Metra on Friday approved a budget for next year that includes an overhaul of the commuter railroad’s fare structure.

The transit agency will nix 10-ride passes and reduce fare zones from 10 to four. The change could happen as early as February 2024, Metra spokeswoman Martha Hill said.

That’s when Metra is ending its three-year pilot offering reduced fairs on the Electric and Rock Island lines. Metra said it is working on “an evolution of the pilot” to provide reduced fares to low-income residents of the six-county Chicago area.

New one-way fares will be equal to or less than the current one-way fares, Metra said.

Metra’s $1.1 billion budget for 2024 is almost 5% higher than this year’s, mostly due to inflation and contractual union agreements, Metra said in a statement.

Other changes in the approved budget:

• Elimination of the promotional $6 and $10 Day Passes and $100 Super Saver Monthly Pass.
• Replacing the 10-Ride Ticket with a Day Pass 5-Pack available only through the Ventra app.
• Elimination of “incremental fares” — a surcharge to travel beyond the zones indicated on a ticket.

About 63% of next year’s proposed budget, $574 million, will be spent on construction and repairs.

Metra first suggested the changes this summer as a way to adjust to commuters’ post-pandemic habits. Metra, once a popular mode of transit for suburban 9-to-5 employees, has seen its ridership drop by over half since the COVID-19 lockdown forced people into work schedules with more time at home.

Metra’s budget expects ridership to increase next year from 47% to 54% of pre-pandemic levels.

Metra