DOCSLIB.ORG

PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET 1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET 1 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL 2018 PROGRAM AND BUDGET metrarail.com UP-N o T ILLINOIS / WISCONSIN STATE LINE Kenosha Winthrop Harbor McHENRY Antioch NCS LAKE Zion METRA BOARD MD-N Lake Villa UP-NW Fox Lake OF DIRECTORS Harvard Ingleside Round Lake Beach Long Lake Washington St. Waukegan McHenry Round Lake (Grayslake) Grayslake Norman Carlson Prairie Crossing North Chicago Prairie Crossing N Chairman Great Lakes Woodstock Libertyville Lake County Lake Bluff LAKE Mundelein MICHIGAN Lake Forest Romayne C. Brown Crystal Lake Cary Lake Vice Chairman Pingree Rd. Vernon Hills Forest Fort Sheridan Prairie View Highwood Cook County Fox River Grove Buffalo Grove Highland Park Deerfield Ravinia Barrington Braeside Lake Cook Wheeling John Plante Rd. Glencoe Northbrook Hubbard Woods Treasurer KANE COOK Palatine Prospect Winnetka Heights N. Glenview Indian Hill Suburban Cook County Arlington Park Kenilworth MD-W Arlington Heights Glenview Wilmette Big Timber Central St. (Evanston) Mt. Prospect Golf Rodney S. Craig Elgin Cumberland Des Plaines Davis St. (Evanston) O'H Dee Road Morton Grove Main St. (Evanston) National St. are Trans Park Secretary (Elgin) Bartlett fer Edgebrook Rogers Park Ridge Hanover Park Schaumburg Roselle Edison Park Medinah Ro Forest Glen Suburban Cook County Itasca semon Norwood Park ood Dale t W Schiller Park Gladstone Park Mayfair Bensenville Jefferson Park Franklin Ravenswood Par Irving k k DU PAGE r Park a P Grayland River Grove Manuel Barbosa n Elmwood Park so Mont Clare n Mars Clybourn ve. Galewood Healy Ha d A UP-W o Director n o r t Elmhurst Franklin Park e Villa Park Mannheim est Chicago r t Berkeley CHICAGO k k r es W Lombard Grand/ W a Mayw Oa P Rive Fores Glen Ellyn Cicero Kane County Elburn Winfield College Wheaton d k o r o a La Fox P ve. Van Buren A Geneva Kedzie ergne Museum Campus/11th St. ose Bellw wyn r V r Cicero el d 18th St. La e M t Be rn Don A. De Graff Harlem te McCormick Place Riverside Hals Hollywood Wes 27th St. estern Springs ville W Director r 35th St./ Hinsdale Clarendon Hills k (Downers Grove) (Downers Grove) “Lou” Jones 47th St. r a ve. P 53rd St. Nape Route 59 Suburban Cook County Aurora A 55th-56th-57th St. ess Brookfield r ve. Summit 59th d Lisle A slan r I e ong 63rd ony Maw Stone St yn hor C Br h S k out Par La Grange Rd. S or Main St. Belmont Highlands s estmont view Wrightwood 75th Wind r W Ashburn 79th 79th St. est Hinsdale Brainerd Alexandra Holt Fai 83rd 83rd St. BNSF W Willow Springs Oak 91st St. Gresham 87th 87th St. Lawn 95th St. 91st St. 93rd St. Director 95th St. Chicago Ridge 99th St. 95th St. 103rd St. 103rd St. 107th St. 107th St. Chicago Worth 111th St. Washington Hghts. 111th St. (Pullman) WILL 115th St. Palos Heights 119th St. 115th St. (Kensington) . e e Lemont 123rd St. n St e e Av t Prairie k Ridg Av a Palos Park a t ullma ine d St O Vermont St. (Blue Island) c W. P hland Ra SS urr ewar slan B Romeoville I Ken Koehler 143rd St. As St 137th St. Hegewisch Robbins lue To S. (Late 2017) (Orland Park) B Bend Director Midlothian 144th St. (Riverdale) 153rd St. 147th St. (Ivanhoe) (Orland Park) Oak Forest (Sibley Blvd.) McHenry County Lockport Harvey Tinley Park Hazel Crest 179th St. Calumet New Lenox (Orland Park) Tinley Park/ Stephen Palmer HC 80th Ave. Homewood Hickory Creek Flossmoor Joliet Mokena-Front St. Director Olympia Fields RI 211th St. (Lincoln Hwy.) Suburban Cook County Laraway Road Matteson (New Lenox) Richton Park John P. Zediker ME University Park ILLINOIS / INDIANA STATE LINE Director Manhattan DuPage County SWS Vacant Director Will County PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIFFICULT CHOICES Metra has an unsustainable economic model and faces the worst financial crisis in its 33-year history. In addition to a chronic lack of adequate funding for capital assets, such as rolling stock and infrastructure, Metra is now faced with decreased funding for operations. Why is Metra’s current situation so critical for the people of Because capital funding has been inadequate, Metra now has the northeast Illinois? Metra, together with the Chicago Transit oldest commuter fleet in the nation. Approximately 40 percent of Authority and Pace Suburban Bus, are the threads that hold the Metra’s assets are classified as in marginal or worn condition. Half economic fabric of northeast Illinois together. The region is highly of the 800 bridges in Metra’s system are 100 years old or