In 2012, Metra staff formed an internal Working Group and established a timeline for the implementation of a Regional Fare Solution required by legislation adopted in 2008 (Illinois Public Act 097-0085). This project will allow Metra to implement fare solution technologies. Funding: 2010 ICE: $1,440,000

When Pace entered into the agreement with CTA and Cubic to develop and install the Ventra System for Pace it was determined that a significant portion of the development costs for Pace participation would be amortized over the 10 year life of the project. This cost known as the "base component fee" amounts to $100,360 per month for the 10 year period. ICE Funding will be used to pay the monthly base component fee for the first two years of project inclusion in the ICE program as they will support the development of innovative new technologies that enhance the customer experience while improving the coordination of services between the service boards. Funding: 2015 ICE: $1,200,000

Funds will be used for the development and deployment of the Ventra Mobile Application and to provide improvements to the Ventra system such as the Express Menu on Ventra vending machines. The mobile application, for use on smartphones, will enhance the customer experience by providing an application to manage Ventra accounts, purchase fare products, receive account alerts, gain scheduling and trip planning information, interact with customer service and purchase tickets. In addition, the Express Menu on Ventra vending machines will allow customers to quickly purchase a Single-ride ticket or Pass products. Funding: 2015 ICE: $2,378,400

Funding will allow for a new electronic crew calling system which will help Metra better comply with Passenger Hours of Service (PHOS) regulation hours of service reporting requirements. would also enable crew members to electronically sign their hours of service logs. In addition, the crew callers will be able to assign jobs based on the entries from the crew members and under the strict guidance of PHOS. The current crew calling system does have PHOS built in, but does not allow for crew members to log their time. The regulation has a set of guidelines that govern the ability for employees to mark up for an assignments based on previous assignments worked. The current employee logs are done on paper, cumbersome, and are more difficult to audit. A new system should allow for assignment alerts and/or not allow employees to be assigned to an assignment that could possibly violate the PHOS regulation. Funding: 2015 ICE: $1,913,356

The project will use funds to acquire and install 12 Ventra Vending machines at high volume transfer and boarding locations throughout our service area. Units will be placed in locations such as Aurora, Elgin, Joliet, Waukegan as well as Harvey, Chicago Heights, Golf Mill, Des Plaines and other Cook County locations. Funding: 2015 ICE: $810,000