45 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Sun-Times, 4/29/20:

 

  Trains with ‘as few as one person’ lead Metra to reduce service on 3 lines    

 

 

 

Metra, experiencing a 97% decrease in systemwide ridership, is further reducing train service on its three least-busy lines beginning Monday.

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Metra news release

 

Metra outlines plans as Chicago area begins to reopen

 

(May 28, 2020) - As Illinois and the Chicago region move toward establishing a “new normal” in the time of COVID-19, Metra is providing more details about the steps it is taking to ensure passengers will feel safe using its system.

 

“We know more than ever that passengers need to feel safe and confident using our service,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We know more than ever the importance of providing a clean, hygienic experience on the platforms and on the trains. And we know more than ever the need to promote safe and healthy practices, such as social distancing and wearing face coverings.”

 

  Social distancing/train schedules

 

Metra will provide an opportunity for responsible physical distancing on its trains as much as and as long as possible. In general, Metra will aim for trains that are no more than about half full: one passenger per two-seater on the lower level and one passenger per every other seat on the upper level. (There will be exceptions for families or others travelling together.)

 

Metra will continue to use the current alternate weekday schedules (view them here) at the start of June but is adding cars to trains to make sure there is plenty of room for passengers to spread out. It will add more cars as needed. If Metra suspects there is potential for a train to become more crowded, it will try to operate an unscheduled train behind that one to aid with serving awaiting passengers, or it will start to add more scheduled trains to the line. Metra will continue to add cars and trains as ridership and travel patterns dictate.

 

On weekends, it will continue to operate Sunday schedules on Saturdays and Sundays. Saturday trains on the SouthWest Service will remain suspended until further notice.

 

Metra is asking for all passengers to cooperate and take responsibility for their own actions – we are all in this together. That includes practicing responsible physical distancing, wearing a face covering while riding the train and staying in their seat and not crowding the aisles or vestibules when the train is approaching their destination. Metra will provide plenty of time to safely exit the train. We have posted signs in stations and on trains and will be making announcements reminding customers to wear face coverings and physically distance themselves from others.

 

  Accepting cash fares/$10 All-Day Pass

 

While Metra will resume accepting cash as payment for fares at ticket windows and on trains on June 1, it strongly encourages passengers to buy their tickets with the Ventra app to limit interactions between crews and passengers. Buying Metra’s new $10 All-Day Pass starting June 1 in the app will give passengers a “Touch Less, Pay Less” option to ride trains safely and affordably. The pass can be purchased with cash, but if you boarded at a station where an agent was available, the conductor will charge an additional $5 fee for buying it on the train. Also, starting immediately, Metra will no longer accept checks on its trains.

 

Metra will also continue to support doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other medical personnel by allowing them to ride free on Metra trains at least through June.

 

  Daily cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting of cars

 

Metra has spent the last few months deep cleaning its more than 1,000 railcars. It also has been studying best practices and experimenting with new cleaning methods, new cleaning solutions and new cleaning machines in a still-evolving effort to identify the most efficient and effective way to ensure cars are as safe as possible.

 

Current guidelines recommend that transit agencies establish and implement policies and procedures for routine cleaning and disinfection of surfaces frequently touched by employees and passengers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 among employees and passengers. To that end, Metra is cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch areas (such as seats, seat handles, armrests, door handles, handrails, vestibule posts and handholds) as frequently as possible, at least once a day. It also will continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect toilets and toilet areas at least once a day.

 

Crews will be required to fill out cleaning and sanitation log sheets to document that they have performed all daily tasks. They are also required to report any damage to the car interior that requires repairs, such as vandalism or torn upholstery. Metra’s intention is to vigorously inspect cars and maintain the cleanliness it has achieved by deep cleaning, and it wants to exceed industry standards for sanitation.

 

As the supply becomes available, Metra will be installing additional hand sanitizer dispensers on all cars. There are already dispensers in the toilet areas.

 

  Cleaning and disinfecting stations

 

Metra continues to clean and disinfect Metra-maintained stations multiple times a week. It will maintain this schedule and will pay special attention to disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Metra is also using extra crews to increase the cleaning and disinfecting of downtown stations. It has asked the municipalities or other entities that maintain the stations in their communities to do the same.

 

“We will continue to monitor and adapt our cleaning protocols as necessary, always looking for the best way to provide the safest, healthiest ride possible to our passengers,” Derwinski said. “Safety always has been and always will be our top priority.”

 

[KevinKorell]

Metra website, 6/7/20:

 

 

Metra to return to alternate weekday schedules on June 8

First Published - 06/07/2020 - 2:04PM

Metra trains on all lines will resume operating on alternate weekday schedules on Monday, June 8, which means limited weekday service will return on the SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service lines. The alternate schedules are posted here.

• Sunday schedules will continue to be used on both weekend days except on the Metra Electric Line, which will use the Saturday schedule on Saturdays and the Sunday schedule on Sundays. Saturday service will remain suspended on the SouthWest Service Line.
• Metra will be closely monitoring ridership and will add cars to trains or trains to the schedules to make sure that as ridership grows there will still be plenty of room for physical distancing.
• Don't forget about the new $10 All-Day Pass. Buying the pass in the Ventra app provides a “Touch Less, Pay Less” option to ride trains safely and affordably. The pass will be available at least through July 31.
• For the latest about social distancing on Metra and Metra's cleaning efforts, click here.

Last Updated - 06/07/2020 - 2:05PM

[KevinKorell]

Metra website, 6/22/20:

 

 

                                                       Metra adding trains to three lines June 29  

(June 22, 2020) - 

 

As Chicagoans return to work and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, Metra is expanding its service on three lines to meet the needs of its growing ridership. Effective Monday, June 29, Metra will add service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines.

