Metra’s Monthly Commuter Newsletter March 2016 Metra launches Wi-Fi test Metra is now offering cellular onboard Metra trains. Orseno. “If it’s fi nancially fea- ly $35,000. Wi-Fi hotspots on one railcar “We continue to explore ways sible and our customers like the The pilot program is similar for each of its 11 lines as part to provide free Wi-Fi on our free service, our agency would to one recently launched by the of a pilot program to determine trains and hope our customers seek funding or sponsorships to Northern Indiana Commuter whether the technology can will tell us if they fi nd these new install Wi-Fi on more railcars.” Transportation District (NICTD) provide free and dependable hotspots valuable,” said Metra The six-month pilot program on its South Shore Line. Like the Internet access to customers Executive Director/CEO Don is expected to cost approximate- (Continued on Page 2) Give us your feedback about our new seats Metra has put into service the fi rst three of 30 railcars featuring a new style of seats with armrests, built-in cup holders and better head, neck and lumbar support. Metra plans to add the new seating to about two cars per month between now and the end of the year on all Metra lines except the Metra Electric as part of a pilot The last six of the original Highliner cars carried their last passengers on Feb. 12. program. Customers who use the new seats are being asked to provide feedback. Highliners make their fi nal run “These new seats offer amenities our customers Forty-four years after the offi cial send-off from Millennium better amenities and reduced have never had before – cup debut of the original Highliner Station. maintenance costs.” holders, armrests and higher cars on the Metra Electric Line, “These cars have served us The original Highliner cars backs,” said Metra Executive the last six of them carried their well and have been a central part began serving customers on the Director/CEO Don Orseno. fi nal passengers last month from of the history of the Illinois Cen- Illinois Central (IC), now the “We are asking our customers Chicago to University Park. State tral and Metra’s Electric service,” Metra Electric Line, on May 31, to give us feedback about the Sen. Martin Sandoval, State Rep. said Orseno. “But while letting 1971. The cars were purchased in new seats, and we hope they Al Riley, Metra Executive Direc- them go is somewhat bittersweet, two separate orders. The fi rst 130 like them and fi nd them to be tor/CEO Don Orseno, members it’s time. The new Highliners cars were purchased from the St. more comfortable than the of the Metra Board of Directors enable Metra to provide our cus- Louis Car Company by the newly (Continued on Page 2) and other guests took part in the tomers with more reliable service, (Continued on Page 2)

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and rather than replace them with Seats the old bench style we are replac- ing them with the new style. The (Continued from Page 1) new seats cost Metra the same as On the Bi-Level current seating.” the older seats, but there are more Published by Metra’s Media The new blue-and-gray seats manufacturers of this style in the Relations Department. Send were purchased last fall after rail industry, which is expected to letters, questions or feedback to Metra feedback collected from keep the prices competitive and On the Bi-Level, Metra, 547 W. customers indicated that more possibly drive down future costs. Jackson, Chicago IL, 60661- 5717. Or e-mail onthebilevel@ than half preferred the new seats The new seats are being used metrarr.com. to the old ones. on 30 railcars going through We can’t guarantee all letters The new seats are in a fi xed Metra’s Amerail car rehabilita- will be printed or answered. position facing the vestibule; tion program. The cars are being Please keep letters to less than 200 words and include your fi rst that means half the seats will be refurbished in-house, by Metra name, hometown and what line facing backward no matter which workers with years of experience, you ride. (Names are not re- direction the train travels. dedication and know-how. Metra quired but strongly encouraged.) Metra is not spending any ex- has streamlined its processes over We reserve the right to edit letter for length and grammar. tra money on the new seats; they the past several years to create an are being installed in cars whose ultra-effi cient operation that can Board of Directors seats need replacement anyway, strip and rebuild a car in 32 days. Martin J. Oberman Chairman Chicago Metra will rotate the 11 Wi- To access the free Wi-Fi Fi cars among each of its lines service, customers can simply Jack E. Partelow Wi-Fi Vice Chairman throughout the pilot program. The select “Metra Wi-Fi Onboard” Will County (Continued from Page 1) Wi-Fi cars are labeled with decals from the list of options on their NICTD program, this Wi-Fi ser- on the exterior smartphones, tablets or laptop John Plante Treasurer vice is available on a car-by-car and will be computers. You will have to agree Suburban Cook County basis instead of a full train. positioned as to the terms and conditions to In general, the hotspots are the end car gain access to the service. Rodney S. Craig limited to a 1 megabyte down- on the train Customers can then visit Secretary Suburban Cook County load speed per user. Checking (opposite end www.metrarail.com/wifi survey to email and Internet browsing are from the loco- provide feedback on the quality Manuel Barbosa the intended uses of this service, motive), when of Wi-Fi service. Director not streaming video. Metra has possible. Con- Last year, Metra completed Kane County posted information onboard to ductors will also alert customers installation of charging stations Romayne C. Brown notify customers that streaming to the location of the Wi-Fi car at all fi ve downtown stations and Director video will likely impair service through announcements on all implemented free Wi-Fi in the Cook County and that there may be dead zones. outbound trains. waiting areas.

