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Metra

RTA and CMAP discuss future of paratransit at Urban Transportation Center seminar

CMAP providing technical assistance to improve transit for people with disabilities. But looming budget gap threatens service systemwide.

February 28, 2024

Should a Streetsblog reader “Surrender” to commuting from Rockford to Chicago?

We compare the strengths and weaknesses of driving, and/or riding the train or bus, from the Forest City to the Windy City.

February 23, 2024

Metra orders battery-powered trains, gets funding for new bilevel passenger cars

As Metra's board authorized the purchase of eight battery-powered Stadler train sets, the FTA announced the railroad will get $100M to purchase 50 bi-level rail cars.

February 22, 2024

Millennium Station’s Randolph/Michigan elevator has been broken for months, with no word on fixing it

We decoded Metra's confusing directions for how to access Millennium Station by elevator while the Randolph/Michigan lift is indefinitely out of commission.

February 12, 2024

First day of new Metra fares sees long lines at downtown terminal ticket machines

While Metra's new fare system and ticket machines have some predictable learning curves, hopefully more customers will soon get accustomed to to using them.

February 2, 2024

Access Pilot Program kicks off tomorrow, expanding Metra’s reduced fares to include low-income riders who aren’t elderly or disabled

The initiative starts will run through July 31, 2025, thanks to the combined efforts of the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, and Cook County.

January 31, 2024

What does Metra’s permanent “bikes on all trains” policy, starting Thursday, mean for you?

The commuter railroad will also add more space for bicycle parking by installing bike racks on 50 train cars, for starters.

January 30, 2024

Metra closed BSNF Line ticket windows today, remaining ticket windows will shut down on February 1

A Metra spokesperson said there were several factors that made them decide to make the ticket counters go the way of the dodo bird.

January 8, 2024

Metra Bike Car 1.5: Rolling in with space for bikes of all shapes and sizes

After months of pressure from "the bike guys" at board meetings, and only one month after the initial announcement, Metra unveiled its new Bike Car prototype.

December 21, 2023