 

The expanded service includes new morning and evening express trains on both the North Central Service and SouthWest Service lines, marking the first time that express service has been available on either rail line.

 

“Although the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted service across the Metra system, we’ve used this time as an opportunity to reevaluate our service,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “As the residents of the Chicago region return to their work commutes and Metra ramps up service, we’re examining where and when the demand is, and using this information to make changes that we believe will better serve our customers. That’s why we’re offering these new express trains, which our customers have long requested, as a pilot project. It’s our hope these changes will bring more riders back to our trains as highway traffic increases.”

 

On the North Central Service, Metra is adding a 6:38 a.m. inbound departure from Antioch. The train will make all stops between Antioch and Buffalo Grove and then express to Western Avenue, arriving at Chicago Union Station at 8:04 a.m. A 5:01 p.m. outbound departure is also being added to the schedule for the evening commute. This train will operate express to Buffalo Grove and arrive in Antioch at 6:29 p.m. The June 29 schedule can be found here.

 

Three inbound and three outbound trains will be added to the SouthWest Service’s weekday schedule, including a 7:45 a.m. express train departing from the Orland Park/179th Street Station. This train will make all stops from Orland Park/179th Street to Palos Park, expressing to Oak Lawn and then expressing to Chicago Union Station, arriving at 8:43 a.m. Additional trains, departing at 5:10 a.m. and 2:25 p.m., will provide local service between Orland Park/179th Street and Chicago.  In the afternoon, Metra is adding a 3:45 p.m. departure from Chicago Union Station. This train will also provide express service to Oak Lawn, then express to Palos Park and make all stops to Manhattan, arriving at 5 p.m. Two additional outbound trains will also serve the line, departing Chicago Union Station at 6:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The June 29 schedule can be found here.

 

On the Heritage Corridor, Metra is adding a 7:05 a.m. inbound train from Joliet that arrives at Chicago Union station at 8:12 a.m. In the evening, a 4:50 p.m. departure from Chicago Union Station has been added, arriving in Joliet at 5:56 p.m. The June 29 schedule can be found here.

 

Alternate weekday schedules for all Metra service can be found here. The schedule set to go into effect on Monday, June 29 can be found here.

 

Riders on the North Central, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor should review the new schedules as there may be changes to departure times as well as the times of intermediate station stops along these routes. Sunday schedules will continue to be used on both weekend days on all lines, including as of Saturday July 4, the Metra Electric Line. Operating Sunday schedules on both weekend days on all lines, means that Saturday service will be suspended on the SouthWest Service Line and the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch Line.

 

Metra will be prepared to change schedules on all lines to adjust to ridership growth and travel patterns. Metra will continue to closely monitor ridership and will add cars to trains or trains to the schedules to make sure that as ridership grows there will still be plenty of room for physical distancing.

Customers are reminded that Metra is now offering a $10 All-Day Pass. Buying the pass in the Ventra app provides a “Touch Less, Pay Less” option to ride trains safely and affordably. The pass will be available at least through July 31.

 

Metra is asking its passengers to take responsibility for their own actions. This includes practicing physical distancing, wearing a face covering while riding the train, and staying in their seat and not crowding the aisles or vestibules when the train is approaching their destination. They should also follow all the other CDC recommendations, such as frequent hand washing, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, etc.

[KevinKorell]

Metra website:

 

 

    Metra extends $10 All-Day Pass to Labor Day   

 

 

 

Metra is extending the availability of its $10 All-Day Pass through Labor Day. The pass, which is available for purchase on the Ventra app, offers most Metra passengers a significant savings on transit costs.

 

 

Continue reading

[CNJRoss]

Metra news release

 

Medical personnel ride free through August

 

 

(July 20, 2020) - Metra will continue to support doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and other medical personnel on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic by allowing them to ride free on Metra trains through the end of August.

 

To ride free, medical personnel only need to present a work ID showing that they are employed at a hospital, doctor’s office, medical facility or local fire department to a Metra conductor.

 

“We recognize the heroic work being performed by these men and women who bravely continue to show up at work every day and save lives during this crisis, and this was our way to show our gratitude,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski.

 

August will mark the fifth consecutive month that Metra will allow frontline medical workers to ride for free. At this time, there are no plans to extend the free rides beyond August.

 

To learn more about how Metra is going the extra mile to keep you safe so you can Commute with Confidence, visit metrarail.com/coronavirus

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 8/19/20:

 

   Metra falling further behind budget amid COVID-19 ridership decline. Transit agency now projects $682M in lost revenue.  

 

 

As the pandemic persists and people stay home in droves, Metra is falling further behind its revenue schedule.

 

Details

[CNJRoss]

Metra Cleaning Protocols

 

Aug. 28, 2020

BNSF Railway

 

Watch to learn more about BNSF's enhanced cleaning protocols on the Metra.

 

[KevinKorell]

Mass Transit magazine, 8/26/20:

 

   Some commuters are getting a free ride from Union Pacific’s refusal to collect fares during the pandemic. It’s costing Metra millions.  

 

 

 

Metra, which is struggling financially during the pandemic, said Union Pacific’s refusal to send conductors into the train cars is costing the commuter rail system $1 million a month in lost ticket revenue.

 

Full story

[KevinKorell]

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL, 9/23/20:

 

   Empty Metra lots show a stark reality of pandemic   

 

 

 

Empty suburban train station parking lots display the stark reality of the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on Metra's ridership.

 

Article