would still buy the 10-ticket out of convenience? Or would it be an inconvenience now, considering you could lose the bundled ticket?

Burt Rast

9:53 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Can you tell me why a story on Glenview Patch totally omits ANY information about the pricing on the train line that serves Glenview?

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Zuzu

11:10 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I am a regular commuter and gripe all we want, the cost still beats driving. As for the $3 surcharge, that is only added if there was a ticket agent available at the station you boarded.

What I foresee is people won't bother buying the 10-rides and merely pay on the train (if they board at an agentless station), thus, causing the conductors to spend more time doing a cash transaction over a mere quick punch of the 10-ride ticket. What that tends to lead to is the conductors then can't get to all the riders before the riders exit at their stop, thus, a free ride. Happens to me a lot. Why bother then purchasing a 10-ride when I can chance that the conductor will never reach me in time before my stop? I won't be saving on a 10-ride card, so screw it.

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RationalTht

1:09 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The thing about the avoiding the $3 surcharge is that you have to stop in the station every day, each way, to buy your ticket. There is going to be the day where the line is too long or the agent is too slow and you have the option of missing your train or paying the surcharge. Purchasing a 10-ride meant gave your more flexibility for the purchasing of the ticket.

Metra just doesn't want riders that do not provide a more constant, monthly revenue stream.

Carl Lambrecht

12:04 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

All public organizations have too many high price administrators. Reduce the autocrats and keep the trains running.

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