Latest news with #SouthShoreLine
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
South Shore Line fares increasing July 1 in first jump since 2018
Fares for South Shore Line riders will increase an average of 10% on July 1 after a 4-1 vote by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton voted no Wednesday, explaining he had more questions about it before he could support it. General Manager and President Michael Noland said the fare increase comes after the railroad has depleted its savings following the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We have not had a fare increase on this RR since 2018,' he said. Planned increases were skipped when the pandemic caused ridership to plummet. As the railroad went to the Statehouse looking for additional funding, Noland said, state officials asked, 'What are you doing with respect to self-help?' The railroad has been conservative with its operating expenses and partnered with labor unions to find ways to reduce expenses and turn that into wages, he said. Still, a fare increase was needed. Noland said the fare increase will bring in about $1.25 million to $1.5 million in additional revenue annually. The fare increase is a big jump, at an average of 10%, but it's been a long time coming. The consumer price increase has gone up 'something like 35%' since 2018, he said. Future fare increases are likely, perhaps 5% every other year beginning July 1, 2027, if inflation is around 2.5% per year, he said. The railroad held five public hearings on the fare increases in April and May and solicited comments in writing and by email as well. 'We received feedback. No one ever raises their hand and says please, please, please raise our fares,' Noland said. The hearings in Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties didn't draw any attendees, Director of Strategic Planning and Grants Kelly Wenger said. 'We did not have a tremendous opposition to it,' Noland said. In implementing the fare increase, the railroad is eliminating its buy-one-get-one-free promotion for monthly tickets. 'We heavily discount our monthly tickets,' which have historically been the railroad's bread and butter, Noland said. 'They're still important riders to us,' but ridership trends are changing. The pandemic taught companies that employees working at home could still be productive. Fewer people working in an office five days a week means fewer riders each day. Now a lot of workers are in the office just two or three days a week, Noland said. They're not necessarily working 9 to 5 in the office, either. Some just need to be there in time for a 9:30 a.m. staff meeting and can leave earlier, affecting rush hour demand for trains. 'The monthly ticket doesn't make sense to them. They're not getting the value out of it,' Noland said. Instead, they might opt for a 10-ride or 25-ride ticket. With the new fare structure, a 10-ride ticket is discounted 10% over the single-ride rate. It previously was discounted 5%. A 25-ride ticket now will be discounted 20%, rather than 10%. The monthly ticket price is going up 10%. 'We're going to keep it. We're not going to get rid of it,' Noland said. It will be up to riders to decide which ticket best serves their needs. The railroad's overall ticket sales have jumped 32.4% for the first four months of this year, compared to the same period last year. One-way tickets are up 33.2%, and monthly tickets are up just 8%, the lowest increase of any type of ticket. 25-ride ticket sales are up 11.6% and 10-ride tickets are up 11.7%. The railroad offers reduced-price fares for senior citizens, active duty military, children under 13 and riders with disabilities. In addition, up to three children 13 and under can ride free when accompanied by a parent on weekend, holiday and off-peak weekday trains. Wenger, whose many duties include compliance officer for Title 6, which affects low-income and minority communities, said they're not adversely affected by the fare increase, based on 2024 ridership data. Hudson Lake, the one community showing a disparate impact for the new fare structure, was based on insufficient response for that community. Only one person responded to the survey. 'Hudson Lake on a good day has four riders,' Noland said. The last passenger count was three, Wenger said. 'We must have lost someone somewhere along the way.' On-time performance has improved dramatically in the past year even as more trains are operating. Weekly trains reporting on-time performance increased 142% and trains arriving within 10 minutes of scheduled arrival time are up 85%. Noland, looking at a chart on the performance increase, remarked, 'I wish my stock portfolio looked like that.' The board discussed potential impacts on ridership from external events. If the state decided to turn the Borman Expressway into a toll road, that 'likely would drive, from an economic standpoint, ridership to the South Shore Line,' Noland said. 'That shifts their mentality: Maybe you know what, I'm going to take the train,' he said. When the Dan Ryan Expressway was under construction, ridership hit an all-time high. Board chair Lyndsay Quist, who heads the Indiana Department of Transportation, said her agency did some preliminary work when the General Assembly talked this past session about tolling on the state's expressways but hasn't submitted a formal request to the federal government yet.
