NICTD: Higher Fares Possible, no stops at Kensington

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is considering increasing fares by 5 percent across the board on South Shore trains effective Feb. 15.

At its meeting on Friday, the NICTD board voted in favor of a motion to hold five public hearings on the proposed fare hike in January. It plans to vote on the increase at its Jan. 27 meeting.

The increase would yield about $800,000 in revenue for the South Shore, according to information released at the meeting.

The board also voted to end South Shore stops at the Kensington station in Chicago in February. Those passengers will be able to use the 57th Street station, NICTD Planning and Marketing Director John Parsons told the board.

The expected completion of the $18 million Kensington interlocking project, which should reduce delays there, means South Shore trains will bypass the station, Parsons said.

Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/ ... z1fQ5gi8WJ

Curiosity --- can anyone say how NICTD calculates the price of their monthly ticket? The 10-ride, 25-ride and reduced tickets reflect a consistent level of discount over one-way tickets (currently rounded to the nearest nickel) but the monthly tickets seem to be more logarithmic with a slightly bigger discount the further one gets from Chicago.

I imagine they use a slide rule.

@justalurker- ever wonder what the BCS computer does 364 days/year?

A public notice from NICTD:

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE ON PROPOSED FARE CHANGES

NICTD is proposing a 5% across the board fare increase rounded to the nearest quarter that would take effect on February 15, 2012. This fare increase applies to all stations but Hegewisch. Metra approved a fare increase at Hegewisch that takes effect on February 1, 2012 (see notice further down). NICTD is also considering changing its active duty military fare policy.

The public is invited to comment in person at a series of public hearings or mail their comments to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, 33 East U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton, Indiana 46304. Comments must be recieved by NICTD on or before January 16, 2012. Comments may also be e-mailed though our website.

Public hearing schedule:

Monday, January 9, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. ET
Studebaker Room
Michiana Regional Airport, South Bend
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 6:30 p.m. CT
Gary Public Transportation Board Room
3rd Floor, Gary Metro Center
100 W. 4th Ave., Gary
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 7:00 p.m. CT
NICTD Administrative Office Board Room
33 East US Highway 12, Chesterton
Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Hammond Public Library
564 State St., Hammond
Monday, January 16, 2012 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Michigan City Hall, Lower Level - EOC Room
100 East Michigan Blvd, Michigan City

For a complete list of proposed fares please click here or see a NICTD ticket agent. For a pdf of this notice click here. The NICTD board is scheduled to act on the proposed fare increase at its January 27, 2012 meeting.

(Apparently they didn't get the memo on the airport rename.)