Recognizing 40 Years of Metra

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, if you walk around the streets of Chicago and ask people about how they get to and from the city--or around it-- each day, I am sure many of them would tell you: Metra. Metra transports us to Cubs games--in fact, its busiest ridership day was November 4, 2016, during the Cubs World Series victory parade--and it makes sure we can get to work on time. Simply put, the people of Chicagoland depend on Metra rail to get from point A to point B safely and reliably. And this year marks 40 years of Metra's service to our city.

Chicago has a rich history when it comes to rail. A century ago, Chicago was the envy of cities across the country, with the largest public transportation system in the world. But by the late 1960s, the system was failing. To put the system back on track, in 1974, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) created the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). After a decade of reorganizing, restructuring, and reimagining what commuter rail could look like and who should be in charge of operating it, in 1985, Metropolitan Rail--or Metra--was born.

Since then, Metra has grown into a remarkable operation. With 243 stations on 11 rail lines, Metra is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the country and the largest outside of New York City. Not only do I represent a State that has long been the railroad center of the country, but working railroads is a tradition in my family. I grew up in East St. Louis, IL, and both of my parents worked for the New York Central Railroad. My two brothers and I also worked for that same railroad. Because of this, I care deeply about making rail travel as good as it can be for Illinoisans. And Metra continues to deliver. It emerged from the pandemic with steadily improving customer satisfaction that hit 92 percent in 2022. Then, in 2023, Metra opened the year by securing its largest ever Federal grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Mega Program: $117 million to rebuild 11 bridges along its Union Pacific North Line. And by the end of last year, Metra had seen the largest ridership increase of any transit agency in the Chicago region--a 37 percent increase--providing more than 32 million rides.

But Metra does more than just transport people; it responds to the needs of our city. Look no further than their All Stations Accessibility, or ``ASAP'' Program, an effort for which Metra was awarded more than one Federal grant to make its stations, trains, and platforms more accessible. While the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against Americans with disabilities and requires newly constructed buildings to be fully accessible, several legacy stations in Chicago remain inaccessible. Metra's ASAP initiative aims to make all stations accessible by 2038. Additionally, Metra ensures accessibility as it concerns affordability. In 1984, a one-way ticket to the farthest station cost $5.80. Today, you can travel to the same stations for just $6.75, which would cost $17.50 if that 1984 price kept up with inflation.

Metra also has made a substantial commitment to sustainability. As the climate crisis impacts our planet, sustainable transportation has been an increasing sector of interest. Metra knows this, and they will be among the first in the Nation to operate zero-emission train sets. These train sets will allow Metra to retire some of its oldest, most polluting diesel locomotives and reduce their carbon emissions, making Chicago's transportation cleaner and more reflective of the city's value of sustainability.

A final example that demonstrates Metra's commitment to Chicago is their proposal to reconstruct and improve the 59th-60th / University of Chicago Station stop. These improvements are crucial because they will support anticipated ridership increases to the Obama Presidential Library, making the space more accessible to Chicagoans and visitors.

For so many Illinoisans, Metra is essential to getting around the Chicagoland area in an affordable and accessible way. Metra is public transportation that is just about as good as it comes. I join people across the Chicagoland area in thanking Metra for its 40 years of service to our city. Here is to many more years of safe, efficient, and dependable service.

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