(The following story by Mary Wisniewski appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on August 13, 2010.)
CHICAGO — Metra is projecting a $17 million revenue deficit for the year, because of falling ridership.
Ridership was down almost 4 percent between June 2009 and June 2010. The agency blames local unemployment for the decline in commuting.
After today’s board meeting, acting executive director William Tupper said the agency is looking at options to address the deficit, including using capital funds for operating expenses.
Metra Chairwoman Carole Doris said it’s too early to say whether the agency will have to impose a fare hike for next year, but she would rather not. “We have to look at other ways to reduce expenses,” Doris said, adding that a far increase would be difficult for riders in this economy.
Also today, the Metra board approved the purchase of 160 new rail cars for the agency’s electric line. The new cars, which will cost $560 million and will be paid for through Illinois capital funds, will start arriving in 24 months, officials said.
Metra already has 26 new Sumitomo cars, which have proved popular with riders. Tupper said that the new cars, which use AC rather than DC propulsion, are not compatible with the old, 1970s-era cars, which will be scrapped.
The new cars are similar in design to Metra’s bi-level cars on its diesel-powered trains. About half of the new cars will be equipped with bathrooms — an improvement over the old cars, which had none.
In other matters, Tupper said that the agency reduced overtime by 15 percent so far this year. He said that the reduction was as a result of a less-snowy winter and a tight budget, which meant the agency was less willing to authorize some overtime work.
Metra is examining overtime policies in light of a Sun-Times/Better Government Association investigation last month, which found Metra paid nearly $20 million for overtime last year, or 11 percent of its nearly $180 million payroll.
Metra’s interim office of the inspector general, run by the firm of Hillard Heintze, reported today that it has so far reviewed 77 complaints or “leads” about problems at Metra since its appointment in May. The firm has closed out 35 of the complaints, and referred some to Metra management.
Board member Larry Huggins noted that all agencies receive complaints. “This board and this staff really over the years have really, truly not done a bad job,” Huggins said.
The Hillard Heintze firm was appointed in the wake of a financial scandal involving longtime Metra executive director Philip Pagano, who committed suicide May 7.