CHICAGO — Metra, the Regional Transportation Authority, and Cook County, Ill., on Tuesday announced the Access Pilot Program, which extends reduced fares for low-income riders across the entire six-county Metra system as of Feb. 1.
The new program, an 18-month pilot program, is a successor to and expansion of the Fair Transit South Cook program, introduced in 2021 [see “Metra board approves 2021 budgets …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 14, 2020], which lowered fares on the Metra Electric and Rock Island districts. That program is ending Jan. 31.
Members of households included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties are eligible for the pilot, which will use the reduced fare and zone structure already set to take effect Feb. 1.
“Fully funding and expanding regional reduced fare and ride free programs increases access for those residents who need it most,” RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden said in a press release. “The Access Pilot is a big step forward for our region to allow equitable and affordable transit access to SNAP recipients. This pilot expands upon RTA’s existing reduced fare and ride free programs and provides a seamless transition from the Fair Transit South Cook pilot. ”
Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said his agency was “excited” to partner with the RTA and Cook County on the program.
“Advancing equity in transportation is one of the key goals of Metra’s new strategy plan, ‘My Metra, Our Future,’” Derwinski said, “and this program will go a long way toward helping Metra meet that goal.”
Those eligible can apply for the program beginning Jan. 16 at the website GetAccess.org, by calling RTA Customer Service at 312-913-3110, or with in-person visits to one of 62 registration sites.
