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Metra commuters should anticipate a double-digit fare increase next year as the transit agency prepares for a funding shortfall caused by the depletion of COVID funds.

The transit agency, in a news release on Friday, said service cuts won't be needed in 2026, and federal COVID dollars likely won't be emptied until late in the year.

The Regional Transportation Authority, the government oversight body for Metra, CTA and Pace, had warned of a $771 million deficit, potential mass layoffs and service cuts as high as 40%. But earlier this month, the RTA revealed the budget gap had drastically decreased to $200 million.

Higher deficits remain on the horizon, with Metra alone expecting shortfalls of $276.3 million and $304.8 milli

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