New Year, new increases for Chicago-area commuters.
The Chicago Transit Authority last week approved a price hike for monthly, weekly, three-day and Metra "Link-up" passes. That's on top of a toll increase on the Chicago Skyway, the Chicago Sun-Times points out.
The price for monthly CTA passes will increase from $86 to $100. Weekly passes increase to $28 from $23. Three-day passes are going from $14 to $20, and one-day passes will nearly double, from $5.75 to $10.
The Metra "Link-up" Pass is going up $10, to $55, and the reduced-fare for seniors will rise to $1 from 85 cents (low-income seniors will continue to ride at no cost).
There's a temporary reprieve for riders who take the Blue Line from O'Hare International Airport, though. A proposal called for raising the $2.25 fare for those who depart from the airport to $5. O'Hare employees balked at that, and the board did an about face.
Those using a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus will continue to pay $2.25 through at least July 1, 2013.
That's not all. As of Feb. 1, Metra's 10-ride ticket is increasing by 11 percent, which comes out to anywhere between $2.75 and $9.25. Officials believe the change would raise around $8.3 million.
For Skyway drivers, tolls are going up from $3.50 to $4.
