Fare Structure Study

Study Background

In the summer of 2016, Metra hired California-based Four Nines Technologies to study Metra’s fare structure, determine opportunities for changes and develop a model to help Metra evaluate the potential changes. Their work included surveying Metra customers and holding a workshop with the Metra Board of Directors in December 2017, during which Board members selected several proposals to present to the public for their additional feedback.

In May 2018, the Metra Board directed staff to move forward and pilot the following recommendations beginning in the summer of 2018:

  • Consolidate Zones K and M (there is no Zone L) into Zone J, thereby capping fares for trips that exceed 45 miles.
  • Reassign some stations to different zones to adjust perceived inconsistencies between lines where nearby stations are in different zones.
  • Introduce “Round Trip Plus,” a day pass for unlimited travel between any two zones, available only on the Ventra App, priced at twice the cost of a One-Way Ticket.

More information on the pilot programs:

             Press Release

             Poster presented at Transport Chicago Conference

Additional Study Information

Fare Study Survey Results – In early 2017, the study team conducted a survey to obtain the public’s feedback on possible changes to Metra fare structure and products. At Metra’s April Board meeting, Four Nines' staff, in conjunction with Metra staff, presented the results of the survey.

PowerPoint

Video from Board Meeting

Draft Recommendations to the Board – At Metra’s September 2017 Board meeting, Four Nine’s staff, in conjunction with Metra staff, delivered draft recommendations to Metra’s Board. The recommendations to change Metra’s reduced fare policies were eliminated from the study after further discussion with Metra’s Board and public feedback.

PowerPoint

Video from Board Meeting

Board Workshop – At the December 2017 Board Meeting, the project team conducted a workshop with Metra’s Board to discuss the study’s recommendations. The recommendations to extend the Weekend Pass to Friday evening and to change Metra’s reduced fare policies were eliminated from the study after further discussion with Metra’s Board and public feedback.

PowerPoint

Video from Board Meeting

Fare Structure Study UpdateFinal Recommendations – In April 2018, the final recommendations of the study were presented to the Board. The final study recommendations included discounted off peak One-Way and 10-ride tickets, creating a downtown zone, consolidating zones A and B, offering a day pass (now called “Round Trip Plus”), consolidating zones J, K, L, M, reassigning the zones of certain stations whose “track mile” zone is different than would be arrived at using a straight line from downtown, and standardizing incremental fare changes between zones. 

PowerPoint

Video from Board Meeting

Fare Structure StudyFare Pilot Program – In May 2018, the Metra Board directed staff to move forward and pilot the following  recommendations from the fare study:

  • Consolidate Zones K and M (there is no Zone L) into Zone J, thereby capping fares for trips that exceed 45 miles.
  • Reassign some stations to different zones to adjust perceived inconsistencies between lines where nearby stations are in different zones.
  • Introduce “Round Trip Plus,” a day pass for unlimited travel between any two zones, available only on the Ventra App, priced at twice the cost of a One-Way Ticket.

PowerPoint

Video from Board Meeting

Metra Held Open Houses throughout the Region

View informational boards that were on display at the open houses

Kane County Government Center - Thursday, Feb. 1

Crystal Lake City Hall - Monday, Feb. 5

Arlington Heights Village Hall - Thursday, Feb. 8

Homewood Village Hall - Monday, Feb. 12

Libertyville Village Hall - Tuesday, Feb. 13

Clarendon Hills Village Hall - Thursday, Feb. 15

Will County Office Building - Monday, Feb. 19

Metra Headquarters - Tuesday, Feb. 20

 

To view all Board meeting materials, please click here.