News & Reviews News Wire Metra board approves 2025 budget

Metra board approves 2025 budget

By Trains Staff | November 14, 2024

Operating budget set at $1.135 billion, capital plan at $366.4 million

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Two commuter trains side-by-side on three-track main line
An outbound Metra BNSF Line train comes to a halt at the Highlands station in Hinsdale, Ill., while an express train passes on the center track on Nov. 1, 2024. David Lassen

CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday approved a $1.135 billion operating budget that maintains current fares, as well as a $366.4 million capital spending plan to continue improvements to bridges, stations, and rolling stock.

The budget, about 4.1% higher than that for 2024, includes projections that ridership will increase by about 7%. It relies on $304.1 million in system-generated revenue including fares; $592.5 million from regional sales tax; and $238.4 million from Metra’s remaining fedral COVID-relief funds. A small amount of the COVID funding will be carried over to 2026; the end of that funding creates what Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski called a “fiscal cliff” in a statement when the draft version of the budget was released [see “Metra unveils proposed 2025 budget …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 11., 2024].

The capital plan includes some $43.7 million for Metra’s ongoing car rehabilitation programs, as well as $29 million for the battery-electric trainsets the agency has ordered from Stadler US [see “Metra signs deal with Stadler US …,” News Wire, Feb. 21, 2024]. It also includes seven bridge projects with prices ranging from $1 million to $7.2 million, part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to address aging structures inherited across its system.

The full budget is available here.

 

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