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September 18, 2020
As our state and nation continue responding to the pandemic, public transit remains an essential service, responsible for transporting health care employees, emergency responders, and retail workers to jobs throughout the region. The RTA is committed to keeping elected officials and stakeholders up to date about COVID-19 impacts on transit and the region’s response. Please feel free to encourage others to subscribe.
Metra launches "Commute with Confidence" campaign
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On Tuesday, Metra rolled out its "My Metra" Commute with Confidence ad campaign, as described in a press release and coverage by Crain’s, the Trib, the Sun-Times, CBS-2, and ABC-7. “The thrust of this effort is to tell our customers that we’re ready for them when they’re ready for us," said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski in the press release. "They will find clean stations and trains, a mask requirement, plenty of room for physical distancing and a multitude of signs and announcements reinforcing our efforts to help them Commute with Confidence.”
Also, Metra announced that Romayne C. Brown will begin a four-year term as Chair of the Metra board effective November 1. Ms. Brown will be the agency's first African American woman to hold the post.
National survey shows transit businesses' COVID-19 concerns
Earlier this month, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) surveyed its business members, receiving 164 responses about how the pandemic is affecting them. More than 8 of 10 respondents in the public transportation industry have seen their business reduced by COVID-19, with an average reduction of 36 percent. According to the APTA press release, "Six in 10 public transit systems will need to reduce service and furlough employees in the coming months without an additional $32 billion in emergency federal funding from Congress." The RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace continue to emphasize the urgent need for a new federal package with relief funds for transit nationwide.
New data on RTA COVID-19 Transit Dashboard
The RTA COVID-19 Transit Dashboard continues to be updated weekly. New data show system-wide ridership has rebounded somewhat to about 59 percent as of August 29 compared to the same time last year. Explore the dashboard at www.RTAChicago.org/covid-dash.
Thank you,
Leanne Redden
RTA Executive Director
ReddenL@RTAChicago.org
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