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Metra Monthly Commuter Newsletter October 2019
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Metra will not increase fares in 2020
Metra will not raise fares in 2020, the second year in a row that it has not asked customers to pay more. The agency also announced that, thanks to the new state capital program, it will budget $2.6 billion for capital improvements over the next five years, with a priority on railcars, locomotives, stations, bridges and service improvements.
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New and improved signs coming to
Metra Quiet Cars
You asked and we listened. Metra will be unveiling new signs soon in its Quiet Cars. The new signs will combine the universal “shhhh” symbol – a finger covering closed lips – with the hours and basic rules. We will also add a larger sign on the modesty panels below the upper deck seating, which will include more information about the Quiet Car rules.
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Metra Announces 14th Annual Safety Contest
Metra has launched its 14th Annual Safety Poster and Essay Contest, asking students to illustrate through posters or essays the importance of safe behaviors near the railroad. This year’s theme: “Obey the Signs” emphasizes the importance of looking for and obeying signs and control devices along the railroad tracks and at rail crossings. The contest is open to all students in grades K through 12 living or attending school in Metra’s six-county service area.
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NTSB member visits
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Member Jennifer Homendy takes a turn on a locomotive simulator during a visit to Metra in late September. Homendy visited sites that directly contribute to Metra’s safe operations from training, to dispatching, to the testing and implementation of the PTC safety system.
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EXPRESS OPPORTUNITY?
I’m a regular rider on MD-W line between Schaumburg and Chicago Union Station. I normally try to take the express trains because of the long ride in and back, however I have a constantly shifting schedule and often the timing and frequency of those express runs don’t work for me. I can appreciate the need for near-suburban and far-suburban express, and I hate to sound selfish but it becomes an exercise in patience when riding such a long distance on a local run. I often talk with other riders and I know I’m not the only one in this situation. I was told a big reason for the current schedule is because of the Fox River bridge in Elgin. When it is completed will Metra please explore adjusting the rush hour departure times and adding more express runs on this line?
B.U.
Yes, the one-track span over the Fox River creates a significant bottleneck for the 50 Metra Milwaukee District West Line trains and approximately eight freight trains that use it every weekday. The good news is that the first new bridge went into service in September. We will soon begin demolition of the old bridge and then start on the second bridge, which we expect to finish by the end of 2020. With two tracks in service, we will definitely have much more flexibility. While we can’t promise there will be immediate changes, we will have an opportunity to grow service that we’ve never had before.
A HELPING HAND
I would like to commend the actions of UP Conductor Keith Dunne. I am 84 years of age and get on the Train 332 at Braeside three days a week. I use a cane for balance and always stop for coffee before I board and bring it with me. Because of my situation, I am unable to board the train with the cup in my hand. Each time the train stops at Braeside, Conductor Dunne hops off the first car and takes my cup so that I can board and then hands it to me,. I appreciate this and thank him for being a superior trainman.
S.T.
Thank you for bringing attention to Conductor Dunne. We agree that’s superior customer service.
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SAFETY CONCERN
Is there an end in sight for whatever the project is on the north platforms? It seems like after the beam and concrete fell on a passenger, they erected all those plywood walls, added some plastic to it and then took off. Not only is it another eye sore in the bowels of Union Station, it is now collecting garbage. Worse is that the decreased standing/walking area becomes very dangerous during rush hour as there simply is nowhere to go. This is particularly concerning during the evening rush hour. Yes, we know that Union Station is owned by Amtrak and that the ceiling above is the landlord’s issue, but it will be a tragedy when someone either slips or gets bumped into the path of a moving train. Someone should step up and address this safety concern.
D.H.
You’re right, the building owner above the Amtrak-owned tracks has the responsibility for preventing a reoccurrence of that incident. They are designing a replacement to their structure. Unfortunately, until they produce a satisfactory plan for this replacement structure, the protective scaffolding will need to stay in place. In the meantime, Metra will ask Amtrak to take all possible steps to keep that area clean, safe and well-lit.
THE KEY FITS
I would like to give a shout to the social media specialist at Metra, and the train crew of Train 2227 on the Milwaukee District West Line. The day before I had left my keys behind on my commute out of Union Station. I had called lost and found and explained to them the next day that I knew my keys were on the Metra because I had a tracking device on them. They were unable to help me. Frustrated, I reached out to Metra on social media. Your social media person was was tremendous as she went above and beyond and contacted the train crew who searched and found my keys and were able to return to me that day. It made me weekend, and I just wanted to thank her, and the crew on wonderful customer service. You have a Metra rider for life!
S.C.
Thank you for acknowledging the extra effort taken by these employees. While we can’t always promise such a quick resolution, Metra does have a pretty good track record of reuniting our passengers with their lost belongings. Each downtown station has its own lost and found office and the numbers can be found on our website: metrarail.com. Our recommentation for all is to be patient and to keep checking as it can take a few days for an item to be located and make its way downtown.
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75th St. CIP Open House Oct. 30
You are invited to attend a public open house at Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ: 1459 W. 74th St., Chicago, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, to learn about the status, community benefits and property impacts for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project. The project will eliminate rail bottle necks and promote more reliable service on Metra’s SouthWest Service Line.
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Metra celebrates Auburn Park Station project
Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski joined U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, State Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and community leaders to celebrate the upcoming construction of a new Metra station to serve the Auburn Gresham community.
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Evanston Central Street Ticket Office Closing Oct. 31
Due to declining on-site ticket sales at the Evanston Central Street Station on the Union Pacific North Line, Union Pacific Railroad will close the station’s ticket office at the end of business on Thursday, Oct. 31. Although the ticket office is closing, passengers will continue to have access to station facilities.
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Chicago International Film Festival
Film buffs get a chance to see the hottest movies on the festival circuit at the Chicago International Film Festival, which presents a lineup of dramas, documentaries, comedies, foreign films and more. The screenings take place at AMC River East 21 located at 322 E. Illinois St. For more information and tickets, click here.
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Arts in the Dark Parade
Celebrate Halloween a few days early at the Arts in the Dark parade, which sends performers, puppets, bands, lanterns and floats through Chicago's Loop. Local artists construct most of the costumes and objects featured in the parade, making this annual tradition a celebration of local creativity. The procession begins at 6 p.m. at the corner of State and Lake streets and moves south to Van Buren. For more information, click here.
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Open House Chicago
Satisfy your curiosity during this annual tour of some of the city's architectural treasures. The Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago is a free public festival that offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 350 buildings across Chicago. Click here for a complete listing of all the participating sites.
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ATTENTION METRA RIDERS!
CMECU
now offers Lend-A-Paw Loans!
Lend-a-Paw Loans are designed to give pet-owners an
alternative to paying high credit card rates to cover an emergency trip
to the vet, professional training or other unexpected expenses.
Apply for up to $5,000, starting at 4.99% APR.
CMECU Membership is open to all Metra employees AND
riders commuting to/from Chicago’s Loop.
To join CMECU and apply for a Lend-A-Paw loan go to:
www.cmecuonline.org or call 312.236.2326.
Chicago Municipal Employees Credit Union –
Chicago’s Credit Union since 1926! |
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