I am disappointed by the lack of clear communication related to the significant increase in the Amtrak fares. More importantly, I am deeply discouraged by the negative impact this increase will have on commuters.
As a frequent commuter on the Amtrak Hiawatha line, I have been purchasing the $400 monthly pass from Sturtevant to Chicago. (For some time, I was purchasing the 10-trip pass when it was more economical to do so since return to office requirements coming out of the pandemic were less stringent than they are now.) With companies, including my employer, requiring additional days and moving toward full-time return to office, the new $202 10-trip pass makes it unaffordable and less desirable to continue riding Amtrak as a primary source of transportation to and from Chicago. This increase results in spending $10,504 over the course of a year on 10-trip passes, as opposed to the $4,800 annualized cost under the legacy monthly pass. This annualized increase of $5,704 more than doubles the annual cost of commuting.
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This baffling 119% increase in fares hurts working Americans and will hurt Amtrak with decreased ridership. It will further hurt the longstanding economic relationship between the Chicago and Milwaukee markets.
I respectfully request that a more affordable option for commuters be introduced or reinstated.
David Hefti,
Union Grove