Members of the Metra board of directors have approved the commuter rail line's budget, along with fare increases for some train trips.
The fare increases on one-way tickets and weekend passes were approved Friday and will begin Feb. 1. The changes include a 6 percent increase in one-way fares and an increase from $5 to $7 on weekend rides.
Surcharges for buying tickets on trains would rise from $2 to $3.
The board also approved a $613 million operating budget that Metra says includes cost-containment efforts that saved about $4 million.
Among those efforts, Metra says about 150 positions will be left vacant, management salaries will be frozen and non-union workers will be asked to pay more for health insurance.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
The fare increases on one-way tickets and weekend passes were approved Friday and will begin Feb. 1. The changes include a 6 percent increase in one-way fares and an increase from $5 to $7 on weekend rides.
Surcharges for buying tickets on trains would rise from $2 to $3.
The board also approved a $613 million operating budget that Metra says includes cost-containment efforts that saved about $4 million.
Among those efforts, Metra says about 150 positions will be left vacant, management salaries will be frozen and non-union workers will be asked to pay more for health insurance.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
