2011 Newsroom Archive

Due to the expiration of the federal Transit Benefits Equity Act, the amount of pre-tax dollars that you can set aside to pay for your transit costs is being cut. As of January 1, 2012, the amount that you can set aside in your paycheck to pay for transit is being reduced from $230 to $125 per month. Read More

The Metra Board of Directors today approved the agency’s 2012 budget, which includes fare increases across all ticket types and a variety of other changes to Metra’s fare policies. Read More

The Village of Western Springs is one of many communities Metra’s Safety Department partners with to conduct various train safety outreach activities throughout the year. Read More

Presentation to the Board Read More

The Chicago Union Station Master Plan study has been in progress for about a year. A Public Meeting to discuss possible improvements analyzed as part of the study will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2011, 4:00 – 7:00pm in Union Station’s Union Gallery room, just off the Great Hall. The meeting will be an open house, with charts explaining possible improvements to increase capacity for handling trains, people, and traffic on nearby streets. Read More

Metra would like to apologize for ongoing delays you have experienced on the Heritage Corridor line. We are aware that our on-time performance of late has not been meeting your expectations and our own standards, and we know the delays on Monday, Dec. 12, were particularly exasperating. We want to assure you that we regard this issue as an urgent matter. We are doing everything we can to resolve the problems on the line and improve its reliability.  Read More

Metra is asking its riders to comment about minor schedule adjustments that it is proposing to make on two of its lines, primarily so that the schedules more accurately reflect actual operating conditions. Read More

Over the past several months, Metra has reached out to its passengers to ask your opinions on a range of service and fare issues and now, as part of the RTA’s regional customer satisfaction measurement program, we’re rolling out a comprehensive survey to learn about your travel patterns and gauge your satisfaction with Metra. Read More

The Cost of Your Commute is about to Rise! The commuter benefit is an employer provided federal tax benefit that allows working families to save money on their daily commute, saves businesses of all sizes critical dollars that can be reinvested to create new jobs, helps reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, saves energy and enhances our national security. Read More

The Metra Board of Directors today approved the release of a preliminary 2012 budget that calls for a fare increase that averages about 25 percent across all fare types. The budget plan now will be the subject of a series of public hearings before the board votes on a final budget on Nov. 11 Read More

Metra will implement minor schedule changes on four of its lines on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2:01 a.m., primarily so that the schedules more accurately reflect actual operating conditions. Read More

Response to Inquiry from U.S. Senators Durbin and Kirk Regarding Proposed Fare Increases Read More

Notice of Class Action: Rowe v. Metra Read More

Metra is aggressively stepping up efforts to act on customer complaints about the non-collection of fares onboard its trains with a new way for riders to report specific cases through the agency’s website. Read More

September Board Meeting Presentation Read More

Metra is asking its riders to say what they like or don’t like about minor schedule changes that it is proposing to make on four of its lines, primarily so that the schedules more accurately reflect actual operating conditions. Read More

Construction activity associated with a major project to replace 22 bridges along the Union Pacific North line and rebuild the Ravenswood Station will begin in the next two weeks. Read More

Recent legislation has changed the RTA Senior Ride Free program. Beginning, September 1, 2011, only low income seniors enrolled in the Illinois Circuit Breaker Program will be eligible for free transportation. All other seniors can still travel on Metra, CTA and Pace fixed routes at reduced price by using the RTA Reduced Fare Permit. Read More

The Metra Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) will hold a special meeting on August 26 to discuss the commuter rail agency’s 2012 budget, including proposals to address a funding imbalance through possible fare increases and service cuts. Read More

August Board Meeting Presentations  Read More

August Board Meeting Presentation Read More

Please find the Milwaukee West Line schedule which has been revised to accommodate scheduled track work between Roselle and Galewood. This schedule will be in effect from Monday, August 1st thru Sunday, September 18th. Read More

Many of you no doubt saw the news last week that Metra is facing a budget deficit in 2012 that will require us to make some hard choices about service cuts and/or fare increases. We are trying to be responsible by alerting our riding public about the issues early in the budgeting process so that everyone with a stake can provide input to us. Read More

Once again, the City of Chicago's lake front at Grant Park will host Lollapalooza from August 5-7, 2011. During this three day music festival Metra will offer additional service to accommodate festival attendees. Read More

