Leadership

Dear Metra Rider,

Seven years ago, when I joined the Metra Board of Directors, Metra was in the midst of a virtually uninterrupted string of year-to-year monthly ridership gains. New services were being added to a system that consistently operated at levels of on-time performance exceeding all other commuter railroads in the United States. Metra was continuing to invest millions of dollars in rebuilding and modernizing the network’s infrastructure and was on the verge of completing its three major New Starts projects ahead of schedule and under budget.

The past several years have been far more challenging. This past year, declines in ridership and passenger revenue, and a simultaneous drop in RTA sales tax proceeds, caused significant shortfalls in Metra’s operating funds, fueled almost entirely by the worst economic downturn in the U.S. over the last 80 years. Furthermore, over the past two years, costs beyond Metra’s control such as diesel fuel and health care, have frustrated Metra’s attempts to control expenses. Finally, over the past five years Metra has experienced a general lack of adequate capital funding, particularly at the state level, threatening a return to a system plagued by declines in service and a growing backlog of deferred maintenance.

However, in the face of these challenges, Metra did what it has always done. It worked tirelessly and cooperatively, at all levels of the organization, to ensure that Metra stayed within its budget and that it undertook those actions necessary to maintain overall service and operational performance. As Tom Judge, Editor of Railway Track & Structures opined in a recent column, Metra “knows how to run a railroad.” He concluded that Metra has always “done the job in managing its funds in a very responsible manner” by concentrating efforts on what is important in keeping the tracks and facilities in good operating condition and in maintaining good service at a reasonable price.

Metra certainly appreciates this acknowledgement in a national trade publication, but I can tell you that Metra recognizes that its success is not achieved simply on its own. We all understand that Metra must interact positively and proactively with all of its stakeholders—most importantly, its riders—to ensure that it receives the financial support required to grow and maintain the system and to meet the transportation needs of the region as we move further into the 21st century.

In addition to our riders, I especially want to thank our elected leaders both in Springfield and in Washington, D.C., for all of their hard work during these difficult and demanding times. The Illinois General Assembly enacted legislation to help address Metra’s operating needs and the Assembly and Governor Quinn worked to pass a new state capital financing plan. When coupled with the federal stimulus dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, these monies once authorized and received will enable Metra to maintain the system in a state of good repair.

While progress is, therefore, clearly being made, there are still many challenges before us:

• Overall economic activity is only slowly beginning to recover; hence, sales tax revenues to Metra (and its sister agencies) will remain fairly flat in 2010 and still well below original projections.
• The capital funding plan enacted in Springfield is a good start and will allow Metra to preserve a state of good repair, but it does not provide money for major infrastructure improvements or any of Metra’s New Starts projects.
• Metra will continue its aggressive program of cost containment (with some 150 positions being left unfilled in 2010 as an example) and we see some stability in future fuel prices; however, health insurance costs are projected to grow significantly in 2010.
• Ridership and passenger revenues will show only limited growth, due mostly to a continuing down economy; and while we are not calling for a general fare increase, some targeted fare actions will be implemented in 2010 to help maximize system generated revenues.

Metra is certainly in better shape than it was in 2008 when it faced prospects of massive capital disinvestment, substantially higher fares, and significant service cuts. The actions in Springfield and Washington have stabilized our capital and operating situation and the funding programs in place will provide more opportunity for growth when the economy recovers. While many challenges remain, we are up to the task.

We invite you to review our 2010 Program & Budget to learn more about our plans.

Sincerely,
Carole R. Doris
Chairman
Metra Board of Directors

LARRY A. HUGGINS
Vice Chairman

Larry A. Huggins was elected vice chairman of Metra in May 2009. Mr. Huggins was appointed to the Metra Board in 1997 by the city of Chicago and served as the board treasurer from August 2006 to May 2009.

Mr Huggins is president and chief executive officer of Riteway Construction Services Incorporated. Riteway and Mr. Huggins have received a variety of top industry awards for advocacy for economic opportunities for minorities. He is a founding member of Black Contractors United (1979), serving as the organization’s vice president in 1987, and was named contractor of the year by the group in 1986 and 1997.

In 1981, he received the annual Bronze Hard Hat Award from the Chicago Economic Development Corporation in recognition of the firm’s achievements, performance and growth as a minority-owned construction firm.

JACK SCHAFFER
Treasurer

Jack Schaffer was appointed to the Metra Board, in 2006 representing McHenry County. In May 2009, he was elected board treasurer.

Mr. Schaffer currently owns Liberty Outdoor Advertising and Liberty Self Storage, both located in Crystal Lake, Ill.

From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Schaffer worked as a consultant and lobbyist specializing in insurance industry issues.  Prior to his work as a consultant, Mr. Schaffer served as commissioner of the Illinois Office of Banks and Real Estate.

From 1973 to 1999, Mr. Schaffer served as an Illinois state senator, holding several leadership positions including caucus chairman, minority whip and minority leader.

Before his election to the Senate, Mr. Schaffer worked as an auditor for McHenry County.

Mr. Schaffer is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Business Management.

ARLENE J. MULDER
Secretary

Arlene J. Mulder was appointed to the Metra Board in 2005 by the suburban members of the Cook County Board. She was elected secretary of the board in 2006.