older. dependent on public transportation. These assets, while safe, have exceeded their useful lives. Metra will always run a safe railroad, but continued use will result in Metra’s importance to the Chicago region cannot be higher operating costs and degraded on-time performance. understated. Metra provides about 300,000 passenger trips in northeast Illinois each weekday — safely, reliably and Public funding for operating costs, provided through a comfortably. Metra saves its riders time and money, enhances the regional transportation sales tax and a partial state match, environmental health of the region and fuels its economic engine. is falling short. Sales tax collections have fluctuated with Metra benefits even those who do not ride its trains. If Metra did economic conditions and have not met projections, even after not exist, 27 more expressway lanes would be needed during rush the tax was increased in 2008. In recent years the shift from hours to accommodate the extra vehicles and arterial roads would purchasing at brick-and-mortar stores to internet purchases has be clogged with traffic trying to reach those expressway lanes. also hurt tax collections. The public transportation fund, a match to sales tax which came from general appropriations from the Contrary to public perception that fares cover most of our costs, state budget, has been cut 10 percent in the most recent state the facts are just the opposite. Metra’s mandate, under the RTA budget. Collections from the RTA sales tax have had a 2 percent Act, requires it charge fares that cover approximately half of its surcharge imposed by the state. The ADA program is increasing operating costs. Metra is dependent on government funding, in cost, causing less and less money from sales taxes to be made primarily a sales tax levied in the six-county region, for the available to Metra, CTA and Pace. remainder of its operating costs and on federal and state funding for virtually all of its capital needs. Combining the annual capital Public funding for capital is also falling short. In past decades, and operating budgets, fares presently cover about one-third of the state recognized the need to fund capital improvements for Metra’s yearly costs. In fact, if adequate operating and capital public transportation and did so regularly. In recent years, the lack funding were provided, fares would cover only one-fifth of Metra’s of a state bond program for capital investment has had impacts on yearly costs. funding for public transportation. Over the last several years, public funding has not kept up with Metra understands it cannot continue to ask its customers to pay needs. Metra has been and is now receiving about a quarter of the higher fares in the absence of adequate public funding. capital funding needed annually to achieve and maintain a state of good repair on its existing system — never mind expanding or The current situation is unsustainable, and threatens enhancing its system to address regional changes and growth. As the future viability of the important service Metra a result, Metra has fallen behind on its maintenance investments provides. Funding levels will need to change to ensure and will continue to fall even further behind. Metra can continue to provide the service its riders depend upon, or else that service will have to be cut. Railroads are very capital-intensive, requiring substantial annual investment to maintain rolling stock and infrastructure. Railroads After reading this budget and program document, we hope own and maintain their own rights-of-way and track structure, that you clearly understand our overriding message: we unlike bus operations, which use streets that are owned and cannot continue as we are. We either need to fund our public maintained by the public. Metra’s capital assets are diverse transportation properly or be willing to watch it continue to and extensive: locomotives, passenger cars, track signal and degrade, including reductions in service. communications equipment, yard and maintenance facilities, station buildings, platforms, parking lots and headquarters. Each With the proper amount of sustained public investment, we can day, the delivery of safe, reliable, efficient train service depends create a system with a long and bright future. It is clearly in the on these assets; though many are never seen by riders. Constant interest of the citizens of northeast Illinois for Metra to do so. maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement, and significant funding, are required to keep Metra’s facilities and equipment in DONALD A. ORSENO - CEO/Executive Director working order. JAMES M. DERWINSKI - Incoming CEO/Executive Director NORMAN CARLSON - Chairman of the Board Metra must make significant investment in its people in addition to its capital assets. Long-tenured, well-trained employees assure the safe transport of Metra’s most precious asset: its riders. Metra must invest in people and compensate them on a level that will attract and retain them. Metra competes for talent among railroads, not government agencies. 