ON THE BI-LEVEL Commuter Newsletter, November 2009
Budget Public Hearing Schedule Metra releases $613m budget Wednesday, Nov. 4 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Despite tough economic times tickets and monthly passes online DuPage County and base sales tax receipts that have One-way fares with credit and debit cards. Clarendon Hills eroded to a 10 year low, the Metra Between downtown and To encourage riders to buy tick Village Board Room Board of Directors has unveiled a the zone indicated: ets at stations and over the Internet, 1 N. Prospect Avenue $613 million operating budget that Metra would increase the penalty Clarendon Hills calls for no changes in commuter Zone 2009 2010 for on board purchases to $5 from McHenry County rail service in 2010 and includes A $2.15 $2.25 $2. That penalty is not assessed on Woodstock City Hall some revisions to its fare structure. B $2.35 $2.50 riders who board at stations where City Council Chambers Metra is grateful to our elected agents are not on duty. 121 W. Calhoun St. of cials in Spring eld, rst for C $3.35 $3.50 One way fares would increase Woodstock addressing its operating needs by D $3.80 $4.00 about 6 percent, an average of about Suburban Cook (North) increasing the regional transporta E $4.30 $4.50 30 cents a ticket. In order to sim Arlington Heights tion sales tax last year and then F $4.75 $5.00 plify on board fare collection, the Village Hall for addressing its capital needs by G $5.15 $5.50 increases have been rounded to the Village Board Room approving a public works bond nearest quarter. (Please see the fare 33 S Arlington Heights Rd. program earlier this year. Those ef H $5.65 $6.00 chart.) Weekend fares would in Arlington Heights forts are greatly assisting Metra in I $6.10 $6.50 crease to $7 from $5. This would be Suburban Cook (South) balancing its budget and investing J $6.60 $7.00 the rst increase since the weekend Homewood Village Hall in its infrastructure. K $7.05 $7.50 fare program started in 1991. Village Board Room The new fare structure includes M $8.05 $8.50 Metra has adopted a variety 2020 Chestnut Road adjustments in one way fares and of cost containment measures Homewood the rst change in the cost of week that will save about $4 million Thursday, Nov. 5 end passes since the program began passengers,” said Metra Chairman in administrative costs next year, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in 1991. But the impact of the new Carole R. Doris. including leaving about 150 posi City of Chicago fare structure on regular Metra Metra’s new fare structure, tions un lled, freezing management Metra riders will be limited, since most which would start Feb. 1, 2010, is salaries and asking non union em 547 W. Jackson Blvd. use 10-ride tickets and monthly intended to encourage customers ployees to pay more for their health 13th Floor Board Room to use 10 ride tickets and monthly Chicago passes and those fares won’t insurance. change. passes, which already offer a dis Public hearings on the pro Lake County “Any fare adjustment is dif cult, count over the one way fares. Those posed budget and presentations to Grayslake Village Hall particularly in today’s economy, multiple ride options are easier than the boards of the six counties in Village Board Room but we believe we are taking a ever to purchase, because Metra Metra’s service area will be held 10 South Seymour responsible, targeted approach recently launched a new website over the next few weeks. (See the Grayslake that is sensitive to the needs of our that allows riders to buy 10 ride schedules on this page.) Kane County County Board Presentations Geneva City Hall City Council Chamber McHenry County Board Lake County Board Will County Board 22 S. First Street Tuesday, Nov. 3 , 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. Geneva County Board Room County Board Room County Board Room 667 Ware 18 N. County Street 302 N. Chicago Street Will County Woodstock Waukegan Joliet Joliet City Hall West Wing Cook County Board DuPage County Board Kane County Board Conference Room Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 9:45 a.m. 150 W. Jefferson Street County Board Room County Board Room County Board Room Joliet 118 N. Clark Street, 5th Floor 421 N. County Farm Road 719 Batavia Avenue, Building A Chicago Wheaton Geneva
WWW.METRARAIL.COM 2 ON THE BI-LEVEL SOUNDING BOARD Got a question? We’ve got an answer Bears service to paint sections of LaSalle It has been impossible to enter of rush hour. We will continue Street Station. Will this involve the tunnel and Metra passengers to follow up with Amtrak regard- Does the Metra Electric line a change in color scheme? have no choice but to fi ght and ing the situation. still run the Bears extra trains Kyle push their way through or stand before and after the games? If in the hallway entrance until it Why the honking? so, where is the information to We’re painting the steel, clears and by then the 5:18 has get times for the trains running I recently moved near the which is now unpainted. The pulled out! LaSalle Street Station and for before the game? color will be a familiar one A.M.E. Lynne the most part I have gotten used