Recognizing Metra Commuter Railroad's 40th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and congratulate Metra on ita 40th anniversary. For the last forty years, Metra has provided safe, reliable commuter rail and hundreds of millions of rides to the communities it serves in the Chicago area, including many in the 9th Congressional District.

The first Board meeting of the newly formed Commuter Rail Division, created as part of a reform of the Regional Transportation Authority, was held in June of 1984. That Board adopted ``Metra'' as a unifying name for all the disparate parts that made and still make up the commuter rail system in the region.

At the time, Metra inherited a threadbare system and was tasked with modernizing and unifying commuter rail in Chicagoland.

Since then, Metra has come a long way, acquiring new lines and subsidizing operations on others owned by freight railroads, continuing to improve the rider experience, and expanding the communities it serves.

Most recently, Metra purchased zero-emission, battery-powered trainsets. I am proud to share that Metra will be one of the first in the nation to operate this innovative technology.

The trainsets will also have low-level boarding and will be equipped with lifts to make them ADA-compliant. They will include features like passenger information signs, bike racks, luggage racks, and more. The purchase demonstrates Metra's committment to cleaner, more inclusive, and rider-friendly transportation options.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Metra for forty years of service. The future of Metra is bright, and I look forward to many more years of reliable, safe commuter rail service for my constituents.

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