Chicago Tribune
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Orland police promote autism awareness, Metra work, more
Orland Park police cruiser promotes autism awareness The Orland Park Police Department marked Autism Awareness Month and its Occupant with Autism program by showing off the department's new cruiser. The design's highlights include puzzle pieces wrapped around the vehicle, an autism awareness ribbon on the SUV's hood, and Occupant with Autism decal and QR code that links to the program on the rear window. The Occupant with Autism program involves using decals and a registration system that allows first responders to know people with autism live in homes or are driving or riding in vehicles. Free decals are available for Orland Park residents and nonresidents who work or attend school in the area. Residents also can register for the program without displaying a decal so first responders have that information when dispatched to the home or vehicle. 'We hope the community appreciates our efforts and will continue to work on enhancing interactions involving individuals with autism and the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department,' police Chief Eric Rossi shared in a news release. The registration form is available at Information is at AutismAwareness@ Metra Electric Line work starts this weekend Users of the Metra Electric Line will find themselves on buses for a portion of their ride May 3 and 4 and May 10 and 11 because of extensive construction as a result of the South Shore Line's expansion plans. Train service will end and begin at the 18th Street Station, with buses used instead of trains between Millennium and 18th, and the Sunday schedule will be used on Saturdays as well those weekends. The Van Buren Street and Museum Campus/11th Street stations will be closed. Buses will shuttle riders via the McCormick Place busway between the Millennium and 18th Street stations. Buses will not stop at the Museum Campus/11th Street or Van Buren Street stations. Pace paratransit vehicles will shuttle ADA riders via the McCormick Place busway between Millennium and McCormick Place stations but will not stop at the Museum Campus, Van Buren Street or 18th Street stations. Customer service agents will be available. The $650 construction project expands NICTD's South Shore service and includes track realignments and upgrades to the system that supplies power to the trains. Mental health community fair set at H-F High School Homewood-Flossmoor High School and the Live Free 999 Foundation have joined forces to offer a mental health community event May 5 in the Performing Arts Center Blackbox Theater at the school, 999 Kedzie Ave., Flossmoor. A panel discussion is set for 7 to 8 p.m. and resource tables will be available before and after the talk. RSVP at because space is limited. Host Carmela Wallace founded Live Free 999 in honor of her son to normalize conversations about mental health and substance dependency while providing young people with vital resources. The foundation honors late artist and Chicago native Jarad Higgins, aka Juice WORLD, who attended Homewood-Flossmoor. Homewood-Flossmoor families are invited to the event, which includes students, mental health professionals and community partners to break the stigma of mental health, share insights and offer support. Other presenters include school psychologist Kofi Shuck and counselor Kizawanda Olowe, both of H-F H.S.; students from Bring Change 2 Mind; Terri McKean of NAMI Chicago; representatives from SunCloud Health; Sarah Whitson of the Crisis Text Line; and comedian and parent Correy Bell. The community fair follows Shatter the Silence: Mental Health Day 2025, a program held April 28 at H-F H.S., with the goal of empowering students with the knowledge, support and tools they need for mental well-being. Stagg H.S. thespians earn honors at state contest Cast and crew of Stagg High School's play 'Antigone' competed at this year's Illinois High School Association Drama State Competition in Oak Lawn, and senior Nora Mackey and junior Sophia Bravo were named All State Cast for their performances. Mackey portrayed Antigone, and Bravo had the role of Teiresias. Other cast members were Sophia Sochacki, Simon Gallovitch, Nicholas Lellos, Aviana Salas, Brynna Siewers, Casper De Boer, Gina Rabadi, Mia Lewandowski, Byron Kelaiditis, Marcus Furzcon and Lorene Paulson. Crew members were Mariya Kunnnengode, Abigail Chereb, Sydney Anderson, Jocelyn Jimenz Noemi Rynkiewicz, Kalleigh Miskoivic, Karina Lotysz, Jack Dalton, Natalia Knapik, Mary Chapman, Matt Busch, Julian Arambula, Abigail Carlson, Andrea Bareika and Leah Anderson. Palos Park Woman's Club hosts Mother's Day Walk The third annual Mother's Day Walk Presented by the Palos Park Woman's Club steps off rain or shine at 8 a.m. May 10 at Lake