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Zoning out? Metra considers shaking up fare system


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 February 2016 - 04:30 PM

StreetsBlog Chicago, 2/25:
 

Metra To Study Changes to Make its Fare Structure More “Creative”

 

Metra, the regional commuter train operator, is seeking a consultant to develop “creative recommendations” on how to change its fare structure. The consultant would be in charge of finding the pros and cons of the current fare structure, comparing it to Metra’s commuter rail peers around the country, and building a model that allows Metra to test how different fare policies would affect ridership and revenue. The Request for Proposals is due at the end of the month.

 

There are some drawbacks to Metra’s current fare policy. Trips that have a nearly equivalent route via the Chicago Transit Authority ‘L’ and bus cost over $1 more, which in some cases means people are opting to take a slower but cheaper trip via CTA. There’s also no transfer discount except for those who buy $55 Link-Up passes to be used on CTA in combination with a monthly Metra pass during rush hours only.

 

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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 31 July 2016 - 05:55 AM

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL 7/27:

 
Zoning out? Metra consultants to rethink fare structure
 

For Metra regulars, it's as simple as ABC. You pay to travel from Zone F in the suburbs to Zone A in the Loop every morning. In the late afternoon, you do the reverse.

 

That familiar fare structure could change subject to the results of a study Metra embarked on Wednesday. Board directors agreed to pay up to $315,300 to Four Nines Technologies, a California-based firm, to analyze existing fares, compare the system with other transit agencies and recommend improvements.

 

Everything is on the table, Executive Director Don Orseno said.

 

"What are the best practices? Do we have too many zones? Do we have too few? Should we even have zones?" he asked.

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 02 March 2017 - 08:02 AM

Metra news release:

 

Metra seeks input about potential fare options  
 
 
(March 1, 2017) - Metra today launched an online survey to ask what its customers, former customers and prospective customers think about a variety of potential fare and ticket options, including off-peak and reverse-commute pricing, one-day and seven-day passes, loyalty programs and other ideas.

 

The survey is part of a study that Metra commissioned in July 2016 to evaluate the agency’s distance-based fare structure and fare products and recommend changes that best serve the region’s needs. The scope of work for Metra’s consultant, Four Nines Technologies, includes determining opportunities and costs of potential fare structure changes and developing a model that can help Metra evaluate those potential changes.

 

The survey is available now at metrarail.com and will be online through March 31, 2017. 

 

“Different fare options can encourage different riding behavior, and that’s why we are seeking input both from our existing customers and prospective customers as part of this process,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “The goal is to come up with a fare structure that works well for our customers and increases ridership and fare revenue that can impact our bottom line.”      

 

The survey first asks respondents for information about commuting habits before asking for opinions about a variety of potential changes. Those include:

  • Their likelihood of buying a one-day pass that would allow them to make round trips, transfer between lines and make unlimited trips inbound and outbound during one day on all lines in their zone pair, similar to a Monthly Pass.
  • Their likelihood of buying a seven-day or weekly pass priced at eight one-way tickets and valid Monday through Sunday, instead of a 10-Ride Ticket.
  • Their likelihood of using a Weekend Pass with extended hours to include Friday evening trains.
  • Their likelihood of switching travel times if Metra offered a lower fare on weekdays for trains that arrive downtown after 9:30 a.m. and leave downtown before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. (It also asks respondents to suggest the level of discount that would motivate their switch.)
  • Whether lower fares for reverse-commutes, travel between non-downtown stations and travel during off-peak hours would encourage them to ride Metra. (It also asks respondents to suggest the level of discount that would motivate their change in travel patterns.)
  • Their likelihood of using Metra more if it offered some kind of loyalty program.

The survey also asks about the ease of understanding Metra’s Ventra App and zone-based fares, and allows respondents to provide additional comments about current fares and how they might be improved to meet their needs.

 

The survey results will be used to guide Metra’s decision-making regarding changes to fares and fare policies. Any proposed changes would be subject to further public comment before being implemented. The study is expected to be completed this summer.

 

Click here to complete the survey.

