Metra to close Lake Forest, Villa Park ticket offices

Due to declining on-site sales, Metra on July 26 will close the ticket offices at the Lake Forest Station on the Union Pacific North Line and the Villa Park Station on the UP West Line.

Ticket sales have declined at many Chicago-area Metra stations as passengers have switched to mobile purchasing. About 47% of riders now purchase tickets via the Ventra App. Although the ticket offices are closing, passengers will continue to have access to the station facilities, Metra officials said in a news release.

Lake Forest Station sold an average of 1,049 tickets per month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic drop in public transportation ridership. The Villa Park Station sold an average of 1,147 tickets per month in 2019. Both facilities were at the bottom of the list of staffed stations for ticket sales.

After July 26, riders boarding at each station can use cash to purchase a one-way ticket onboard from a conductor. Tickets also can be purchased through the free Ventra App, from Ogilvie Transportation Center sales agents for all three UP lines and from ticket vending machines available at Ogilvie.