Norman Carlson Director Lake County brown to silver and blue. and durable cars began with The original Highliners of- the delivery of the fi rst 26 new Don A. De Graff Cars fered air-conditioning to custom- generation stainless steel High- Director Suburban Cook County (Continued from Page 1) ers accustomed to riding in cars liner cars in 2006, purchased with formed Chicago South Suburban with open windows during the $76 million in funding provided Ken Koehler Mass Transit District and leased summer months, and cushioned by the state of Illinois. In August Director back to the IC. Federal funds cov- seats rather than the wicker 2010, the Metra Board approved McHenry County ered two-thirds of the $40 million benches provided in the 1920s-era a contract with Nippon Sharyo Brian K. Reaves cost and the IC paid the rest. In cars they replaced. However, the to purchase 160 more Highliner Director 1978-1979, the Regional Trans- original Highliners did not have cars. Funding for this purchase Suburban Cook County portation Authority (RTA) bought restrooms and their carbon steel totaling $585 million was pro- construction proved less durable vided by the state. John P. Zediker the second order of 36 cars from Director Bombardier for $28 million. than the stainless steel cars that Special thanks to Metra Board DuPage County Metra took ownership of the rail- became the industry standard. Member Norman Carlson for pro- road and the Highliners in 1987, (The new cars have restrooms.) viding historical information used The push to replace the origi- in conjunction with the Highliner Don Orseno rehabbing the cars and changing Executive Director/CEO the color scheme from orange and nal Highliners with more modern retirement event.

WWW.METRARAIL.COM MARCH 2016 3 SOUND OFF Serene seatmate and you can buy and display any kind of Metra mobile tickets on A dude was taking up two your smartphone. If you have seats sitting with his legs folded any issues, friendly folks such as up in full lotus position, eyes Elizabeth will be happy to help. closed in deep meditation. I asked to sit down. He unfolded Stop the madness his legs and placed his bag on I am wondering why in- the fl oor, and I took my seat. He bound trains in the morning at then resumed the position by Route 59 regularly pull forward, refolding his legs and resting his so that two or thee cars are off stocking foot on my thigh. I was the east side of the platform. The about to say something, when a platform was lengthened years feeling of serene calm overcame ago to accommodate the long me, and I was barely able to stifl e trains. an involuntary “Ommmmm...” Ed I was in a state of nirvana when we jolted to a halt in Union Sta- We pull the head cars off the tion. platform to control crowding. Ev- New Disciple eryone insists on riding the head cars, and it just isn’t possible. Try doing that behind the We pull the cars off to encourage wheel of your car! people to the rear of the train. On the other hand.... Safe landing My morning train ride was Thank you to the two gentle- disrupted by a passenger who man who hauled my – ahem – up put on her full face of makeup after I slipped and fell on my while on her commute. This is – ahem – on the Adams Street OK by me, but I had to draw the escalator to Union Station on line when she pulled a nail fi le the evening of Feb. 16. I was out. I waited several minutes too klutzy to get up by myself while she was fi ling away, but tors responsible for ensuring that Mobile issues and too fl ustered to thank them after a respectable amount of Quiet Cars remain quiet? I have During our fi rst foray into properly. time I had to ask her to stop, come across a few real chatter- the mobile app, we had phone Janet saying that the noise brought to boxes and no one seems to care. issues that made the monthly mind nails on a chalkboard. She They may be oblivious to the pass unusable in the middle of We’re glad someone was there kindly stopped, which I am very fact that they are on a Quiet Car. the month. We left a message on to help. We’d like to extend our grateful for. But I would hope Please enlighten me. the Metra mobile number and thanks to your helpers as well. in the future that people realize Greg received a call back the next day And we hope your ahem suffered when your nail particles are be- (Luckily had a 10-ride). Shout no lasting harm. ing released to the air (so much Our policy on Quiet Cars is out to the assistance and KIND- so that you are wiping down that they are largely peer-en- NESS of Elizabeth in helping Finding Elvis your own clothes and purse), this forced. If you encounter someone resolve our issue. She was a plea- is an activity to be done in the being loud in a Quiet Car, we Following the Elvis theme sure to talk to! Monthly mobile privacy of your own home, or a encourage you to politely point of the January/February issue, ticket working again!!! nail salon! out that they are in the Quiet Car when people want to talk, select Denise Kyleen and ask them to kindly tone it your car with caution: only fools down. If the passenger continues rush in. And when enforcing Thanks for giving us a May we suggest yoga as a to make noise, you should inform Quiet Car rules, be considerate, chance to remind everyone that calming infl uence? the conductor. Remember, while don’t be cruel. Lastly, regarding our goal is to keep cars as quiet mobile Metra tickets are now Pets on Trains, just two words: Quieting infl uence as possible, passengers should available via the new Ventra hound dog. App. Just download the app from Mark Are passengers or conduc- not expect the car to be com- pletely silent. the App Store or Google Play