to Chicago area residents – it to the regular Metra trains run- will be “Bolt Brown,” the same We’re sorry for the prob- Yep, it’s still running. The ning by my apartment. How- shade of brown that Chicago lems you’re been having. Let us ever, every weekend since I’ve Metra Electric has added a bridges are painted. explain what’s going on: “Bears Extra” train for all been here, the trains have been Amtrak owns and operates honking on their way out of the Sunday noon games, as well as Loading problems Union Station and we lease it the Sunday 3:15 p.m. and Sunday station. The 5:18 p.m. SouthWest from them. That Amtrak train is 7:20 p.m. kickoffs. Regular daily Melissa Service out of Union Station has scheduled to arrive at 4:41 p.m. train service will serve the Mon- been hell to board. An Amtrak and SWS No. 827 is scheduled day, Dec. 28 game. For more There has been temporary train arrives around 5 p.m. on to depart at 5:18 p.m. When the info click on “Service Updates” track construction going on on the track next to the SWS train Amtrak train is on time, it does at www.metrarail.com. weekends. In accordance with and hundreds of passengers are not interfere with the Metra Federal Railroad Administra- still unloading from the Am- train. But when it’s late, it’s too tion rules, the trains must sound LaSalle St. painting trak when the Metra passengers diffi cult for Amtrak to rearrange their horns to protect workers I’ve read that Metra has plans begin arriving to board the 5:18. track assignments in the middle near the rails.
On the Bi-Level METRA PASSENGERS Published by Metra’s Media Relations Department. Send letters, questions or feedback to On the Bi-Level, Metra, 547 W. Jackson, Chicago IL, 60661- Providing the safest, most secure travel 5717. Or e-mail [email protected]. We can’t guarantee all letters will be printed or answered. Please keep let- environment is Metra’s highest priority. ters to less than 200 words and include your fi rst name, hometown and what line you ride. (Names are not required but strongly encouraged.) We reserve Passengers can help keep Metra safe and secure the right to edit letter for length and grammar. by reporting unattended packages and suspicious Board of Directors activity. Never assume someone else will make
Carole R. Doris the call. Chairman DuPage County Larry Huggins Edward W. Paesel SEE Vice Chairman Director IF YOU SOMETHING, Chicago Suburban Cook County SAY SOMETHING Jack Schaffer Jack E. Partelow Treasurer Director Metra Passengers Call McHenry County Will County Metra Police 312 322 2800 Arlene Mulder Willis E. Pennington Jr. Secretary Director Suburban Cook County Cook County Union Paci c Passengers Call UP Police 888 877 7267 Jim Dodge Caryl J. Van Overmeiren Director Director Suburban Cook County Kane County Burlington Northern Passengers Call James C. LaBelle William A. Widmer III BN Police 800 832 5452 Director Director Lake County Suburban Cook County Philip A. Pagano Executive Director
WWW.METRARAIL.COM NOVEMBER 2009 3 SOUND OFF “...the snarky, snotty observations by Metra’s customers about fellow commuters ... offer some of the best free entertainment around.” - SouthtownStar, March 13, 2009
Spitting image did not offer to move. For those of you who are After riding various Metra capable of standing or trying lines for the past 28 years, I to fi nd another seat, this is an thought I had seen it all. I’ve opportunity to help someone had my share of nail clippers, who is not as physically able to seat hogs, knees in my back, get around as you. Think of your rude cellphone users, nail polish, wives, sisters and mothers when strong cologne, nose pickers and they were pregnant. Would you many more. Last week on the have wanted them wandering Rock Island line I saw some- around a moving train, climb- thing new – a well-dressed man ing up stairs on that moving sat in the upper-row seats and train and sitting uncomfortably proceeded to get out a brown sideways? paper bag and his bag of chew. Kate He wadded up a bunch, loaded it into his mouth and proceeded We suspect this is a case of riders being oblivious, not inten- for the rest of the ride to spit into We can hear you now – and we don’t want to his brown paper bag, reload with tionally rude. In any case, it’s more chew and spit some more. An idea occurred to me after I couldn’t help overhearing a a good reminder to everyone to Yuck! phone conversation on the SouthWest service today. How about a watch out for fellow passengers L.S. column devoted to funny, outrageous, odd, and weird conversations who might need a seat. Rock Island overheard on the train. Here’s what I heard today (edited): “Guess what I had for lunch today. Yeah, I had some cheese Backpack backers You’re right, that is a new fries. I wasn’t feeling that well today so I thought that would be a To the “longtime rider” who and most unwelcome one. I sup- good choice. Somehow, eating cheese settles my stomach.” hates backpacks [Oct, 2009]; pose we should count ourselves We could call it “Someone’s Listening!” And then maybe the I’m not sure briefcases are any lucky he had that paper bag. phone conversations would decrease? What do you think? better, and may be