Riding Metra Now Costs A Lot More
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The biggest fare hike in Metra history is now in effect.
Effective Wednesday, the price of a ticket is up 25 percent. One-way fares within the city from downtown increase from $2.50 to $3, while 10-ride tickets increase from $20 to $27 and monthly tickets go from $63.45 to $85.50.
One-way fares from downtown to inner-ring suburbs go from $4 to $4.75; 10-ride tickets go from $32.30 to $42.75; and monthly tickets increase from $102.60 to $135.25.
From downtown to the farthest outlying towns one-way fares will go from $8.50 to $9.25; 10-ride tickets will go from $68.45 to $83.25; and monthly tickets will go from $217.35 to $263.50.
Even the big boss has to abide by the new fares.
Metra executive director Alex Clifford does not ride the commuter railroad to work because he lives in the city, but when he does ride it, does he ride it for free?
"I do not, no, no. Absolutely not," he said.
On Tuesday, customers rushed to buy tickets before the fare hike went into effect. But they couldn't buy more than a month's worth of discounted 10-ride passes, thanks to a Metra policy designed to prevent stockpiling.
Metra says it needs the money from the fare hike to plug a budget gap of at least $50 million.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
