Passengers on the Metra rail system could be paying more for a ticket to ride next year.

The proposed 2010 budget for the Illinois-based Metra system calls for raising the one-way ticket fares to and from downtown Chicago by about 6 percent as of February. That increase would mean a one-way ticket between Kenosha and downtown Chicago would rise from $7.05 to $7.50.

The one-way tickets were last increased in February 2008. Meg Reile, a spokeswoman for Metra, said the 2008 increase also affected monthly and 10-ride fares.

Weekend fares have stayed at $5 since they were introduced in 1991, but the proposed budget also calls for increasing that fare from $5 to $7 next year.

Another proposed increase would raise the penalty for buying tickets on the train from $2 to $5.

“It brings us more in line with other rail systems in the country,” Reile said. “Other commuter rail trains have their penalties at $5 and higher.”

No penalty is assessed if the station does not have a ticket agent or the ticket booth is closed.

Lower revenues

Reile said lower revenues from sales taxes in Illinois were a main reason for seeking the fare increases.

“People don’t have money to spend, and we rely on sales tax proceeds for half of our operating budget,” Reile said.

Reile also said the increases are meant to help the system meet its budget but not reduce service.

“For our riders, we see this as having the least impact while trying to keep our customers,” Reile said. “We are obligated to meet our budgets under state of Illinois law, and this is the best way we could do that without making any service adjustments. We tried to make it as painless as possible.”

An estimated 670 people commute between Chicago and Kenosha via the Metra on weekdays.

The Metra Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on forwarding the proposed budget to the Regional Transportation Authority on Friday. The authority would be expected to adopt the budget in mid-December.