Ticket agents are generally on duty throughout the day every day at the downtown Chicago stations. Most of the outlying stations have an agent on duty from early morning through early afternoon. The least busy stations have no agent at any time. If a fare is paid on the train when an agent was on duty, a two dollar penalty is charged.
Effective October 1, 1976, one year after the RTA's creation, a uniform zone fare structure was adopted for most of Chicago's commuter railroads. Exceptions at that time were the Chicago and North Western and the Rock Island lines. There were delays in working out the Purchase of Service Contract with the C&NW, so the unified fares on those lines did not take effect until April 1, 1977. The unified fares were not implemented on the Rock Island line until November 1, 1979, after deliveries of new cars were completed. RTA had felt that Rock Island commuters had suffered enough with old equipment and poor track, that the fare increases were delayed until the line was brought up to a respectable condition.
The new uniform fare structure divided each commuter rail line into five mile zones. And for the first time, tickets were interchangeable within a given zone for all commuter lines. The South Shore Line, mostly an Indiana operation, largely continues to have its own fare structure. Although for Hegewisch, the only South Shore station within Illinois, the fares into Chicago are what they would normally be for a Metra station at that distance. Except that unlike the rest of the Metra system, tickets are not interchangeable.
The RTA funding crisis of 1981 resulted in fares skyrocketing to approximately present levels. With more secure funding, fares were rolled back effective February 1, 1984. And modest fare increases have been adopted since then, most recently on February 1, 2008.
Metra presently offers one way, 10 ride, and monthly unlimited tickets. Metra also offers the $5 Weekend Pass, valid for unlimited use on Metra on a Saturday and Sunday within one weekend. Metra tickets can also be used to ride beyond the ticket zone, by paying the conductor $1 for the first zone, and 50 cents for each additional zone. This works well for monthly ticket holders making an occasional trip beyond the normal zone.
Reduced fares (half price) would apply for children ages 7 to 11, high school students, and senior citizens and people with disabilities with the RTA Reduced Fare Permit. Although in 2008, a new state law was passed in Illinois requiring all public transportation systems to allow senior citizens to ride for free. This is the same criteria for reduced fares on CTA and Pace. In addition on weekends, Metra offers "family fares", where children under 12 ride free and people ages 12 to 17 ride at reduced fare.
RAILROAD C&NW Milw. CRI&P BN IC RTA Metra FARE May Oct. Aug. Nov. Dec. Oct. Feb. EFFECTIVE 1 1 13 19 14 1 1 DATE 1974 1973 1973 1973 1973 1976 2008 8 Miles One Way 1.00 .90 .95 .70 .85 1.00 2.35 10 Ride 9.00 9.00 8.45 7.00 ----- ----- 20.00 25 Ride 22.50 ----- 21.10 16.80 20.40 ----- ----- Weekly 7.95 7.25 7.10 ----- 7.55 8.10 ----- Semi-Mo 14.05 13.20 13.45 ----- ----- ----- ----- Monthly 25.50 24.20 24.45 22.05 25.05 27.00 63.45 22 Miles One Way 1.60 1.45 1.35 1.35 1.45 1.45 4.30 10 Ride 14.40 14.50 12.80 13.50 ----- ----- 36.55 25 Ride 36.00 ----- 32.05 32.40 34.80 ----- ----- Weekly 12.95 11.55 10.80 ----- 12.00 11.75 ----- Semi-Mo 22.80 20.65 20.45 ----- ----- ----- ----- Monthly 41.45 37.75 37.20 35.40 40.00 39.15 116.10 37 Miles One Way 2.00 2.15 1.90 2.30 ----- 1.90 5.65 10 Ride 18.00 21.50 17.50 23.00 ----- ----- 48.05 25 Ride 45.00 ----- 43.70 55.20 ----- ----- ----- Weekly 16.45 14.25 14.70 ----- ----- 15.40 ----- Semi-Mo 29.00 25.45 27.95 ----- ----- ----- ----- Monthly 52.70 46.50 49.80 44.00 ----- 51.30 152.55