Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Metra

New Sat/Sun pass, capital projects, and South Cook pilot part of Metra’s 2021 Budget

By David Zegeye | Oct 9, 2020 | No Comments

Fortunately Mayor Lightfoot and CTA now seem to be onboard with South Cook pilot. An intergovernmental agreement is drafted and will hopefully be approved at the November board meeting.

The new ticket verification booths. Image: WGN News

Ogilvie ticket verification booths are a symptom of harmful Metra / Union Pacific conflict

By John Greenfield | Oct 6, 2020 | No Comments

The Active Transportation Alliance spokesman says that this brinkmanship is bad for rail employees and the commuting public.

Inbound and outbound trains stop at Union Pacific Northwest Metra Line's Palatine station during rush hour. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Metra may revamp fare structure, introduce new passes

By Igor Studenkov | Sep 28, 2020 | No Comments

As Metra prepares its 2021 budget amidst a 90-percent ridership drop, the commuter railroad is considering substantial changes its fare structure and service patterns.

The Mask Optional Car sign on the South Shore Line platform at Chicago's Millennium Station. Photo: John Greenfield

Idiocy or genius? The South Shore Line tries quarantining anti-maskers in a separate car

By John Greenfield | Sep 23, 2020 | No Comments

Is the commuter railroad's unique approach to dealing with COVID deniers on trains completely misguided, or so gosh darn irrational that it just might work?

Courtney's odometer at the end of her trip. Photo: Courtney Cobbs

An electric boost made a long-distance bike trip to the ‘burbs a breeze

By Courtney Cobbs | Sep 18, 2020 | No Comments

Since Metra policy made it impossible to bring a longtail electric cargo bike on the trail, having an electrical assist was helpful for shrinking the commute.

A Metra worker uses "Ghostbusters"-like gear to sanitize an onboard restroom. Photo: Metra

Financially struggling Metra launches a marketing blitz to coax riders back onto trains

By John Greenfield | Sep 15, 2020 | No Comments

The new media juggernaut, dubbed "My Metra," includes ads on TV, traditional radio, streaming radio, billboards, social media, website, mailings and other formats.

Metra Electric Trains at the 57th Street. Photo: Jeff Zoline

Does relatively high Metra Electric ridership while fares were free show latent demand?

By Igor Studenkov | Aug 24, 2020 | No Comments

In its mid-year ridership report, Metra also said systemwide ridership is still nowhere near normal, and it won’t be normal for quite some time.

An unofficial Trump campaign bus. Image: CBS17.com

That’ll play in Peoria: Trump’s Illinois transit funding tweet is stale news

By John Greenfield | Aug 14, 2020 | No Comments

While Trump's transit tweet was relatively inoffensive and truthful, compared to his usual depressingly low bar, it wasn't actually saying anything new.

An outbound BNSF train. Photo: Jeff Zoline.

Metra adds express trains to BNSF and Rock Island lines

By John Greenfield | Jul 29, 2020 | No Comments

In another sign that Chicagoland transit is slowly coming back from dramatic ridership losses during the pandemic, Metra announced this week that it is adding express trains to its Rock Island and BNSF lines.

Metra commuters earlier this year during the pandemic. Photo: Charles Edward Miller

Metra releases ridership data to help customers avoid crowding

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 8, 2020 | No Comments

Metra launched a Ridership Dashboard to give riders a heads-up about crowding issues, so that they can make an informed decision when planning their commutes.

An NCS train at the O'Hare station. Photo: Jeff Zoline

Despite COVID headwinds, study recommends ways to expand Metra NCS service

By Igor Studenkov | Jun 8, 2020 | No Comments

Metra North Central Service Line riders want weekend service and more frequent weekday runs. But that was a tall order even before the pandemic decimated transit ridership and revenue.

A Metra train viewed from the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line platform. Photo: Jonathan Lee

Uncharted territory: RTA leaders discuss how Chicago transit will survive COVID-19

By Igor Studenkov | May 21, 2020 | No Comments

How with the CTA, Pace, and Metra transport more people to work when the state reopens, while maintaining social distance, with a lot less money? That remains to be seen.

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