Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Metro Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Metro CFO presents $515M capital program, pilots battery train sets and pledges no 2026 fare increase
Summary
Metro (agency CFO John Morris) told Will County leaders the agency expects stronger sales tax revenue, a $515 million capital program this year and a five‑year $2.1 billion plan to buy rolling stock and rehabilitate bridges; Metro will pilot battery‑powered train sets and is not planning a fare increase in 2026.
John Morris, Metro’s chief financial officer, briefed the Will County Committee of the Whole on Metro’s 2026 operating and capital outlook, stressing that new state funding and stronger sales tax returns reduce near‑term financial pressure.
“So far this year, we're getting about 10% more in sales taxes than we had been provided by the RTA in estimates,” Morris said, and he told the board Metro expects to balance near‑term budgets with added state support while preserving service levels.
On capital, Morris said Metro’s near‑term capital program is about $515 million and the five‑year program totals roughly $2.1 billion, with about half the money directed to rolling stock. He described purchases of new bi‑level cars from Alstom and a small fleet of battery‑powered train sets from Stadler to be tested on the Rock Island branch; the battery sets would allow partial electrification without overhead catenary work.
Morris emphasized bridge maintenance as a priority: Metro operates over 926 bridges, about 446 of which it owns, and about 210 structures need rehabilitation to avoid frequent slow zones that reduce service reliability.
Members asked whether battery train sets would work in Chicago’s winter weather and whether flooding could disrupt operations. Morris said the agency will run weather testing in Chicago before wider deployment. He also explained Metro maintains a police force for its system and that a regional task force will study broader law‑enforcement and safety coordination under the new regional authority.
Ending: Metro committed to return next year with updated grant and funding tracking to clarify how capital projects will be phased and funded.