E-MAIL US AT [email protected] 4 ON THE BI-LEVEL MARCH 2016 Winter Travel Notes

Metra starts process to buy new railcars Transportation Authority, which encompasses both the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road. Pulsar provides a wide range of Metra last month issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the expertise in strategy, planning, account management, creative devel- design and production of new railcars as part of the agency’s 10- opment, branding, media buying and placement and implementation year, $2.4 billion modernization plan. Once the vendor is selected, of campaigns. The agency is also a certifi ed disadvantaged business the estimated time to ramp up production is expected to be about 24 enterprise fi rm. The $4 million contract value represents an annual months, with Metra expected to take delivery of the fi rst cars in 2018. increase in spending over the previous fi ve years, but an overall de- The last time Metra received new railcars for lines other than the crease from marketing budgets prior to 2010. Metra Electric was in 2006. Metra’s 2016 Budget provides funding to begin purchasing 10 new railcars. If needed state funding becomes Heritage Corridor adds afternoon departure available, under this new contract, as many as 106 new cars could be Heritage Corridor riders will have a new option for getting home delivered between 2018 and 2019 and 261 cars additional cars could each weekday when Metra adds a new mid-afternoon departure from be delivered between 2020 and 2024. Another RFP for new locomo- Chicago on March 14. The new 2:45 p.m. departure from Chicago tive engines is expected to be issued when funding for those engines Union Station will expand weekday service on the line from six to is secured and allocated. seven trains (three inbound morning runs and four outbound after- Board approves new marketing contract noon/evening trains). The train will make stops at Summit, Willow Springs, Lemont and Lockport before arriving at its fi nal destination The Metra Board of Directors has approved a three-year, $4 mil- in Joliet at 3:50 p.m. The new service is the result of years of ef- lion contract with Pulsar Advertising, Inc. to serve as Metra’s new fort by Metra and elected offi cials along the route. The new service marketing and advertising agency of record. Pulsar’s scope of work required agreements from Canadian National, which owns the tracks for Metra will include a customer segmentation study, market re- and operates freight service on the line, as well as Amtrak, the owner search, branding services, development of a strategic marketing plan of Union Station. Metra would like to thank everyone who helped and assistance implementing the plan. Pulsar is a full-service mar- make this added train a reality. keting agency that is nationally recognized for its work with transit agencies around the country, including the New York Metropolitan Tips to deter parking thieves or vandals To deter would-be thieves or vandals, customers who park at Metra stations are reminded that they should never leave valuables in plain view, even if their car is locked. Take them with you or put them in the trunk, or at least out of sight. Vehicle owners can easily and inexpensively protect against wheel thefts by adding wheel locks (also known as locking lug nuts). Metra Police ask anyone with information about incidents or suspicious activity in Metra parking lots to call 312-322-2800. Metra is best bet for St. Patrick’s events Coming downtown to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Metra is the best way to get there. Metra will be adding trains or cars to eight of its lines on March 12 to accommodate Chicagoans who want to attend the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Chicago or watch the dyeing of the Chicago River. In addition, Metra will adjust the schedule of several Rock Island trains for the South Side Irish Parade on March 13. For more information, go to www.metrarail.com. Don’t forget about Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass, good for unlimited travel all weekend long. In addition, up to three children 11 and under ride free on weekends with each adult. Save big with transit benefi ts You can save hundreds to more than $1,000 a year on commuting costs through payroll tax savings when you participate in a pre- tax transit benefi t plan at work. For customers who use a Monthly Pass, participating in a pre-tax transit benefi t plan is like getting three months of free Metra tickets each year! Contact your Human Resources Department to learn if your employer participates in a pre- tax transit benefi t plan. For more information, go to www.metrarail. com/transitbenefi ts.

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