2 PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Difficult Choices 3 2018 Budget: A Perfect Storm 6 System Overview 7 Funding Overview 8 Ridership 9 Fares 10 Service Changes 11 Organization 16 Oversight 17 Other Major Initiatives 19 Capital Program 20 Non-Capital Programs 22 2018 Budget Overview 25 Appendix PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET 3 2018 BUDGET A PERFECT STORM Metra is facing a $45 million budget gap in 2018.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bilevel Rail Car - Wikipedia
    Bilevel rail car - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilevel_rail_car Bilevel rail car The bilevel car (American English) or double-decker train (British English and Canadian English) is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity (in example cases of up to 57% per car).[1] In some countries such vehicles are commonly referred to as dostos, derived from the German Doppelstockwagen. The use of double-decker carriages, where feasible, can resolve capacity problems on a railway, avoiding other options which have an associated infrastructure cost such as longer trains (which require longer station Double-deck rail car operated by Agence métropolitaine de transport platforms), more trains per hour (which the signalling or safety in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The requirements may not allow) or adding extra tracks besides the existing Lucien-L'Allier station is in the back line. ground. Bilevel trains are claimed to be more energy efficient,[2] and may have a lower operating cost per passenger.[3] A bilevel car may carry about twice as many as a normal car, without requiring double the weight to pull or material to build. However, a bilevel train may take longer to exchange passengers at each station, since more people will enter and exit from each car. The increased dwell time makes them most popular on long-distance routes which make fewer stops (and may be popular with passengers for offering a better view).[1] Bilevel cars may not be usable in countries or older railway systems with Bombardier double-deck rail cars in low loading gauges.
    [Show full text]
  • PROPOSED OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET 1
    PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL PROGRAM AND BUDGET 2017 metrarail.com UP-N o T ILLINOIS / WISCONSIN STATE LINE Kenosha Winthrop Harbor METRA BOARD McHENRY Antioch NCS LAKE Zion OF DIRECTORS MD-N Lake Villa UP-NW Fox Lake Harvard Ingleside Round Lake Beach Martin J. Oberman Long Lake Washington St. Waukegan Chairman McHenry Round Lake (Grayslake) Grayslake Prairie Crossing North Chicago N Chicago Prairie Crossing Great Lakes Woodstock Libertyville Lake Bluff LAKE Jack E. Partelow Mundelein MICHIGAN Lake Forest Vice Chairman Crystal Lake Cary Lake Will County Pingree Rd. Vernon Hills Forest Fort Sheridan Prairie View Highwood Fox River Grove Buffalo Grove Highland Park Deerfield Ravinia John Plante Barrington Braeside Lake Cook Wheeling Treasurer Rd. Glencoe Northbrook Hubbard Woods KANE COOK Palatine Suburban Cook County Prospect Winnetka Heights N. Glenview Indian Hill Arlington Park Kenilworth MD-W Arlington Heights Glenview Wilmette Big Timber Central St.(Evanston) Rodney S. Craig Mt. Prospect Golf Elgin Cumberland Des Plaines Davis St.(Evanston) O Dee Road Morton Grove Secretary National St. 'Ha Main St.(Evanston) re Trans Park (Elgin) Bartlett fe Ridge Edgebrook Rogers Park Hanover Park Schaumburg r Suburban Cook County Roselle Edison Park Medinah R Forest Glen Itasca ood Dale osemon Norwood Park t W Schiller Par Gladstone Park Mayfair Bensenville Jefferson Park Frankli k k Ravenswood n r Irving Par a DU PAGE k P Park Manuel Barbosa n Grayland River Grove Elmwood Park so ve. Mont Clare n Mars A d Clybourn Galewood o Healy Ha Director o n UP-W t r est Chicago e r Elmhurst t Franklin Park Villa Park Mannheim k k Berkeley r es CHICAGO W a Lombard Grand/ W Mayw Oa P Rive Fores Kane County Glen Ellyn Cicero Winfield k d College Elburn r Wheaton o a o ve.
