Chicago’s Metra seeks rider input for 2012 budget

Beginning July 25, Chicago's Metra will be asking riders to take a survey that may help the company in putting together its 2012 budget. The budget deficit Metra has faced has been caused by a variety of factors. The economy has caused the revenues from the regional transportation sales tax to plummet. The projected cumulative shortfall in sales tax revenues alone is $350 million from 2008 to 2013. Also, diesel fuel will cost Metra about $18.3 million more than budgeted. At the July 15 meeting of the Metra Board of Directors, Metra presented the board with options to meet its 55 percent recovery ratio by increasing fares with or without service cuts. Metra staff has proposed cutting two to four trains from every line except the Heritage Corridor, reducing weekend service on the Milwaukee North, UP North and SouthWest service and eliminating extra service for Bears and White Sox games. With proposed service cuts, fare increases could be up to 20 percent depending on other factors such as fuel prices and mandated recovery ratio. Without service cuts, these increases could be as high as 25 percent. Metra's board will begin discussing the issues raised by its rider survey beginning at the August 12 meeting. Public hearings will be scheduled in the fall after the board adopts a proposed budget.