Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Metra

Chicago’s First Metra-Oriented Development Proposed in Edgebrook

By John Greenfield | Apr 20, 2016 | 16 Comments

So far, almost all of the 30-or-so transit-oriented developments planned, under construction, or completed in Chicago have been near CTA stations and within a few miles of the Loop. However, it appears a four-story condominium building planned for the Edgebrook neighborhood on the Far Northwest Side would be the city’s Metra-friendly TOD, more than 11 […]

RTA: Pace and Metra Operate Efficiently But Collect Little Rider Revenue

By Steven Vance | Mar 21, 2016 | 8 Comments

The Regional Transportation Authority’s newest report, issued last week, compares the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace, to their respective peers around the country. The report found that the CTA is efficient, relative to rapid transit systems in Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The RTA also compared Metra, using 2014 performance figures, […]

Critics Say the O’Hare Express Plan Is Lousy. Could CrossRail Improve It?

By John Greenfield | Feb 29, 2016 | 16 Comments

[The Chicago Reader recently launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership allows Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We syndicate a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website or in […]

Metra To Study Changes to Make its Fare Structure More “Creative”

By Steven Vance | Feb 25, 2016 | 47 Comments

Metra, the regional commuter train operator, is seeking a consultant to develop “creative recommendations” on how to change its fare structure. The consultant would be in charge of finding the pros and cons of the current fare structure, comparing it to Metra’s commuter rail peers around the country, and building a model that allows Metra to […]

Metra Buying Old Trains, Squandering Opportunity to Change Ancient Service

By Steven Vance | Feb 12, 2016 | 55 Comments

Metra wants to lock in its 66-year-old train car design for another 30 years. The agency, which hasn’t yet adopted a strategic plan that it started writing four years ago, seems to adhere to a policy of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” The problem is that they don’t realize that things are indeed […]

Transit Rankings Agree: Chicago’s Service Not As Good As Other Big Cities

By Steven Vance | Dec 8, 2015 | 30 Comments

A recent analysis of transit service in United States cities found that Chicago ranked #6, behind New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Transit Score, from the Walk Score company now owned by the realtor Redfin, reviewed public schedules data provided by the transit agencies in each city to study how often […]

The New Ventra App Will Make Metra Easier to Ride For Millions of People

By Steven Vance | Nov 11, 2015 | 35 Comments

Update Nov. 18: The Ventra app is available half a day early. Download for Android and iOS. The Ventra app will be released this month, making it more convenient to pay your Metra fare, whether you’re an occasional rider or a daily commuter. The best thing about the app is that it allows you to […]

Union Station Study Will Look at Ways to Increase Capacity, Fight Congestion

By John Greenfield | Apr 10, 2015 | 1 Comment

This morning, local politicians heralded $7 million in new funding for a terminal planning study and service development plan that will help increase capacity at Chicago’s 90-year-old Union Station and on the rail lines that lead to it. This comes in addition to the $12 million that Amtrak pledged back in January for rehabbing the […]

Buy Metra Tickets and Reload a Ventra Account With Upcoming App

By Steven Vance | Apr 10, 2015 | 24 Comments

Imagine this scenario: You’re running late to catch Metra’s UP-North Line to Rogers Park and, because the trains run so infrequently, you really need to make this run. You don’t have a 10-ride ticket in your wallet, the line for a ticket agent is too long, there are no vending machines at Ogilvie Transportation Center, […]

South Siders Deserve Pedestrian Gates for Metra Grade Crossings Too

By Anne Alt | Dec 5, 2014 | 23 Comments

How many deaths and serious injuries will it take before Metra decides that protecting pedestrians at South Side grade crossings is as important as protecting the motor vehicle occupants sitting next to them? This week, 11-year old Alex Zepeda lost his leg when he was struck by a Metra train approaching the Blue Island-Vermont station […]

Eyes on the Street: Metra Renovates 18th Street Electric Station

By Steven Vance | Nov 10, 2014 | 18 Comments

The South Loop-focused blog Sloopin reported last month that more residents in the Prairie District are using the Metra Electric service’s 18th Street station to catch a fast, on-time ride into the East Loop. A trip from 18th Street to Van Buren or Millennium Stations costs $2.75 and takes 10-15 minutes. A similar ride on […]

New Ventra App Takes Small Step Towards Transit Fare Integration

By Steven Vance | Oct 22, 2014 | 19 Comments

The forthcoming smartphone ticket app for Metra will also make it possible for Chicago Transit Authority and Pace customers to manage their Ventra transit accounts on their phones, the CTA announced last week. Even though the three agencies will spend $2.5 million on the app (plus nearly $16,000 in monthly fees), the Ventra app won’t at […]

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