The Board of Directors of Metra, the operator of the Northeast Illinois commuter rail system, has approved a $1.06 billion budget for 2017 that provides $781.2 million for operating costs and $279.5 million for capital improvements. Fare revenue will increase by 5.8 percent, generating $16.1 million that will be used to fund capital improvement projects.
“No one likes to pay higher fares, but unfortunately we can’t ignore our need for more money to invest on our system,” said Don Orseno, Metra executive director/chief executive officer. “We hope our customers understand that we are trying to address a serious capital funding shortfall as best we can.”
The 2017 Operating Budget, which covers the day-to-day costs of running the railroad, increases 2016 costs by 2.8 percent to $21.4 million. Fares cover approximately half of the operating budget, with the rest primarily coming from the RTA sales tax collected in the six-county region, which is partially matched by the state. The operating cost increases will be offset by an additional $21.8 million Metra is expected to receive from the RTA sales tax in 2017.
For 2017, the Capital Budget totals $279.5 million and includes:
- $90.5 million for rolling stock to rehabilitate 18 locomotives and 43 railcars annually and a portion of funding to purchase 21 new railcars;
- $23 million to continue the efforts to replace aging Union Pacific North Line bridges over 22 streets and rebuild Ravenswood Station;
- $20 million to expand the 49th Street rehabilitation facility to increase the number of railcars Metra can rehab each year by 30 percent;
- $30.5 million to continue to install PTC.
Metra is expecting to receive $175 million from federal sources and $72.4 million from the RTA for its capital needs in 2017. It is anticipating no new capital money from the state of Illinois.