(A) The Commuter Rail Board, having considered the fare equity analyses under Title VI, has found that the continuation of the previously implemented promotional Metra fare changes would not result in a disparate impact on the basis of race, color or national origin; nor will low-income populations bear a disproportionate burden of this change. Accordingly, the Commuter Rail Board hereby approves the fare equity analyses, as well as the fare changes set forth.
(B) The Commuter Rail Board has reviewed and approves the fare policy that continues the “Super Saver” Monthly Pass pricing, as specified and set forth in the published 2023 operating and capital program and budget.
(C) The Commuter Rail Board hereby approves the 2023 operating and capital program and budget (January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023), the 2024 through 2025 financial plan and the 2024 through 2027 capital program, copies of which are attached hereto and made a part hereof, and further authorizes their transmittal to the Board of Directors of the Authority in full compliance with § 4.11 of the Regional Transportation Authority (“RTA”) Act, being 70 ILCS 3615/1.01 et seq.
(E) The Chief Executive Officer/Executor Director of the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (“Commuter Rail Division”) is hereby authorized and directed to take such action, as he or she deems necessary or appropriate, to implement, administer and enforce this section.
(F) Paragraph (C) above shall constitute the annual program of the Commuter Rail Division for services to be provided, operations to be continued or begun and capital projects to be continued or begun during the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. Authorization is hereby given that the programs and projects herein named may be implemented, or actions toward their implementation taken, during said fiscal year.
(G) Paragraphs (H) through (J) below shall constitute the annual budget for operations of the services (“operations”) provided by the Commuter Rail Division other than for capital projects and technical studies as provided in paragraphs (K) through (M) below for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. Paragraphs (K) through (M) below shall constitute the annual budget for capital project and technical study expenditures incurred during the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. Funds available from all sources during 2022 not identified herein for use in the operating or capital budget are to be used for potential funding shortfalls and working cash.
(H) The following named sums, or so much as may be necessary, are hereby appropriated for the specified use (in thousands):
Operating Commuter Rail Division services and support | $980,000 |
(I) The estimated Commuter Rail Division operating funds expected to be available from all sources during 2023 are (in thousands):
Federal Relief Funds (Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, Pub. Law 116-136; Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CRRSA”), Pub. Law 116-260; and American Rescue Plan (“ARP”), Pub. Law 117-2) | $240,395 |
Metra 2022 sales tax 1 | $396,817 |
Metra 2022 sales tax 2 and PTF 2 | $126,770 |
Total operating revenues | $216,018 |
Total sources of operating funds | $980,000 |
(J) The following are 2023 estimates of the revenues and expenses for the Commuter Rail Division (in thousands):
Operating expenses | $980,000 |
Operating revenues | $216,018 |
Total funded deficit | $763,982 |
(K) The following named sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, for capital projects and technical studies which remain unexpended as of December 31, 2022, is hereby reappropriated to meet all obligations of the Commuter Rail Division incurred during the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Total | $2,049,002 |
(L) The estimated Commuter Rail Division capital funds expected to be available from all sources to finance the 2023 capital program are (in thousands):
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (“CMAQ”) | $28,800 |
Cook County | $5,000 |
Federal Transit Administration | $252,495 |
FTA-Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (“ITEP”) | $2,000 |
IDOT-Multimodal Transportation Bond | $12,000 |
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (“IDCEO”) | $500 |
Metra Capital | $19 |
Prior Year Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds | $141,500 |
RTA bond | $130,000 |
Total sources of 2023 capital funds | $646,089 |
(M) The following named sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, for technical studies and capital projects, are hereby appropriated to meet all obligations of the Commuter Rail Division incurred during the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Bridges, track and structure | $94,530 |
Facilities and equipment | $104,239 |
Rolling stock | $127,672 |
Signal, electrical and communications | $77,975 |
Stations and parking | $197,495 |
Support activities | $44,179 |
Total uses of 2022 capital funds | $646,089 |
(Ord. MET 22-12, passed 11-11-2022; Ord. MET 23-01, passed 2-15-2023)