 

 



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 18 December 2017 - 08:23 AM

Chicago Tribune,  12/18/17:
 

 

Column:  Metra considers shaking up fare system: Riders closer to downtown may shell out more
 
By Mary Wisniewski, transportation reporter
 
 

Metra is considering shaking up the way it charges riders, which could some day translate into higher fares for those who live close to downtown and lower fares for riders who travel outside of rush hour.

 

Fares are set by distance. Unlike the CTA, which charges the same fare no matter where you are going, Metra charges by zone, which roughly correlates with how far you are from downtown stations.

 

SNIP

 

"We are looking for ways to modify our fare structure to benefit Metra and its riders, to give us some different tools to improve revenue while minimizing the impact on our customers," said Metra spokesman Michael Gillis.

 

SNIP

 

One of the ideas that could spark public interest is charging a discounted price for rides to or from downtown outside of the morning or evening rush hour. This would encourage riders to ride “off-peak” to reduce crowding, with perhaps a dollar discount, said Cyndy Pollan, project manager for Four Nines.

 

Mary Wisniewski is the transportation reporter and Getting Around columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She joined the Tribune in 2016 after stints as a general news reporter at Reuters and transportation reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. She has won numerous journalism awards, including a 2010 Lisagor for a story on the city’s cab business. A Chicago-area native, she played with model trains as a kid. Her biography of writer Nelson Algren is scheduled to be published in October by Chicago Review Press.

 

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#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 January 2018 - 07:59 PM

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL 1/17/18:
 

How to have your say on proposed Metra fare change

Metra is holding upcoming hearings to explain proposed changes to its fare structure.

 

 

Metra riders can learn more about proposed changes to the fare structure at upcoming public forums to be held throughout February.

 

The agency is hoping to create more flexibility, increase ridership and make adjustments to some zones to improve consistency.

 

Ideas include offering a one-day pass and charging less for people who travel to and from downtown at off-peak hours.

 

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#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 January 2018 - 08:27 AM

Metra news release:
 

Metra seeking feedback on fare ideas

 

 
(January 22, 2018) - Metra will hold a series of public open houses next month to gather customer feedback about several potential changes to its fare structure and ticket options.

 

Customers who can’t attend one of the open houses can review the study recommendations and provide comments online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MetraFares.  Metra is also welcoming public comments sent to metrafarestudy@metrarr.com. Additional study information can be found here.   

 

The goal of this initiative is to create a flexible fare structure that allows Metra to segment and price markets differently; give Metra more flexibility to increase fare revenue while providing more control over ridership impacts from fare changes; encourage off-peak travel and better use off-peak capacity; and redefine zones to define premium destinations and address perceived inconsistencies.

 

“What we are hoping to do is to modify our fare structure and ticket options in ways that work well for Metra’s customers and also help Metra make the best use of available resources and capacity,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski.

 

The effort started in the summer of 2016, when Metra hired California-based Four Nines Technologies to study Metra’s fare structure, determine opportunities for changes and develop a model to help Metra evaluate the potential changes. The company’s work included conducting a survey of Metra customers last spring and holding a workshop with the Metra Board of Directors last month, where Board members selected several proposals to present to customers and the public for their feedback before further Board consideration.

 

The proposed changes would:

 

Introduce a day pass for travel between any two zones, available on the Ventra App, priced at twice the cost of a One-Way Ticket.

  • The day pass will simplify fare payment, save time and encourage use of the Ventra App.

Discount non-rush hour trips to/from downtown stations, perhaps by $0.50 to $1 per one-way trip initially, for riders using One-Way or 10-Ride tickets.

  • Discounting non-rush hour fares will allow market-specific fare changes and encourage customers to ride off-peak to alleviate peak loads.

Redefine the inner zones so Zone A covers only the six downtown stations in Chicago’s Central Business District (Chicago Union Station, Ogilvie, LaSalle Street, Millennium, Van Buren Street and Museum Campus/11th Street); other stations currently in Zone A would be assigned to Zone B:  27th Street, McCormick Place, 18th Street, 35th Street, Western Avenue/BNSF, Halsted, Kedzie, Western Avenue/Milwaukee District/NCS and Clybourn. (Less than 1 percent of Metra riders currently travel between stations in Zone A.)

