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Illinois 31st State Senate District
Bond Legislation Would Allow Credit Card Use at Metra Stations
from the Illinois Senate
State Senator Michael Bond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Thursday, March 26, 2009 Jeffrey Gaunt - 217-782-0995
BOND LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW CREDIT CARD USE AT METRA STATIONS
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Michael Bond (D - Grayslake) announced a new initiative today that would allow Metra rail passengers to pay their fares using a credit card.
Senate Bill 577, as amended, requires the Commuter Rail Board to implement a system by Jan. 1, 2010, that would allow Metra passengers to purchase fares by credit card either in-person or online. The system would have to be in place at 25 percent of rail stations by 2010, 50 percent of stations by 2011 and 75 percent of stations by 2012.
“We have one of the largest commuter rail systems in the country, but our system of allowing riders to purchase train tickets is extremely antiquated,” Bond said. “Allowing the use of credit cards to purchase fares is a basic public service that any modern rail transit system should offer to its customers.”
Metra is the second largest commuter rail system in the United States in terms of ridership, serving an estimated 324,300 passengers each weekday, according to the American Public Transportation Association. It is second only to New York City’s Long Island Rail. However, out of the top ten commuter rail systems in the country, Metra is the only one that does not allow riders to use a credit card in one form or another.
“Requiring Metra to accept credit cards is a critical step toward placing our regional transit system on par with other commuter rail lines around the world,” Bond said. “From eliminating paper tickets to offering wireless Internet access on trains, it’s time we develop a broader plan to modernize our rail system and offer riders the services they have come to expect in the 21st Century.”
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