Metra OKs 2023 operating, capital budgets

Metra's board last week approved 2023 operating and capital budgets of $980 million and $504.6 million, respectively.

The new operating budget is 8.9% higher than the 2022 amended budget due to inflation and contractual cost increases; higher expenses incurred by restoring service and headcount levels to pre-pandemic levels; and costs associated with capital projects and strategic initiatives, Metra officials said in a press release.

There are no fare increases scheduled for 2023. Next year's operating budget will continue to offer the $100 "Super Saver" monthly pass, as well as the $10 and $6 day passes, to keep fares "simple and affordable," they added.

The operating budget forecasts system-generated revenue (made up of mostly fare revenue) of $216 million and regional transportation sales tax revenue of $523.6 million. It also projects that ridership will begin the year at about 40% of pre-pandemic levels, finishing the year at 55%.

Just over $240 million will be covered with federal COVID relief funding. Metra received $1.1 billion in total from federal recovery programs and has $599.2 million remaining, expecting to run out of the funds completely in 2025.

Meanwhile, 67% of the $504.6 million 2023 capital budget will fund large-scale projects. Those include station reconstruction, $119.5 million; rail-car rehabilitation and purchase, $70.8 million; program management, $38.6 million; locomotive improvements, $33.3 million; bridge replacement and rehabilitation, $32.1 million; ticket vending machines, $24.6 million; and interlockings, $21.4 million.

The capital budget is funded by a mix of federal, state and local funding, including a 30% increase in federal formula funding from 2022:

• $252.5 million in federal formula funding;
• $30.8 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement and other federal funding;
• $73.8 million in Illinois PAYGO funds;
• $12 million in Illinois Multi-Modal Transportation Bond funds;
• $500,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;
• $5 million from Cook County; and
• $130 million in RTA bonds.

Click here to read the full budget book.