(The Associated Press circulated the following article on October 20.)
CHICAGO — Metra officials are set to consider a proposed 2006 budget that includes a 5 percent fare increase to help cover rising fuel and security costs.
The proposed increase was presented to the commuter rail service’s budget and finance committee Wednesday and will be taken up by the full board Friday.
If approved, the increase would take effect in February, marking the first Metra fare increase since 2002 and the fifth in its 21-year history.
The increase is part of a $524.9 million budget proposal, which projects a $13 million deficit.
Officials hope the fare increase would make up about $10 million of the shortfall. The rest could be covered by leaving open 20 vacant positions and diverting money from the system’s capital improvement fund, said Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet.
In outlining next year’s budget proposal, Metra staff said they expect this year’s diesel fuel bills to hit $42.2 million, which is $15.5 million more than anticipated in the 2005 budget. They also said security costs will reach $16.5 million, or $1.3 million more than budgeted.
Budget committee Chairman Michael Smith said raising fares is the last thing the Metra board wants to do, but “there is no way in the world we could have anticipated some of these increases.”
The Chicago Transit Authority also has proposed raising its fares by 25 cents for cash-paying bus and train riders beginning next year.