2018 Budget

Metra is raising fares and trimming service on some lines as part of Metra's 2018 Budget. This page was created to provide details about what we are doing and why.

First, here are links to the new fares starting Feb. 1 and new schedules starting Feb. 5.

Metra has approved a 2018 operating budget of $797.2 million that includes fare increases and, for the first time, cuts in service in order to close a $45 million budget deficit caused by rising expenses, a reduction in state aid and disappointing sales tax revenues. Metra also proposed a 2018 capital budget that totals $196.8 million from its available funding sources – only one-sixth of its estimated annual need.

The operating budget deficit in 2018 and the continuing, severe shortfall in funding for Metra’s capital reinvestment needs point to a growing problem with local, state and federal subsidies for public transportation in the Chicago area. The sales taxes and state aid that fund about half of Metra’s operating budget and the local, state and federal grants that pay for nearly all of its capital budget are not keeping up with rising costs and our aging system’s replacement and renovation needs.

Below are links with more details about why we are raising fares.