Metra to study giving college students a break on fares

Could cheaper Metra fares for college and university students be on the horizon?

The commuter railroad offers reduced rides for elementary through high school students but stops at higher education.

That could change. At the behest of several board directors, Metra administrators will study costs and other issues related to lower fares for undergraduates and report back.

“If we’re going to build ridership for the future ... we should be investing in them now,” Director Ricardo Estrada of Chicago said.

Local colleges and universities have lobbied Metra for years to offer student fares for undergraduates.

Officials said the agency already is collaborating with the University of Chicago on a reduced-fare program.

They’re also in discussions with the University of Illinois at Chicago about joining the CTA’s U-Pass program. U-Pass offers unlimited rides for college and university students and typically is subsidized by student fees.

“I would really like to see a cost-benefit report,” Director and former Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake said. “These are our new customers, it shouldn’t just be a few colleges we’re offering this to.”