The Metra Board of Directors today approved a one-year contract to evaluate the agency’s distance-based fare structure and fare products and recommend changes that will ensure Metra is best serving the region’s needs.
California-based Four Nines Technologies’ scope of work includes determining opportunities and costs of potential fare structure changes and developing a model that can help Metra evaluate those potential changes. The one-year contract is not to exceed $315,300.
“This team will play a significant role in partnering with our agency to evaluate our fare structure and make creative recommendations for changes, reflecting Metra's overall efforts to modernize its operations, engage customers and increase ridership,” said Metra Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman. “The entire Metra Board feels strongly that we need to do this important work, particularly in light of our many funding needs and our major funding challenges.”
Some of the areas Four Nines Technologies will be reviewing include: changes to Metra fare zones, including the number of zones in the system; distance-based versus flat fare options; various current and prospective ticket offerings and ticket types; and ticket pricing options, such as peak and off-peak fares, discounted tickets, reduced fares and transfers. The firm will also conduct the required Federal Transit Administration (FTA) fare equity analysis and develop recommendations with a proposed action plan.
“We are pleased to have a firm working with us that has the experience and expertise needed to help us review our fare policies,” said Metra Executive Directors/CEO Don Orseno. “This is a major undertaking for our agency and the first time we’ve had someone come in and study our fare structure since Metra was founded.”
Four submissions were received in response to a request for proposals published in February. A committee comprised of Metra employees from the departments of Strategic Capital Planning, Marketing, Finance and Station Services, as well as the Office of Business Diversity and Civil Rights, evaluated the proposals and selected Four Nines Technologies as the highest-ranked firm.
“Four Nines Technologies looks forward to working with Metra and its staff and customers to increase ridership by making the fare structure and fare products more attractive,” said Four Nines Technologies Project Manager Cyndy Pollan. “While we are a relatively young firm, the individuals who will be working with Metra will be applying many years of experience on similar fare policy and fare collection projects for regional rail systems to bring the best result to Metra's stakeholders.”
Once the contract with Four Nines Technologies is signed, their scope of work is expected to take one year to complete.