    [Show full text]
  • Program and Budget Book
    2016 Program and Budget Book Revised 11/11/2015 metrarail.com UP-N o T ILLINOIS / WISCONSIN STATE LINE Kenosha Winthrop Harbor METRA BOARD McHENRY Antioch NCS LAKE Zion OF DIRECTORS MD-N Lake Villa UP-NW Fox Lake Harvard Ingleside Round Lake Beach Martin J. Oberman Long Lake Washington St. Waukegan Chairman McHenry Round Lake (Grayslake) Grayslake Prairie Crossing North Chicago N Chicago Prairie Crossing Great Lakes Woodstock Libertyville Lake Bluff LAKE Jack E. Partelow Mundelein MICHIGAN Lake Forest Vice Chairman Crystal Lake Cary Lake Will County Pingree Rd. Vernon Hills Forest Fort Sheridan Prairie View Highwood Fox River Grove Buffalo Grove Highland Park Deerfield Ravinia John Plante Barrington Braeside Lake Cook Wheeling Treasurer Rd. Glencoe Northbrook Hubbard Woods KANE COOK Palatine Suburban Cook County Prospect Winnetka Heights N. Glenview Indian Hill Arlington Park Kenilworth MD-W Arlington Heights Glenview Wilmette Big Timber Central St.(Evanston) Rodney S. Craig Mt. Prospect Golf Elgin Cumberland Des Plaines Davis St.(Evanston) O Dee Road Morton Grove Secretary National St. 'Ha Main St.(Evanston) re Trans Park (Elgin) Bartlett fe Ridge Edgebrook Rogers Park Hanover Park Schaumburg r Suburban Cook County Roselle Edison Park Medinah R Forest Glen Itasca ood Dale osemon Norwood Park t W Schiller Par Gladstone Park Mayfair Bensenville Jefferson Park Frankli k k Ravenswood n r Irving Par a DU PAGE k P Park Manuel Barbosa n Grayland River Grove Elmwood Park so ve. Mont Clare n Mars A d Clybourn Galewood o Healy Ha Director o n UP-W t r est Chicago e r Elmhurst t Franklin Park Villa Park Mannheim k k Berkeley r es CHICAGO W a Lombard Grand/ W Mayw Oa P Rive Fores Kane County Glen Ellyn Cicero Winfield k d College Elburn r Wheaton o a o ve.