  • Restructuring Zone B will allow riders to take longer trips within the City of Chicago for the price of a one-zone fare, including travel to downtown stations on off-peak trains.
  • Defining downtown stations as premium destinations will allow market-specific fare changes and encourage customers to travel on off-peak trains to alleviate peak loads.

Conduct a phased consolidation of Zones K, L and M into Zone J, thereby capping fares for trips that exceed 45 miles (about 1 percent of Metra riders come from those zones).  The new Zone J would include 10 stations: Round Lake Beach, Lake Villa, Antioch, Long Lake, Ingleside, Fox Lake, Kenosha, McHenry, Woodstock and Harvard.

  • Consolidating Zones J, K, L, and M will cap the fare to stations in those zones and potentially mitigate ridership declines for trips that are currently the most expensive for riders at stations that have less service.

Reassign some stations to different zones to adjust perceived inconsistencies between lines where nearby stations are in different zones. Specifically:

  • On the Milwaukee District North Line, move Forest Glen from Zone C to Zone B.
  • On the North Central Service, move Rosemont from D to C.
  • On the SouthWest Service, move Oak Lawn from D to C and Palos Park from E to D.
  • On the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch, move Ashland, Racine, West Pullman, Stewart Ridge and State Street from D to C.
  • On the Metra Electric mainline, move 83rd Street and 87th Street from C to B.
  • On the Rock Island Beverly Branch, move 123rd Street from D to C.

                -Station reassignments will provide more similar fares for customers who board at stations on different lines, but with similar distances to downtown, and may encourage more local use of these stations.

 

Gradually correct the charge for each additional zone of travel so the charges are consistent. While the charge is 50 cents for most additional zones, others are 25 cents, 75 cents or $1.25.

  • Consistent pricing will make it easier for customers to understand and determine the fare for a trip.

Before any fare structure recommendations are adopted, Metra will analyze potential costs of the changes and conduct an analysis to make sure they do not unfairly affect those riders who are financially most vulnerable. The public comment process, which is part of this analysis, will include a combination of public open houses throughout the Metra service area and opportunities to review the recommendations online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MetraFares. Comments can also be provided via email to metrafarestudy@metrarr.com. Additional information can be found here.    

 

Open houses will be held in February on the following dates and times, at the following locations. Metra will provide reasonable auxiliary aids or services necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate. Persons requiring assistance are requested to notify Metra of their needs well in advance to provide sufficient time to make these accommodations. Requests for services should be made to 312-322-8037.

 

Kane County Government Center

719 Batavia Ave.

Geneva

Thursday, Feb. 1, 4-7 p.m.

 

Libertyville Village Hall

118 W. Cook Ave.

Libertyville

Tuesday, Feb.13, 4-7 p.m.

 

Crystal Lake City Hall

100 W. Woodstock St.

Crystal Lake

Monday, Feb. 5, 4-7 p.m.

 

Clarendon Hills Village Hall

1 N. Prospect Ave.

Clarendon Hills

Thursday, Feb.15, 4-7 p.m.

 

Arlington Heights Village Hall

33 S. Arlington Heights Rd.

Arlington Heights

Thursday, Feb. 8, 4-7 p.m.

 

Will County Office Building

302 N. Chicago St.

Joliet

Monday, Feb. 19, 4-7 p.m.

 

Homewood Village Hall

2020 Chestnut Rd.

Homewood

Monday, Feb. 12, 4-7 p.m.

 

Metra Headquarters

547 W. Jackson Blvd.

Chicago

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2-7 p.m.

 



#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 03 February 2018 - 08:35 PM

The Beacon-News by Chicago Tribune, 2/2/18:
 

Fox Valley commuters look at Metra fare, ticket proposals

 

 

Fox Valley commuters had a chance to look at proposed Metra fare and ticket options during an open house in Geneva.

 

SNIP

 

Longtime Geneva resident Liz Haythorne was among the attendees at Thursday's open house.

 

"I worked in Chicago and commuted and for the 10 years I lived in Naperville I worked in Chicago and commuted so I am very much in favor of train travel," Haythorne said.

 

Haythorne said she is considering moving and is interested in how possible changes will affect Metra's service territory.

 

"Train travel is the absolute best. Anyone who has the opportunity to use it should use it.  .  .  .

 

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