Will County Committee of the Whole Meeting | December 2025

Article Summary: Metra officials presented a balanced 2026 budget to the Will County Board, confirming that riders will not see a fare increase in the coming year. The agency also detailed capital projects affecting Will County, including bridge replacements and the rollout of new battery-powered train sets.

Metra 2026 Budget Key Points:

• Balanced Budget: 2026 operations are funded through a combination of strong sales tax returns and $28 million in new state funding.

• Local Infrastructure: Design work is underway for bridge replacements at Old Lagrange Road in Mokena and over Hickory Creek in Joliet.

• New Fleet: Metra is purchasing new rail cars with dual entrances and testing battery-powered train sets on the Rock Island line.

• Ridership Trends: Ridership is increasing approximately 5% annually, but office attendance patterns have shifted demand away from Mondays and Fridays.

Metra Chief Financial Officer John Morris presented the agency’s 2026 operating and capital budgets to the Will County Board on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, confirming a balanced budget with no fare increases.

Morris reported that strong sales tax returns and new state funding have allowed Metra to avoid raising prices for commuters in 2026. He noted that while federal COVID-19 relief funds are expected to be depleted by the end of 2026, new funding streams from Senate Bill 2111 will cover projected deficits in 2027 and 2028.

“We are seeing a ridership pattern change,” Morris said. He explained that peak ridership has dropped, and commuters are riding less frequently on Mondays and Fridays, creating challenges for scheduling.

On the capital side, Morris highlighted investments in rolling stock. Metra is purchasing new rail cars that feature two entrances per side to improve boarding speed and accessibility. Additionally, the agency has ordered eight battery-powered train sets from Stadler, which will be tested primarily on the Rock Island line’s Beverly branch.

“This will be the first battery-powered type of this train in the United States,” Morris said, noting they must test the technology in Chicago’s weather conditions before expanding.

Locally, Morris identified two significant Will County infrastructure projects currently in the design phase: the Rock Island line bridge over Old Lagrange Road in Mokena and the bridge over Hickory Creek in Joliet.

“We’re trying to design replacements or rehabilitations for those bridges and then we’re going to look for funding to be able to put them through into construction,” Morris said.