Isn't that always the story? More money? From where? Illinois is broke. I live here.
That BNSF line was once a very fine commuter service. I used it for years to commute from my former home in Downers Grove to jobs on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. And now it's troubled.
I've come to the very reluctant conclusion that Illinois is no longer capable of self governance. I have no alternative solution. It's a crying shame.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-biz-metra-bnsf-crowding-20180718-story.html
At this stage of METRA I am amazed that they are still dealing with BNSF as a maintenance contractor. That make is evident, to my mind, that METRA has just been kicking the finance can down the road one step at a time with no strategic plan of what needs to happen going forward. Can kicking will only take them backwards.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Finance is a major issue. The equipment is aging and may well be overdue for replacement. As far as overcrowding is concerned, the area that feeds into the line has been growing rapidly for years and the Chicago-Aurora line has been operating at close to capacity for quite some time. Adding an additional track is not an option since there isn't anywhere to put it. Longer trains and lengthened platforms are the only possible solution at this point and that will take time.
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