worse. In my Carole line of work they are more or Please, no ‘no hands’ less de rigueur, and I’ve inadver- Great idea! How about it, riders? Send us any zany quotes Here’s a suggestion to certain tently jostled (and been jostled- picked up from when you’ve unintentionally and unavoidably riders. Please don’t put your tick- by) fellow passengers with them. eavesdropped on someone and we’ll print them next month. Send ets in your mouth while you’re Keith them to [email protected]. going through your bags looking If you are getting bumped by for something. Often I have seen my backpack it can only mean this happen. Then the rider sticks us. Yes, I know we should not do For those of you keeping that you are standing behind me the ticket in the holder or takes it regardless, but those seats are score, it’s “Yucks” two, “Icks” or following me TOO CLOSE- the ticket out of his/her mouth most uncomfortable. However, one. Yucks win! But really, you LY. You can solve your problem and then hands it to the poor can we address the increasing know you shouldn’t put your of getting bumped by people conductor. Ick! number of passengers that decide feet on the seat even if you put a wearing backpacks by respecting Anonymous to forgo the aforementioned newspaper or bag there fi rst. our personal space! Wow, that’s one “Yuck” and method and take off their shoes Scott one “Ick” and we’re just getting instead! Yuck, on more than one Please be aware started... level. One passenger in boards I am six months pregnant Those are just two of the train No. 1371 to Aurora. Kind and just walked up and down many letters we received in Feet-on-seat etiquette sir, please keep your shoes on! the aisles of two full Metra cars defense of backpacks. As we I know there is a policy re- We do not want to see your toes on the BNSF line and not one expected, not everyone – in fact, garding feet on the seat. Several poking out of your socks! It is person offered to give me their not anyone – agreed with the people including myself are very too early in the morning for this seat. I fi nally had to climb up backpack-hater last month. The respectable and use newspaper blatant display of disrespect. the stairs and sit sideways in the bottom line: Please try not to or a bag to prop our legs and feet Monica front seat. Even those in the seats whack people with backpacks or as to not dirty the seat in front of BNSF marked for handicapped people briefcases – or anything else.
E-MAIL US AT [email protected] 4 ON THE BI-LEVEL NOVEMBER 2009 Fall Travel Notes
Metra starts work on Winnetka station chocolates and sweets, artisan made goods, owers, and distinctive prepared meals and snacks for busy customers. Unlike seasonal out Metra broke ground last month on the reconstruction and rehabil door farmer’s markets, Chicago French Market and its vendors will itation of the Winnetka train station on the Union Paci c North line. stay open year round, six days per week. The nearly $5 million project includes restoring the street level New vendors include: Abbey Brown Soap Artisan, natural depot, the pedestrian bridge and six stairways, installing new eleva soap and bath products; Bowl Square, Korean food; Buen Apetito, tors and vestibules, and replacing the platforms and platform shel a family owned taqueria; Chundy’s Gourmet, Indian fusion food; ters. New landscaping also will be included in the project, which is City Fresh Market, a European styled grocery shop; Delightful Pas expected to take about a year to complete. tries, authentic European pastries; Frietkoten, grab and go Belgian The project is one of several that Metra is funding with its $140.9 fries; Fumare, cured and smoked meats; Juicy Orange, squeezed to million share of money from the American Recovery and Reinvest order fruit and vegetable juices; Les Fleurs, fresh cut owers, potted ment Act of 2009, better known as the federal stimulus bill. The plants, orchids and European style oral arrangements; Neces project is expected to create or retain about 40 jobs. Blinderman Con sity Baking Company, artisan bread baking; Pop This!, gourmet struction Co. of Chicago was awarded the contract for the work. popcorn; Produce Express, seasonal and locally grown fruits and Chicago French Market set to open this month vegetables; Provo’s Village Bake Shoppe, homemade baked goods; RAW, meals, drinks and snack items based on a raw food diet; and Sixteen new local artisans and purveyors have signed on for Saigon Sisters, Vietnamese cuisine with French accented avors. MetraMarket’s Chicago French Market, a 15,000 square foot, Chicago French Market is part of MetraMarket’s rst devel European inspired market that will open in mid November at the opment phase, which encompasses 66,000 square feet of the total Ogilvie Transportation Center. The lineup now includes more than planned 100,000 square foot development and is already 50 percent 25 individual vendors offering an array of local and certi ed or leased. A CVS store opened in September. ganic produce, meats, breads, pastries, small batch cheese and wine, For more information, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.
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