Metra Fare Hikes Begin Wednesday

Metra fare increases go into effect for all commuters today (Feb. 1).

Fare increases will be applied to all ticket types and changes will be made to fare policies.

According to the 2012 fare table, one-way tickets will increase an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones, while 10-ride tickets will go up an average of 30 percent and monthly passes will increase an average of 29.4 percent.

Reduced fare one-way tickets will increase an average of 10.3 percent, reduced fare 10-ride tickets will increase an average of 18.9 percent and reduced fare monthly passes will go up an average of 10.8 percent.

Taken together, the overall average increase is 25.1 percent.

“It’s still the cheapest way to get downtown,” Deerfield resident Gary Holzman said, echoing the view of many at his village's station Tuesday morning. “It’s been a few years (since the last increase). Hopefully this will be the last increase for many years.”

For others, like Vlad Lutsker of Buffalo Grove who commutes to Chicago from Deerfield on a daily basis, it will make a difference.

“I have no choice,” he said. “I may have to cut back on cable television.”

Commuters traveling between and Union Station will pay $5 for a one-way ticket, $40.40 for a 10-ride pass and $163.75 for a monthly pass.

— Patch Editor Steve Sadin contributed to this story.