Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Metra

The Blue Island Vermont St. Station. Photo: Metra

Metra board approves $3.1M contract for rehab of Rock Island Line’s Vermont St. station

By John Greenfield | Oct 13, 2021 | No Comments

Hopefully the planned pedestrian upgrades will involve making it safer and easier to cross Vermont Avenue between the Rock Island and Metra Electric stations.

A Metra Electric District train on 71st Street in South Shore. Unlike the MED, most Metra lines are diesel-powered. Photo: John Greenfield

Civic and environmental groups call on Metra to get going on zero emissions fleet

By Courtney Cobbs | Sep 21, 2021 | No Comments

At Metra’s monthly board meeting, a coalition of twenty nine civic and environmental organizations urged Metra, Chicagoland’s commuter rail organization, to start testing zero-emissions technology.

CTA buses near Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue. Photo: John Greenfield

Deep discounts on CTA fare passes have helped fuel pandemic ridership recovery

By John Greenfield | Sep 15, 2021 | No Comments

The agency is crediting the sale with spurring a nearly 70 percent increase in average ridership among pass users.

The Addison/Lincoln bridge. Photo: Igor Studenkov

More deets about the UPN Line bridge replacement project from the recent meeting

By Igor Studenkov | Sep 13, 2021 | No Comments

Nearby residents and businesses are wondering about the construction impacts, including possible flooding issues, and just how close to their homes the new tracks will be.

The UPN line's School Street bridge, with a Slow Streets treatment under it in September 2020. Photo: John Greenfield

Metra holds virtual meeting on $262.3M project to replace UP North bridges Thursday

By John Greenfield | Sep 8, 2021 | No Comments

The initiative will rebuild eleven 120-year-old Union Pacific North line bridges in Lakeview and Lincoln Park.

A decorative intersection design at Devon/Sacramento in West Ridge. Photo: John Greenfield

Colorful crosswalks coming to intersections by Rogers Park Metra stop

By Courtney Cobbs | Aug 11, 2021 | No Comments

It's puzzling why the decorative intersection treatments are going to relatively quiet side-street intersections instead of Clark Street.

Rendering of the Auburn Park station, looking east.

It’s getting real: Metra awards construction contract for Auburn Park station

By John Greenfield | Jul 28, 2021 | No Comments

The planned Auburn Park station in the Auburn-Gresham community has been in the works for over a decade, and advocacy for it by local residents has gone on even longer than that.

The Wilson Red Line platform. Photo: John Greenfield

RTA’s new capital funding formula prioritizes existing assets, speed over innovation

By Igor Studenkov | Jul 23, 2021 | No Comments

The RTA board unanimously approved a new formula for splitting capital funding between the CTA, Metra, and Pace, emphasizing fixing and upgrading their existing assets and funding projects that promote equity.

The 102nd Place and Vincennes Metra crossing, where Pruitt was killed. Image: Google Maps

Bike/train crash death of Darryl Len Pruitt, 60, raises Metra crossing safety issues

By John Greenfield | Jul 21, 2021 | No Comments

It was the latest in a series of tragic incidents involving people illegally crossing Metra gates, raising questions about what the commuter railroad can do to improve safety at crossings.

The Metra All-Day Pass. Photo: Igor Studentkov

That’s the ticket! Metra’s new All-Day Pass has been unexpectedly successful

By Igor Studenkov | Jun 29, 2021 | No Comments

The All-Day Pass was originally only meant to last a few weeks, but it's been hugely popular. According to the railroad, about a third of all riders currently use it.

The zones within 10 miles of all Metra and South Shore Line stations. Excluding areas in Eastern Time, does this represent the boundaries of the region where Chicagolanders dwell? Map: Steven Vance

Is this Chicagoland? A modest proposal for defining the region

By John Greenfield and Steven Vance | Jun 25, 2021 | No Comments

is this a reasonable way to define Chicagoland, or does it exclude any towns that deserve to be considered part of the region?

An Inbound BNSF Line train waits at Aurora Transportation Center in late March. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Metra schedule pilots to bring biggest service increases to wealthier suburbs

By Igor Studenkov | Jun 11, 2021 | No Comments

When Metra recently announced schedule changes for several lines, they billed it as offering more off-peak options. But the reality was a bit more complicated than that.

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