    [Show full text]
  • Delivered-To: [email protected] WEEKLY RAIL REVIEW for THE
    Delivered-To: [email protected] WEEKLY RAIL REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING SAT, MAY 28, 2005 BY DAVE MEARS THE WEEK’S TOP RAIL AND TRANSIT NEWS (in chronological order): (MON) Chicago, IL commuter rail operator METRA took delivery of the first of 26 new Highliner Class, bi-level, electric multiple unit cars. The new cars, built by Sumitomo Corporation of America and partner Nippon Sharyo, will be used on METRA’s former Illinois Central commuter rail service operated between Chicago’s Randolph Street Station and suburban University Park, IL. A total of 165 new Highliner cars will be delivered through February, 2006, which will replace the current fleet of Highliners, some of which have been in service since 1970. The new cars also include lavatories, which the current cars do not have. Also on Monday, a METRA spokesman announced that it would allow bicycles on all its commuter rail lines – weekend trains, off-peak weekday trains and reverse-commute weekday trains only – starting June 1. (ffd: Chicago Tribune, Progressive Railroading) (MON) Washington, DC commuter rail operator Virginia Railway Express announced that it would acquire 11 new bi-level cars from Sumitomo Corporation of American and partner Nippon Sharyo. A VRE spokesman said that building contract includes an optional procurement of 50 additional cars. The spokesman added that the cars will have a seating capacity of up to 144 passengers and will replace older, single-level cars currently in the VRE fleet. (ffd: Railpace) (MON) Duluth, MN sponsored a week-long test of morning and evening commuter rail service. The service was operated by the Duluth Transit Authority, in conjunction with the Duluth & North Shore Scenic Railroad, using one of the railroad’s self-propelled Budd cars.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Train Control
    Positive Train Control POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL In January 2016, Metra filed an alternative schedule for Positive Train Control (PTC) is a computerized system implementing PTC by 2020. that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by KEY MILESTONES excessive speed and increases safety for railroad In October 2018, Metra completed the benchmarks workers. The system integrates GPS, wayside sensors required for an alternative schedule: and communications units with Metra’s centralized • Installed all PTC equipment office dispatching system. Together, these components • Acquired all necessary radio spectrum track trains, convey operating instructions and monitor • Trained all necessary personnel the crew’s compliance with speed restrictions and • Initiated revenue service PTC signals. PTC will automatically stop a train if the system demonstration on one line (Rock Island). detects that a violation or equipment failure is about to occur. PTC AND FUNDING Nationally, the cost to carry out the PTC mandate is estimated to exceed $10 billion, including $3.48 billion for commuter railroads. PTC implementation is expected to cost Metra between $350 million and $400 million. To date, Metra has spent $244.3 million in capital funding on PTC. Metra has received two federal PTC grants totaling about $43 million but has had to cover the rest out of its already inadequate capital funding sources. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Metra is responsible for installing PTC on all trains and along the five lines it controls – Metra Electric, Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West, IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE Rock Island and SouthWest Service. The 2008 Rail Safety Improvement Act required PTC components have been installed on 154 Metra implementation of PTC by the end of 2015 on all locomotives and switch engines, 187 cab cars used on passenger rail routes and on freight lines carrying our diesel lines and 26 Highliner cars used on the certain hazardous materials.
    [Show full text]
  • Best Practices and Strategies for Improving Rail Energy Efficiency
    U.S. Department of Transportation Best Practices and Strategies for Federal Railroad Improving Rail Energy Efficiency Administration Office of Research and Development Washington, DC 20590 DOT/FRA/ORD-14/02 Final Report January 2014 NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Government, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the United States Government. The United States Government assumes no liability for the content or use of the material contained in this document. NOTICE The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.
