Chicago Metra Board approves release of 2011 budget

Written by jrood

February 14, 2001 The Metra Board of Directors approved the release of the Chicago-area agency's proposed 2011 Program and Budget book for public hearing and comment. Metra's proposed 2011 budget includes $634.2 million for operations and a $407.5-million capital program. No fare increase is planned in 2011.

Lower than projected ridership and sales tax
receipts coupled with higher insurance and maintenance costs will force Metra
to transfer $35 million from its 2010 capital program and $25 million from its
2011 capital program to operations for use on preventive maintenance in 2011.
The agency also proposes to continue to delay filling vacancies and to combine
job functions to reduce costs in 2011.

The proposed 2011-2015
capital program includes the allocation of $585 million in State of Illinois
bond program proceeds to replace 160 Highliner cars on the Metra Electric
District. State bond proceeds and other capital funding will be allocated in
the amount of $175.8 million to complete a number of station and parking
improvements across the Metra system.

Public hearings on Metra’s
2011 budget will be held on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at locations throughout the
six-county region. Following the public comment period, the Metra Board will
vote on a final budget at its Nov. 19 meeting. The budget will then be
forwarded to the Regional Transportation Authority, which will vote on the
region’s transportation budget in December.

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