Metra Fare Hike By the Numbers: Will You Still Buy the 10-Ride Ticket?

Metra's board voted to drop the discount on its 10-ride ticket. Now it costs the same as 10 individual fares, instead of nine. Tell us what you think of the decision. Plus, Patch breaks down the numbers surrounding the increase.

If there's one thing you can say about the increase in Metra's 10-ride ticket, it's that you get what you pay for. The Metra board of directors voted 8-2 on Friday, Nov. 16, to make the 10-ride ticket cost as much as 10 individual tickets, ABC 7 News reports. Currently, the price of the 10-ride ticket is equal to nine individual tickets. READ: Check Out the Full ABC 7 News Story for More Details The increase goes into effect Feb. 1. Because no one demanded it, Patch breaks down the numbers surrounding the 10-ride fare hike. Metra fares are dependent on distance. Here's how much that 10th ticket will cost for a commuter to travel from his or her home station to downtown Chicago. What are other commuters paying to make it to work? Here's a …

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Tinley Ranks Among Most Transit-Friendly Burbs

The Oak Park Avenue train station helped Tinley secure the ranking. The study doesn't cite the 80th Avenue Metra station because it technically remains unfinished.

A recent university study placed Tinley Park high on the list of the 250 most transit-friendly communities across the state. Based largely on the outstanding commuter amenities offered at the Oak Park Avenue train station, the village has been ranked 20th on the list of most transit-friendly suburbs as determined by a DePaul University study. Sign up to receive a free, daily e-newsletter from Tinley Park Patch. The university’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development report judged Tinley as having “the best station building and platforms,” ranking it No. 1 among 250 suburbs studied. The station grounds and parking ranked No. 3, placing Tinley Park’s entire downtown station area as best overall when both scores are combined. “Among …

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Metra Rehabs Train Cars, Adds Outlets

New cars will be fitted with electrical outlets, upgraded seats and working doors and toilets, according to a Tribune report.

Going mobile on Metra is going to become a lot easier these days. The Chicago Tribune reports that the company has recently refurbished 40 older cars, with 60 planned to be done by the end of the year and the entire fleet of 176 to be completed by 2016. Some of the new features include: According to the article, rehabbing each car costs approximately $650,000—which is funded by $115 million from the federal government. Compare that to nearly $3 million for a new car. Sign up for Tinley Park Patch breaking news alerts.  Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter. 

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Give Metra a Piece of Your Mind

Metra will host a public meeting to represent South Suburban Cook County at the Homewood Village Hall on July 19. Bring your thoughts and gripes.

For commuters with complaints about the Southland Metra stations, the day of reckoning is near. Are you a Tinley Park rider tired of foibles you may experience after hoppin' aboard at Oak Park Avenue or 80th Avenue? The time has come to let your voice be heard. Metra will lend an ear to the public Thursday, July 19, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., during a South Suburban Cook County strategic plan open house meeting at Homewood Village Hall. Those who would like to participate, but don't wish to attend the meeting are invited to fill out a survey on Metra's website.  

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Metra Riders, Are You Ready for Today's Fare Hike?

Last year, Metra approved fare hikes to help cover a budget deficit attributed to diesel fuel prices, new federal regulations and higher insurance premiums for the company. Those increases go into effect this morning.

If you're headed to either of Tinley Park's two train stations this morning, you'll want to bring a tad more cash than usual. When Metra's Board of Directors approved its 2012 budget, it also approved increased fares that go into effect today, Feb. 1. The price hikes are across all ticket types. According to the 2012 fare table, one-way tickets will increase an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones, while 10-ride tickets will go up an average of 30 percent and monthly passes will increase an average of 29.4 percent. Reduced fare one-way tickets will increase an average of 10.3 percent, reduced fare 10-ride tickets will increase an average of 18.9 percent and reduced fare monthly passes will go up an average of 10.8 percent. Taken …

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Carrie Frillman

12:56 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

I haven't heard of this police/fire ride for free bit, either. Anyone else?   more ›

Patch Goes Green

Sitting in Traffic Since the Pleistocene: Cavemen, Drinking Water and Chicago's Gridlock

The Chicago area's traffic delays are the worst in the nation, a new report says. But let's see how bad bad is.

As recently reported in Patch, Chicago's congestion is tied with Washington, D.C., for worst in the nation, according to a new report by the Texas Transportation Institute. According to the report, D.C. and Chicago tied for most clotted, with each individual commuter around those cities spending 70 hours a year stuck in traffic in 2009. The L.A. and New York areas lost more time to traffic jams, but they have much larger populations. Per person, an L.A. commuter spent 63 hours stuck in traffic (third in the nation) and a New Yorker spent 42 hours (13th). Tinley Park commuter, you spent 70 hours of 2009 stuck in traffic. That's not the amount of time you were driving. That's the extra time on top of how long your commute should take. But …

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