Chicago Metra

Chicago Metra
G Pei · Public domain · source
Name	Metra
Caption	Metra cab car at Chicago Union Station
Locale	Chicago metropolitan area
Transit type	Commuter rail
Lines	11
Stations	242
Annual ridership	21 million (2022)
Operator	Regional Transportation Authority

Chicago Metra

Metra is the commuter rail system serving the Chicago metropolitan area, providing regional rail connections among Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Kane County, Will County, McHenry County and Kendall County. Operated under the oversight of the Regional Transportation Authority and closely coordinated with the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace Suburban Bus Service, the system links major terminals like Chicago Union Station, Chicago Ogilvie Transportation Center, and Chicago LaSalle Street Station with employment centers including the Chicago Loop, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and suburban business districts such as Schaumburg and Naperville.

History

Metra traces roots to a web of 19th- and early 20th-century private railroads such as the Chicago and North Western Railway, Illinois Central Railroad, Santa Fe, Burlington Route, and Penn Central. Postwar declines in intercity and commuter service prompted municipal and state interventions exemplified by the creation of the Regional Transportation Authority in the 1970s and the eventual formation of the Metra brand in 1984 to consolidate suburban commuter operations formerly provided by railroads and agencies including Conrail, North Western subsidiaries, and the Rock Island Line. Capital projects and service expansions involved federal programs such as the Interstate Commerce Commission era reorganizations and later Federal Transit Administration grants, while major infrastructure initiatives included rehabilitation at Chicago Union Station and the downtown Chicago River corridor improvements. Service patterns evolved through events like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, which sharply affected ridership and funding.

Network and Operations

Metra operates 11 lines radiating from downtown terminals across a network of trackage owned variously by Metra, freight carriers such as BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, and Canadian National, and commuter-oriented railroads. Major lines include the BNSF Line, Union Pacific North, Union Pacific West, Union Pacific Northwest, Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West, Heritage Corridor, Rock Island District, SouthWest Service, and the Electric District services formerly part of the Metra Electric District. Operations involve coordination with dispatching entities, freight schedules, and regulatory oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Federal Railroad Administration. Key operational challenges include capacity at choke points like Chicago Union Station, grade separation projects such as the Englewood Flyover-type initiatives, and the integration of schedule planning with agencies including the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Rolling Stock

Metra's fleet comprises diesel locomotives including models from GE Transportation and EMD, electric multiple units on the electric corridor originated from Electric Multiple Units procurement, and bi-level passenger coaches commonly built by manufacturers like Bombardier Transportation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Gallery Cars-type designs. Historic equipment traces to legacy fleets from the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad and other predecessors. Recent procurement programs have involved firms such as Stadler Rail and CRRC-type competitors in national procurements, with focus on compliance with ADA standards, Positive Train Control mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and energy-efficiency considerations.

Stations and Facilities

Stations range from major terminals—Chicago Union Station, A.N. and Karen Finley Station-style depots and historic stops like Chicago LaSalle Street Station—to suburban platforms in municipalities such as Evanston, Skokie, Aurora, and Wheaton. Facilities include commuter parking lots, kiss-and-ride areas, and bicycle accommodations coordinated with local municipalities and regional entities such as MPC. Accessibility upgrades have been undertaken across the system, with station modernization projects involving partnerships with the Illinois Department of Transportation and federal grant programs.

Fares and Ticketing

Fare collection uses zone-based pricing with integration options for transfers to the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace. Ticketing technologies have included paper passes, magnetic-stripe systems, and mobile ticketing via apps aligned with smartphone platforms from Apple Inc., Google LLC, and industry providers. Fare policy debates have involved stakeholders including suburban councils, labor unions like the Transportation Communications International Union, and elected bodies such as the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Ridership and Performance

Ridership has fluctuated, peaking in pre-2008 eras and declining sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Performance metrics monitored by agencies like the American Public Transportation Association include on-time performance, farebox recovery, and safety indicators tracked by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration. On-time performance varies by line and is affected by freight interference on shared trackage with carriers such as CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

Governance and Funding

Metra operates under the authority of the RTA with policy influence from the Metropolitan Transit Authority-style governing structure and coordination with the State of Illinois executive and legislative branches. Funding streams combine passenger fares, local sales tax allocations approved by referenda in counties like Cook County, state appropriations, and federal transit grants administered by the Federal Transit Administration. Labor relations involve collective bargaining with unions including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and other craft organizations.

Category:Commuter rail in the United States Category:Transportation in Chicago