Our Vision: A Bigger Role for Metra
Our Vision
Metra, the commuter rail system that serves Chicagoland, has excelled at carrying large volumes of commuters to their downtown jobs. Today, the Chicago area could benefit from even more commuter rail service.
In 1983, Metra took control of a deteriorated network of commuter rail lines and began expanding the system. Because of its success, ridership is at record levels, and demand continues to increase. The success of commuter rail is a key component of our strong economy, and it can become even more important with the right investments.
With more frequent service and better coordination, commuter rail could function more like rapid transit connecting the region. Many suburb-to-suburb trips now only doable by car -- for work and a wide range of personal trips -- would then be possible by transit.
Metra has been exploring this kind of service (and the new equipment types required) while planning the proposed STAR line. Many cities have already made the conversion. Those lessons could be applied to Metra's routes not shared with heavy freight traffic and we encourage doing so.
Linking business districts throughout the metropolitan area with each other and downtown Chicago with more frequent service would strengthen our local economy and making life more livable for people who live and/or work outside of the big city. Additionally, creating better regional connections to Chicago-O'Hare International Airport would better link our region-wide economy to the world economy.
Further, Chicagoland now stretches beyond the six counties of the Regional Transportation Authority. The regional rail model should be expanded beyond the 6-counties with express trains to places like Milwaukee, Rockford, DeKalb and Kankakee.