A new fare system is coming to Metra trains in the Chicago area next month, but there will also be big changes to how some passengers buy tickets.
Metra will close the remaining ticket offices at BNSF Line stations on Monday and switch to a model where tickets can only be purchased through the Ventra app and vending machines, the agency said.
All ticket windows at Chicago’s downtown train station will close by February 1, according to a press release.
In addition to changing ticketing methods, the agency will simplify its fare structure starting February 1, reducing 10 different fare zones to just four based on distance from downtown Chicago.
Under the new zone system, downtown Chicago will serve as its own zone, with Union Station, Ogilvie Transit Center, and Millennium Station serving as Zone 1 for each line.
From there, Zones 2 through 4 cover the city’s outskirts, with Zone 4 being the furthest from downtown.
One-way tickets cost $3.75 from Zone 2 to downtown, $5.50 from Zone 3 to downtown, and $6.75 from Zone 4, based on a simplified formula.
The agency says all one-way trips that don’t end in the downtown corridor will cost $3.75, regardless of distance.
Metra officials say the Fair Transit South Cooke Pilot, which cut fares in half on all Metra Electric and Rock Island trains, is ending due to the pandemic, with fares on most lines with one exception. It says it will be lowered to the previous level.
Instead, a new pilot program will launch on the same day to offer discounted fares to low-income Metra passengers across the system. Households receiving SNAP are also eligible to participate, with details to be announced in mid-January.
There will also be some major changes regarding pass availability at all levels. Officials say his $6 and $10 day passes will be phased out. Instead, weekday passes can be purchased for twice the price of a one-way ticket.
The company also plans to phase out 10-trip tickets and instead offer five-packs of one-day passes at 9.5 times the price of a single-trip ticket.
These passes are only available via the Ventra app.
Finally, “surcharge fares,” which impose additional fees for travel outside the zone printed on the ticket, will be phased out.
Monthly passes will continue to be offered and will cost 20 times more than a standard one-way ticket between zones, with Zone 2 travel costing $75, Zone 3 travel $110 and Zone 4 travel $135.
To ensure a smooth transition, February monthly passes will go on sale on February 1st, and January paper passes will be valid until February 5th.
According to officials, March monthly pass purchases will resume at the usual date of February 20th.
Monthly Pass purchasers are still eligible to purchase a $30 Regional Connect Pass, which allows unlimited travel on CTA and Pace buses. Officials said the pass is only available on the Ventra app.
Finally, $7 all-day fares and $10 weekend passes on weekends and holidays are still available.
The four zone fare structures are assigned as follows:
To the north:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Claiborne to Wilmette
Zone 3: Kenilworth to Ravinia
Zone 4: Highland Park to Kenosha
Milwaukee Area North:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Downtown to Morton Grove
Zone 3: Cook Road from Golf to Lake.
Zone 4: Deerfield to Fox Lake
Upper northwest:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Roads from downtown to Dee
Zone 3: Des Plaines to Arlington Park
Zone 4: Palatine to Harvard
West Milwaukee area:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Downtown to Mannheim
Zone 3: Bensenville to Medina
Zone 4: Roselle to large timber
Uenishi:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Kedzie Avenue to Berkeley
Zone 3: Elmhurst to Lombard
Zone 4: Glen Ellyn to Elburn
BNSF:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Halsted Avenue to Brookfield
Zone 3: Congress Park to Fairview Avenue
Zone 4: Main Street to Route 59 Aurora
heritage corridor
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Summit
Zone 3: Willow Springs and Lemont
Zone 4: Romeoville to Joliet
Rock Island:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2 (mainline): 35th From the streets to Midlothian
Zone 2 (Beverly Branch: Brainerd-to-123)rd street
Zone 3: Oak Forest and Tinley Park (Oak Park Avenue)
Zone 4: Tinley Park (80)th Avenue) to Joliet
Southwest service:
Zone 1: Downtown Chicago
Zone 2: Wrightwood and Ashburn
Zone 3: Oak Lawn to Palos Heights
Zone 4: Palos Park to Manhattan
Metra wire:
Zone 1: Campus from Millennium Station to Museum
Zone 2 (mainline): 18th From the street to Calumet
Zone 2 (South Chicago Branch): 93 from Stony Islandrd street
Zone 2 (Blue Island Branch): State Street (Roselawn) to Blue Island
Zone 3: Parks from Homewood to University.