Moving Forward with Metra's Equity-Guided Transit System Plans

Among Chicago-area transit agencies affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Metra has been hit the hardest, says regional transit advocate Scott Presslak. The agency, historically catering to white-collar Loop commuters, has experienced a 90% decrease in ridership and was forced to dramatically reduce service in the last 6 months. 

"With the Loop a virtual ghost town, even workers who may have to go into the office a few times a week can find faster commutes on the expressways and cheap parking rates downtown," writes Presslak. 

Presslak says Metra needs to reconsider it's current "wait-and-see approach" to adapting to the ridership decline and "address the growing racial and social inequities in our regional transit system."

Star:Line Chicago and Active Trans' 2019 Fair Fares Chicagoland report recommended several changes to promote a more equitable Metra fare offerings. Presslak notes that at Metra’s September board meeting, the agency considered updating line-by-line service restoration consistent with the report's recommendations. 

Additionally, Romayne C. Brown will take over for Norm Carlson on Metra's board of directors. Brown, soon to be Metra's first female African-American chairperson "has already prioritized implementation of the South Cook Fair Transit pilot. This crucial project aims to lower fares for Metra Electric and Rock Island commuters on the South Side of Chicago and in the south suburbs while also promoting convenient transfers and integration with Pace and CTA," Presslak reports.

Presslak expresses for Metra's plans for improvement and urges the agency to move toward implementation.