Fare increases for the South Shore Railroad, connecting northernmost Indiana cities with Chicago, were tentatively approved last week by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Board.
The proposal, which would affect 13,000 daily commuters, calls for a 50-cent increase, to $8.65, in one-way fares between South Bend and downtown Chicago, said board President William Carmichael.
Fares would rise from $81.50 to $82.20 for 10-ride tickets, $183.40 to $194.65 for 25-ride tickets and $228.15 to $241.65 for monthly passes, Carmichael said.
The new fares probably would become effective in February, after the board casts its final vote on the proposal Jan. 19, Carmichael said.
”We have not increased fares since 1986, and we are trying to keep up with the area inflation rate,” Carmichael said.
The board on Friday also tentatively approved extending the half-fare rate for senior citizens to include rush-hour travel and proposed allowing any two children under 17 to travel free with an adult during weekends, holidays and non-rush hours, Carmichael said.
