By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) A month after Metra Commuters were hit with another fare hike, the Metra board has voted to give Metra CEO Don Orseno a $28,000 raise.
The board voted unanimously to give Orseno a pay bump, calling him overworked and underpaid compared to other big-city transportation executives. The increase means Orseno is now making $317,500 a year. The pay increase is retroactive to October 1.
Orseno’s pay raise comes after board members approved its third fare hike in three years. Fares in 2017 are being increased by an average of 5.8 percent with monthly commuters paying an addition $11.75.
Orseno is a 32-year Metra veteran who was once a locomotive engineer.