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| Metra (Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Metra (Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation) |
| Type | Commuter rail |
| Locale | Chicago metropolitan area, Illinois |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Lines | 11 |
| Stations | 242 |
| Annual ridership | Approximately 20–24 million (varies yearly) |
| Website | metra.org |
Metra (Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation) is a commuter rail system serving the Chicago metropolitan area, providing regional passenger rail service across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Kendall counties. It connects central Chicago with suburbs and exurbs through a network of lines radiating from terminal stations near Chicago Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, and LaSalle Street Station. Metra integrates with municipal transit agencies such as Chicago Transit Authority and regional authorities including the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois).
Metra was established in 1984 as the Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation to assume commuter rail operations previously managed by private railroads such as Chicago and North Western Railway, Milwaukee Road, Burlington Northern, and Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. Its formation followed financial and operational pressures seen in the 1970s and early 1980s, including the 1970s energy crisis, changes after the Creation of Amtrak, and regional planning efforts by entities like the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Chicago and the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois). Early projects included consolidation of contracts, refurbishment of rolling stock originally built by manufacturers such as Electro-Motive Division and Budd Company, and rehabilitation of terminals associated with North Western Station and Chicago and North Western Terminal. Over subsequent decades Metra navigated capital programs influenced by federal initiatives like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and grants from the Federal Transit Administration. Major historical milestones include the acquisition of lines from private carriers, the reopening or improvement of suburban stations such as Aurora (Metra station) and Elgin (Metra station), and responses to events including severe winter storms and the 2008 financial crisis.
Metra operates commuter rail service under contractual arrangements with freight railroads including BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, and with preservation of trackage rights on corridors formerly owned by carriers like Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Operational control centers coordinate dispatching, safety systems, and communications with entities such as the Federal Railroad Administration. Metra’s fare collection and pass programs interface with municipal operators like Pace (transit) and agencies such as the Illinois Department of Transportation. Service levels vary by line, with peak-direction express runs serving business districts associated with LaSalle Street Station and Chicago Union Station and off-peak schedules adjusted for demand patterns shaped by employers including United Airlines and institutions like University of Chicago. Safety and inspections follow standards promulgated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Association of American Railroads.
The system comprises 11 lines radiating from downtown terminals to suburban endpoints including Aurora, Illinois, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Chicago Rockford International Airport (proposed connections), and Dyersville (historical freight nodes). Primary corridors include the BNSF Line, Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest, Metra Electric District, and routes tracing the historic rights-of-way of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Services include peak express trains, off-peak local trains, and limited weekend schedules coordinated with events at venues like Wrigley Field and United Center. Intermodal connections occur at hubs such as Chicago Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, and commuter transfer points linking to Amtrak services like the Empire Builder and Hiawatha Service.
Metra’s fleet has included diesel locomotives from manufacturers like Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and Progress Rail and electric multiple units on the Metra Electric District originally constructed by Budd Company. Recent procurements have featured cab cars and coaches from builders such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Stadler Rail. Freight-compatible locomotives operate over shared freight corridors with Canadian National Railway and CSX Transportation presence in the region. Modernization efforts have included Positive Train Control installations per Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 mandates and refurbishment programs addressing HVAC, accessibility features compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and crashworthiness standards endorsed by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Terminals include historic facilities such as Chicago Union Station and downtown terminals like LaSalle Street Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center, several of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Suburban stations range from major intermodal hubs like Naperville station (Metra) to small shelters in communities such as Glenview station and Highland Park station (Metra). Maintenance facilities and yards are located at sites including the Kenosha Shops and Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility (Chicago), with capital improvements funded through partnerships with Illinois Department of Transportation and county governments like Cook County, Illinois.
Metra is governed under the oversight of the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois), with a board appointed by regional and county officials including representatives from Cook County, Illinois, DuPage County, and the City of Chicago. Funding derives from a mix of sources: passenger fares, sales tax allocations administered by the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois), state appropriations from the State of Illinois, and federal capital grants from the Federal Transit Administration. Labor relations involve collective bargaining with unions such as the Transportation Communications International Union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Ridership historically peaked in the late 20th and early 21st centuries with annual patronage in the tens of millions, influenced by commuting patterns tied to employers such as Northern Trust Corporation and institutions like Northwestern University. Performance metrics include on-time performance statistics evaluated relative to freight traffic managed by carriers including BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, and customer satisfaction surveys paralleling benchmarks from agencies like Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York). Ridership experienced declines during economic downturns and public health events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting service adjustments and federal relief under programs associated with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Planned initiatives encompass capital modernization projects, station accessibility upgrades aligned with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 compliance, procurement of new rolling stock from manufacturers such as Stadler Rail and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and expansion studies considering service to growth areas including Elgin, Illinois suburbs and potential links to Chicago Rockford International Airport. Coordination with regional plans by entities like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and funding applications to the Federal Transit Administration continue to shape proposals for grade separation projects, Positive Train Control enhancements, and transit-oriented development around stations such as Hinsdale station (Metra) and Downers Grove station (Metra).
Category:Commuter rail in the United States Category:Transportation in Chicago