    [Show full text]
  • Romania's Long Road Back from Austerity
    THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com MAY 2016 NO. 941 ROMANIA’S LONG ROAD BACK FROM AUSTERITY Systems Factfile: Trams’ dominant role in Lyon’s growth Glasgow awards driverless contract Brussels recoils from Metro attack China secures huge Chicago order ISSN 1460-8324 £4.25 Isle of Wight Medellín 05 Is LRT conversion Innovative solutions the right solution? and social betterment 9 771460 832043 AWARD SPONSORS London, 5 October 2016 ENTRIES OPEN NOW Best Customer Initiative; Best Environmental and Sustainability Initiative Employee/Team of the Year Manufacturer of the Year Most Improved System Operator of the Year Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award Project of the Year <EUR50m Project of the Year >EUR50m Significant Safety Initiative Supplier of the Year <EUR10m Supplier of the Year >EUR10m Technical Innovation of the Year (Rolling Stock) Technical Innovation of the Year (Infrastructure) Judges’ Special Award Vision of the Year For advanced booking and sponsorship details contact: Geoff Butler – t: +44 (0)1733 367610 – @ [email protected] Alison Sinclair – t: +44 (0)1733 367603 – @ [email protected] www.lightrailawards.com 169 CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association MAY 2016 Vol. 79 No. 941 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL 184 EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tony Streeter E-mail: [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin 172 Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] NEWS EDITOR John Symons 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Train Control
    Positive Train Control POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL In January 2016, Metra filed an alternative schedule for Positive Train Control (PTC) is a computerized system implementing PTC by 2020. that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by KEY MILESTONES excessive speed and increases safety for railroad By the end of 2018, to meet the benchmarks required workers. The system integrates GPS, wayside sensors for an alternative schedule, Metra will have: and communications units with Metra’s centralized • Installed all PTC equipment office dispatching system. Together, these components • Acquired all necessary radio spectrum track trains, convey operating instructions and monitor • Trained all necessary personnel the crew’s compliance with speed restrictions and • Initiated revenue service PTC signals. PTC will automatically stop a train if the system demonstration on one line (Rock Island). detects that a violation or equipment failure is about to occur. PTC AND FUNDING Nationally, the cost to carry out the PTC mandate is estimated to exceed $10 billion, including $3.48 billion for commuter railroads. PTC implementation is expected to cost Metra between $350 million and $400 million. To date, Metra has spent $210.1 million in capital funding on PTC. Metra is counting on additional state and federal funds to provide the remaining funding needed to complete PTC. Metra in May 2017 received a $20.1 million federal grant for PTC installation, a portion of $199 million in funding authorized under the FAST Act for fiscal year 2017. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Metra is responsible for installing PTC on all trains and along the five lines it controls – Metra Electric, IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West, Rock Island and SouthWest Service.
    [Show full text]
  • ON the BI-LEVEL Burlington Trains Have Served on the Bi-Level Western Suburbs for 148 Years Published by Metra’S Media Relations Department
    ON THE BI-LEVEL Commuter Newsletter, August 2012 CLIFF NOTES Survey will help Metra improve recent RTA survey that A asked riders in the Chi- cago area about the region’s public transportation system is giving Metra some extremely valuable informa- tion about Carman Bryant Howse replaces a window on an Amerail passenger car at Metra’s 49th St. Shop, Alex Clifford what we where the Amerail rehab program is based. Metra CEO should be doing better – and I can assure you Car rehab program benefits we will put the results to good use. The survey asked riders riders, workers and taxpayers to rank attributes of Metra service in order of impor- We could dazzle you with keeping 60 jobs in Chicago. It’s a tance and then say how satis- all the passenger improvements win-win situation for all involved. fied they were with Metra’s we’ve added to our newly re- The program aims to reha- performance in each area. habbed railcars. bilitate 176 cars that were built For instance, riders listed We could point out that the by Amerail (originally Morrison “Getting to destination on passenger cars are being re- Knudson) between 1995 and time” as the most important furbished in-house, by Metra 1998. attribute of Metra service, workers with years of experience, About 45 cars have been Charge iPhone here. and 84 percent said they dedication and know-how. completed so far and we’ll have were satisfied or very satis- We could tell you how we’ve efit riders will most appreciate is 60 done by the end of the year.