July Board Meeting Presentation Read More

Following the morning rush hour on July 5, 2011, the Chicago Department of Transportation will close Madison Street between Canal and Franklin, a stretch that includes the bridge over the Chicago River. This street closure is part of the multi-year project to rebuild Wacker Drive and adjoining streets. Read More

Metra’s “Quiet Car” Program has been in effect since June 6th. Over the past few weeks we have been working out some of the issues associated with the release of the system-wide program. Read More

I’d like to update you on this morning’s Union Pacific West Line annulments and delays. Read More

This morning’s commute was disrupted by issues with the Union Pacific. The Union Pacific West Line trains are operated by UP employees. Read More

Powerpoint Presentations from Metra's June Board Meeting Read More

Metra would like to apologize to all passengers who use the South Concourse of Union Station for the delays and crowded conditions that occurred Friday. Read More

Recent legislation designated the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (the “OEIG”) to serve as Executive Inspector General for Metra and the other regional transit boards (RTA, CTA, and Pace). Read More

After a successful three-month pilot project on the Rock Island Line, Metra has decided to implement Quiet Cars on its remaining 10 lines starting on June 6. Read More

U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush and other officials joined with Metra leaders on Friday to officially dedicate the new Lovana S. “Lou” Jones/Bronzeville Station along the Rock Island Line. Read More

Based on events that have recently transpired in the Middle East, we ask for your continued support and vigilance in our ongoing efforts to keep rail travel safe. Read More

We want your feedback on the "Quiet Car" concept. In order for us to evaluate our riders' opinions of this concept, we have prepared a short survey we would like you to answer. Read More

After nearly eleven months of exhaustive and thorough on-site review by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the FTA has informed Metra it will lift FTA-imposed restrictions on its access to federal funds because of the reforms put in place by the Metra Board of Directors. Read More

The regular schedule has been changed so that there are more trains running in the early afternoon to accommodate riders leaving work early for the Good Friday holiday. Read More

Metra, along with representatives of the Union Pacific Railroad and the City of Chicago, invite you to a public forum at which plans will be available of streetscape, station and other improvements associated with the scheduled replacement of railroad bridges and other railroad line upgrades along Ravenswood Avenue. Read More

Metra will resume work in April on a major project to replace 22 aging bridges along the Union Pacific North line on the north side of Chicago, as well as to build a completely new Ravenswood Station. Read More

Metra next month will open a new station in Chicago at 35th St. along the Rock Island line, just in time for the Chicago White Sox home opener at nearby U.S. Cellular Field. Read More

Metra’s Emissions Task Force, formed by the rail agency to investigate the level of diesel emissions on trains and downtown platforms and to identify ways to improve air quality, met March 2 to discuss recent activity. Read More

Beginning the reform work he was hired to perform, new Metra CEO Alex Clifford used a special Metra board meeting today to describe policy changes he has already implemented and outline changes or strategies he will soon undertake. Read More

A new pedestrian grade crossing system is being activated at eight stations on the Union Pacific West Line on March 1, 2011. Read More

Blackman Kallick & Hillard Heintze Reports Read More

The BNSF line has added two Naperville-Rt.59 express trains to its schedule for this afternoon, February 3. Read More

Metra will be operating regularly scheduled service on Friday, February 4, 2011. Due to continuing severe weather conditions, passengers may encounter minor delays in the arrival and departure of their trains. Read More

Due to the severe blizzard warning for the Chicago region, Metra will be providing extra service in the early afternoon from its downtown terminals on several of its lines to accommodate customers who will be departing work early on Tuesday, Feb. 1st. Read More

The Metra Board of Directors has selected Alexander D. Clifford, an executive with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to be the commuter rail agency’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. Read More

The Metra Electric District’s “Bears Extra” train which has served fans during home games throughout the season will again operate for the Bears-Packers NFC Chmpionship. Read More

In an effort to incorporate more community input on Metra policies and services, Metra announces the return of the Citizens Advisory Board. Read More

Metra staff updated the Board of Directors about the task force’s work at the January 14 board meeting Read More

Will Wacker Drive reconstruction impact your Metra commute? Starting January 3rd, and weather permitting, Randolph and Washington streets between Canal and Wacker will be closed. Read More

On January 10, the first and last cars of Rock Island trains will go quiet in rush hour – or quieter, anyway. Read More