Rate hikes and low gas prices mean fewer people go up to Metra



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Metra saw its number of users drop by 9% between 2014 and 2018, a period during which the railway raised four times its rates to help pay for the new equipment.

The commuter rail has indicated that its ridership has increased from 83.4 million trips in 2014 to 76.1 million passenger trips in 2018, roughly the same as in 2005 and down from at the peak of 86.8 million recorded in 2008.

Metra officials gave an update on the number of passengers at the monthly board meeting. The council also approved the purchase of 15 locomotives and Metra announced a new round trip transportation service to Lake County.

Metra attributed the drop in ridership to higher fares and other factors, such as low gasoline prices. The railway was also disrupted by delays related to equipment problems.

The agency's board has chosen not to raise rates in 2019 and is asking legislators in Springfield to pass an infrastructure bill to help the railways pay for new buses and buses. locomotives and repairs. There has been no capital bill for 10 years.

Metra Electric District, which connects downtown, the south and the southern suburbs, posted the largest drop, falling 18.1% in five years, followed by Milwaukee West Line District. Elgin, which fell 11.5%.

Weekend trips have dropped in 2018, following an increase of $ 8 from the weekend package, which goes from $ 8 to $ 10, said Lynette Ciavarella, senior director of the division of the strategic capital planning. The service cuts were successful for users of Milwaukee's North and Rock Island lines.

In an effort to modernize the fleet and reduce the number of breakdowns, Metra's board of directors approved Wednesday the expense of $ 71 million for 15 refurbished locomotives. Metra purchases them from the Progress Rail locomotives at La Grange, a Caterpillar group company, and has the option to purchase up to 27 additional vehicles, if funding is available.

"These new locomotives will replace some of the oldest locomotives in our fleet, and we were expecting a significant increase in reliability," Metra Chief Executive Jim Derwinski said in a statement. Progress Rail takes over existing freight locomotives and upgrades them for passengers.

About 70% of Metra's current fleet of 147 locomotives are in poor condition or in poor condition, with an average age of 31 years. Metra Chief Engineer Kevin McCann told the Panel that the new locomotives would meet EPA Tier 3 standards and replace the existing Tier 0 locomotives. Each new engine would reduce Tier 1 emissions. 24% compared to an older engine.

Metra had the option of buying new, cheaper and more expensive Tier 4 locomotives, which would have been even cleaner, but Mr McCann told the commission that they would have needed storage tanks separate fuel. He added that used locomotives also had interchangeable parts with the existing Metra fleet, which would save money.

"We think it's the most responsible thing to do," McCann said of the decision to use older vehicles. The locomotives will have AC traction motors, which are more durable and reliable than the DC traction motors of Metra's old locomotives, said Metra.

Howard Learner, head of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said Metra should buy cleaner engines, but could do its best on a small budget.

"Metra needs to clean up its fleet and should globally adopt the cleanest Tier 4 locomotives," Learner said in an email. "That said, Metra has really old and inefficient locomotives that need to be replaced now, and if Metra gets a great price on Tier 3 locomotives, it's a positive step forward."

Learner also noted that public transit agencies in the Chicago area were underfunded and had to make such compromises until additional funds were available.

"It makes sense in the short term if you do not think you'll get a big credit for switching to new technology," said Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed ​​Rail Association. "From the state's point of view, we should be funding the latest technologies for Metra."

Metra also announced Wednesday the launch of a two-year round trip pilot program between Chicago and Lake County. The project will be funded by a $ 1.4 million public-private partnership between businesses and governments in Metra and Lake County, and will begin March 4 on the Milwaukee North Line District. This service is intended to help the growing number of commuters who live in the city but are moving to jobs in the suburbs.

Metra's board also approved a 3.5% increase for Derwinski, bringing the CEO's annual salary to $ 285,000. The council also voted to give Derwinski an extra week of annual vacation, which would bring his total allowance to six weeks. Former Metra CEO Don Orseno, who retired at the end of 2017, received $ 317,500.

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Twitter @marywizchicago

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