No fare hikes, service cuts in Metra’s 2026 budget plan as RTA weighs final approval

CHICAGO - Metra has approved a $1.2 billion operating budget for 2026 that, if finalized, will not include fare hikes or service reductions.

What we know:

The Metra Board of Directors approved the 2026 operating budget Thursday. The plan relies on new state funding and does not require any fare increases or service cuts, the agency said.

The board also approved a $515.3 million capital program that continues major investments in bridges, stations, and new and rehabilitated rail cars.

Metra first introduced its 2026 budget in October. The Illinois Legislature later passed reforms and new funding measures for public transportation in northeastern Illinois.

The legislation followed the expected depletion of federal COVID-19 relief funding, which Metra and other transit agencies have us