Community Corner

Metra's Proposed 2012 Budget Fare Increases

One-Way tickets going up an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones.

The Way to Really Fly is going to cost you a little more to get off the ground. In its proposed 2012 budget, Metra plans fare increases for Monthly Passes, Ten-Ride tickets, and One-Way tickets.

According to Metra:

•One-way tickets would increase an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones.

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•Ten-ride tickets would go up an average of 30 percent, and monthly passes would increase an average of 29.4 percent.

•Reduced fare one-way tickets would increase an average of 10.3 percent, reduced fare ten-ride tickets would increase an average of 18.9 percent and reduced fare monthly passes would go up an average of 10.8 percent. Taken together, the overall average increase is 25.1 percent.

Find out what's happening in Downers Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fare policies will also change if the proposed budget is passed, according to Metra:

•One-way tickets would only be valid for 14 days, instead of a year, and they would no longer be refundable.

•The ten-ride ticket discount would be reduced so that riders would get 10 rides for the price of nine, rather than 10 for the price of eight. Ten-ride tickets would remain valid for a year, but would only be refundable within three months of the date of purchase. The 10-ride tickets could be refunded on a pro-rated basis, but there would be a $5 handling fee.

•Monthly passes would be valid through the end of the month (instead of noon on the first weekday of the following month) and refunds would be subject to a $10 fee.

•Also, the Metra subsidy for the Link-Up and PlusBus tickets would be eliminated and riders would have to pay the full costs of those passes. Young adult fares on weekends and holidays also would be eliminated.

For a look at current fares, click here. To see what those fares may look like if the budget is passed, click here.

There will be public hearings to discuss the budget and voice concerns. The DuPage County meeting will take place on Thursday, November 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clarendon Hills Village Hall Village Board Room, 1 N. Prospect Ave, Clarendon Hills.


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