Katherine, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights. The walk ends at 10:30 a.m. Friends, families and neighbors are invited to celebrate mothers while supporting local causes. A 1-mile wood chip path around the lake or a 2-mile paved path along the Cal-Sag Trail are available, with water stops along the way. Local artisans will be featured, offering hand-crafted gifts in time for Mother's Day. Registration costs $30 for adults and $20 for children younger than 18; children 2 and younger are free. It's available online at The event is part of the club's mission to foster community connections and give back, with proceeds supporting scholarships, local outreach efforts and service initiatives. Bluegrass benefit boosts Frankfort's free music festival Fans of bluegrass music are invited to the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival all-volunteer committee's benefit from 6 to 10 p.m. May 9 at CD & Me, 23320 S. LaGrand Road, Frankfort. The event will raise money for the annual free Frankfort Bluegrass Festival, set for July 12 and 13. Advance tickets cost $45 and include music, heavy appetizers, beverages and beer tastings. Tickets cost $10 more at the door. Cash bar, raffles, silent auctions and split the pot raffle will be available. Parking is free. Three bands will perform: Wheels North, The Grateful String Band and Anderlik, Otto & Church. For tickets, visit
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
South Shore fare hikes coming; state aid sought to continue operations
A previously announced 10% fare increase for South Shore Line passengers is expected this year, to be followed by future price hikes to keep up with inflation. The 10% increase could be approved as soon as the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board's May meeting. General Manager and President Michael Noland briefed the board Monday on the need to avoid a fiscal cliff after the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the railroad's coffers along with ridership. 'Because of the loss of ridership, there also was a corresponding loss in revenue,' he said. The railroad is also seeking state assistance as the Indiana General Assembly drafts its biennial budget this month. 'We will get some kind of funding this year' from the state, Noland said, but just how much remains to be seen. The Legislature has an April 29 deadline to complete its work, including passing the 2026-2027 budget. The 10% fare increase, now going through the approval process, is intended as a way to not just increase revenue but also to show state officials that the railroad is doing its share to improve its bottom line. Railroad officials have had 'great meetings' with legislative leaders and the governor's office, Noland said. 'I'm cautiously optimistic.' 'We have burned through our rainy day fund,' he said, so a cash infusion is needed to keep operating and begin to rebuild reserves. Before the pandemic, the railroad had enough cash reserves to cover eight to nine months of operating costs, Noland said. During the pandemic, ridership plummeted during the stay-at-home order. While it's growing again, it hasn't reached pre-pandemic levels. More than 200,000 riders used the train in January 2019, with about 125,000 riding it in January 2025, according to a chart shared with the board Monday. That's a significant boost over January 2024, when the double-track project still required busing passengers to Gary's Metro Center station. March data was of course not available Monday, but ridership numbers for the St. Patrick's Day parade and dyeing the Chicago River will show March to be a good month for riders, Director of Capital Investment and Implementation Nicole Barker said. In 2023, the events drew 4,680 riders, growing to 4,930 in 2024 and 11,109 this year. Barker also serves as the railroad's marketing director. As the railroad improves its on-time performance, Noland looks forward to the railroad being able to boast about its on-time performance. When the double-track project was completed enough to start putting more trains in service last May, on-time performance was dismal, Noland acknowledged, at around 25% to 30%. 'There was not a single moment of recovery time in the schedule,' he said. The railroad tweaked the schedule and saw on-time performance improve to 55% to 60%. Since the newest schedule took effect on Feb. 18, performance is even better, often at 100% for rush hour trains, he said. 'We really have come a long way. We're not done,' he said. 'The low-hanging fruit is all gone.' 'Our goal is to be consistently at 90%. We're very close to that,' Noland said. 'It's going to bleed right into increased ridership,' he said. As the double-track service became operational, Noland communicated often with riders to update them on the railroad's progress and seek public input.