    [Show full text]
  • The Need for Capital Alarm for Several Years About the Massive Shortfall in Our Capital Budget
    3 3 ON THE BI-CLommuter NeEwsletter, FeVbruary 2009 EL MetraThas bheen souneding the need for capital alarm for several years about the massive shortfall in our capital budget. We tell everyone who'll listen, “We're at a crossroads.” What do we mean? Put sim - ply, unless unless the state cre - ates a funding program to address our needs, the system will fall into a state of disrepair, eroding the region's hard work and investment of the last 25 years. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to recover. Here are some questions and answers about the issue: Q: Didn't Metra raise fares last year? Didn't the Legislature also raise the sales tax to raise money for transit? A: Yes, and yes. But that The replacement of Highliner cars on the Metra Electric District is a top priority. money was needed to plug a expect to get about $1.3 billion capital budget into operations. passing the buck - we will say huge hole in our budget for oper - from Illinois if state lawmakers Q: So what will happen if the that the funding crisis hasn't ations. Metra still has a crisis in pass a capital bill. Even with that state doesn't come through? helped. its capital budget. amount, Metra will still be about A: We'll have to continue to Q: Why can't you just raise Q: What's the difference? $350 million short of its need. put things off. As just one exam - fares? A: The operating budget pays And to carry out four expansion ple, rail cars should be rehabbed A: As regular riders know, for fuel, electricity, salaries and projects on the drawing board - every 15 years, which means we Metra has raised fares, incre - all the other day-to-day costs of the suburban STAR line, the need to do 50 a year.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Budget and Program Book
    metrarail.com OPERATING 2021 & CAPITAL PROGRAM & BUDGET II METRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Romayne C. Brown Chair Cook County Norman Carlson Vice Chair Lake County John Plante Treasurer Suburban Cook County Rodney S. Craig Secretary Suburban Cook County Don A. De Graff Director Suburban Cook County Ken Koehler Director McHenry County Romeoville Steven K. Messerli Director Kane County Donald Orseno Director Will County Stephen Palmer Director Suburban Cook County John P. Zediker Director DuPage County Vacant Position Cook County III TABLE OF CONTENTS II. Metra Board of Directors and System Map III. Table of Contents 1. Letter from CEO/Executive Director 3. System Overview 5. Funding Overview 7. Ridership Forecasts 11. Fares 12. Fare Initiatives 13. Service Plan 15. Organization 19. Oversight 20. Strategic Plan Update 25. Capital Program 29. Budget Overview 33. Appendix 1 OPERATING and CAPITAL PROGRAM and BUDGET A Message from the Chief Executive Officer on Behalf of the Metra Board of Directors and Staff Keeping Our Community Connected In The Midst Of A Crisis While the global pandemic has changed many Online, we have created a ridership dashboard things, one thing has remained unchanged: Metra’s • showing the number of people on each train so commitment to the commuters and communities we riders can make informed decisions about which serve. From the beginning of the crisis to today, Metra trains to use never stopped running. We couldn’t. The essential role we play in the lives of our citizens and the We developed programs to encourage the use of economy of our region is simply too important.
    [Show full text]
  • Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation D/B/A Metra Metra Request for Proposals (Rfp) No
    NORTHEAST ILLINOIS REGIONAL COMMUTER RAILROAD CORPORATION D/B/A METRA METRA REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) NO. 50318 Metra will not be accepting sealed hard copy proposals at its office located at 547W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60661. In lieu of hardcopy sealed proposals, an electronic version of all proposal packages (signed agreement and exhibits, technical proposal, etc.) shall be received via email only by Nichole Jackson, Senior Contracting Agent, at [email protected] at or before 4:00 p.m. local prevailing time by the date listed below. DESCRIPTION OPENING DATE RFP No. 50318 4/5/2021 Police Facility Needs Assessment Services All proposals must be only in the form prescribed by Metra and must be made in accordance with this Request for Proposal and other Contract Documents, all of which are on file and available for examination at the office of Metra at the above address and are made a part of this notice as fully set forth herein. Copies of these documents can be obtained by downloading them from Metra’s website, www.metrarail.com, ABOUT METRA, METRA AND BUSINESS or from such office on written request to Metra, Materials Management Department. Vendors may request bids Monday- Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (LPT). If you have questions concerning the availability of Proposals, please contact our Plan room at (312)322-6673. Metra reserves the right to reject any proposal or any part or parts thereof or to reject any and all proposals. Metra in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights act of 1964, 78 Stat.
    [Show full text]