[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 180 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6839-S6840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING 40 YEARS OF METRA

  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

[[Page S6840]]

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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