CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come out against a plan to reduce fares and increase service on two Metra lines serving Chicago’s South Side, saying it will hurt Chicago Transit Authority ridership.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Lightfoot told journalists she’s opposed, based on analysis that shows the proposed increase in service on the Metra Electric and Rock Island districts “is essentially a transfer of CTA passengers to the Metra line.” While she agrees portions of the South Side are underserved, she said she would not support “something that would have the effect of diminishing ridership at the CTA.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presented a plan for lower fares and more service on the two Metra lines earlier this week, which the county would help subsidize. An Illinois legislator introduced a similar proposal earlier this year [See “Bill introduced to lower Metra Electric fares in Chicago,” Trains News Wire, May 8, 2019.] Metra has had discussions with the county, CTA, and Pace bus system about the plan, but no agreements have been signed.