Ms. Mulder is the mayor of Arlington Heights, where she was reelected for a fifth term in April 2009. Prior to her election as mayor, she served for 14 years on the Arlington Heights Park District Board of Commissioners and the Arlington Heights Village Board.

Mayor Mulder is vice president of the Illinois Municipal League and serves on the executive board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. She is also a member and past president of the Northwest Municipal Conference.

Mayor Mulder received a B.A. in Biology and Physical Education from San Francisco State University. She is a 2005 graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

JAMES V. DODGE
Director

James V. Dodge was appointed to the Metra Board in 2004 by the suburban members of the Cook County Board.

In addition to his role on the Metra Board, Mr. Dodge has served the village of Orland Park as village clerk from 1989-1996 and as a village trustee from 1996 to present.

Mr. Dodge has worked as a consultant with expertise in government information technology and marketing research. He is currently vice-president, managing director for information consulting services for the Nielsen Corporation.

Mr. Dodge earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology from DePaul University and a M.B.A. in Economics & Finance from the University of Chicago.

JAMES C. LABELLE
Director

James C. LaBelle was appointed to the Metra Board in 2008 by the chairman of the Lake County Board.

Mr. LaBelle is currently employed as vice president of Metropolis 2020, a business-led civic organization created in 1999 by the Commercial Club of Chicago to promote sound regional growth.

Mr. LaBelle has a long record of public service including 20 years (1980-2000) as a member of the Lake County Board, including three terms as board chairman and one term as president of the Lake County Forest Preserve District.  In the late 1980s, he was also an assistant to Governor James R. Thompson.

Mr. LaBelle has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, where he also earned a B.A. in Political Science and Business Administration.

EDWARD W. PAESEL
Director

Edward W. Paesel was appointed to the Metra Board in 2008 by the suburban members of the Cook County Board.

Mr. Paesel is currently executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, an intergovernmental agency consisting of 42 municipalities in Cook and Will counties.

From 1989 to 2000, Mr. Paesel directed the Information Clearinghouse for the Third Airport Project. Prior to his involvement with the Third Airport Project, Mr. Paesel served three terms (1977-1989) as mayor of Sauk Village, Ill. Until his election as mayor, he was principal and teacher at St. Marks Lutheran School in Sauk Village.

Mr. Paesel is a graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in History and Political Science and a Master of Arts in History.

JOHN E. PARTELOW
Director

John E. (Jack) Partelow was appointed to the Metra Board in July 2009 by the Will County Executive.

Mr. Partelow was chairman of the Will County Republican Party from 1998 until 2008. Prior to his selection as chairman, he served from 1996 to 1998 as the party’s secretary.

Mr. Partelow retired in 1994 after a 32-year career at Dunn and Bradstreet, where he rose to the position of senior vice president, national field operations.

Following his retirement, Mr. Partelow volunteered for the American Red Cross, focusing on strategic planning for the organization. He also served from 1995 to 1996 as a member of the Naperville Citizens Advisory Committee, working on the development of the city’s Master Transportation Plan.

Mr. Partelow and his wife Lorena have been married for 50 years and reside in Naperville. They have five children and eight grandchildren.

WILLIS E. PENNINGTON JR.
Director

Willis E. Pennington Jr. was appointed to the Metra Board by the president of the Cook County Board and confirmed by the members of the County Board in July 2009.

Mr. Pennington currently serves on the Olympia Fields Board of Trustees. He was first elected to the board in 2005 and re-elected to a second term in April 2009. He is chairman of the board’s Finance Committee and the finance liaison to the Board of Trustees.

From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Pennington served as commissioner and secretary of the Olympia Fields Planning Commission. He is also a former commissioner of the South Suburban Mass Transit District.

Mr. Pennington has more than 30 years experience in the insurance industry and is currently employed by Global Resource Managers as a reinsurance consultant and transactional auditor. He is a published author of articles on emerging tort law and the issues of black mold and the chemical Diactyl.

Mr. Pennington holds a B.A. from Howard University in History/International Relations and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University.  He is a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is also a charter member of the South Suburban Chapter of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and is on the governing board of the Chicago Assembly.

CARYL J. VAN OVERMEIREN
Director

Caryl J. Van Overmeiren was appointed to the Metra Board in 2008 by the chairman of the Kane County Board.

Ms. Van Overmeiren served on the Kane County Board and the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission for 14 years. From 1996-2002, she served as vice chairman of the County Board. In 2006, she retired from public office.

Prior to seeking elected office, Ms. Van Overmeiren pursued careers in nursing and nursing home administration. She received her nursing diploma from Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing, Minneapolis, Minn., and a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill. She received a diploma in Nursing Home Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

WILLIAM A.WIDMER III
Director

William A. Widmer III was appointed to the Metra Board in 2008 by the suburban members of the Cook County Board.

Mr. Widmer has devoted more than 35 years to private law practice, specializing in labor law and employee benefit funds as a partner in the firm Carmell Charone & Widmer. Mr. Widmer’s clients include the Chicago Federation of Labor, where he has served as counsel since 1998. Other labor union clients include Local 399 Operating Engineers, Teamsters Locals 301 and 734 as well as a number of firefighter union locals.

Mr. Widmer earned an undergraduate degree in from Bowdoin College and a Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law.