Chicago Commuter Rail to Increase Fares to Plug Budget Gap

Chicago’s commuter rail is moving to raise fares to help offset a budget gap that threatens to upend the region’s transit service.

Metra, the commuter rail system that shuttles commuters between downtown Chicago and the suburbs, on Friday unveiled a $1.1 billion budget for 2026 that includes a 13% to 15% fare increase to cover a projected $68 million shortfall, according to the transit system in a press release. It’s the first time the agency has increased ticket prices since 2018.