An Evanston aldermen has told Metra officials that the commuter rail line’s proposed fair hikes discriminate against Evanstonians and others who live relatively close to Chicago.
Metra has proposed fare hikes averaging 25 percent as part of its proposed 2012 budget.
But Alderman Don Wilson, 4th Ward, who rides the Metra’s UP North Line to work in Chicago each day, says the increases would hit Evanston commuters extra hard.
The rate for a monthly pass for rides between Evanston and downtown Chicago would increase 33.7 percent, while someone traveling from Kenosha, Wis., to downtown Chicago would see only a 22 percent monthly pass fare hike.
Wilson said, at a Metra hearing last Thursday, that the increases should be made more equitable.
“I don’t want people who live closer to the city, who could drive, to choose cars over Metra because of a disproportionate fare increase. I don’t want to put more people on the road,” Wilson said.
Under Metra’s plan the monthly pass rate for commuters to downtown from Evanston would rise from $90.45 to $121. However the one-way fare to downtown Chicago from Evanston would go up 21 percent, from $3.50 to $4.25.
Extending Thanks
Thank you, Alderman Wilson, for speaking out to Metra officials on Evanstonians' behalf. Citizens of our City are commuters with choice… we can choose between multiple bus lines, Metra and the Evanston Express. Metra should not punish Evanston residents who make the choice to give Metra business by giving us a steeper increase than folks in outlying areas who have no choice. Further, Metra should give thought to the funding recently given to replace rail ties on the purple and red line. Those repairs are going to allow the purple line to once again be the express train Evanstonians once knew and lived. Upon completion of those repairs, Metra may no longer hold title to the fastest route to downtown.