(The following article by Robert C. Herguth was posted on the Chicago Sun-Times website on November 19.)
CHICAGO — Metra’s Electric District Line holds the leg-crossing distinction of having bathrooms at just three of 50 stops.
But that may change in this new era of Metra responsiveness — fueled by a revolt from riders in the south suburbs and on the South Side who feel Metra long has neglected their needs.
Officials said Tuesday they are studying how and where to add more restrooms, which also are lacking on Electric District trains but will be installed on 26 Highliner cars on order.
“We would look at temporary facilities [at stops] . . . in the interim until the entire new fleet of Highliners arrive,” said Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet. “And we’d look to work with the communities at putting permanent facilities in at some of the stations.”
A Metra committee created to address criticism from the south end of the region identified 13 stops where “it would be feasible to add a restroom,” Pardonnet said.
Metra staff was told to research the matter and report back to the board in a month.
Also Tuesday, board members agreed to another demand by Electric District riders: remove the turnstiles.
They were deactivated Tuesday and the equipment will be fully dismantled early next year.
“I’m very happy, honestly, that this is happening,” said rider Jill McAvoy. “But it shouldn’t have taken this long,” added sister-in-law Cindy McAvoy.
The Electric District is the only Metra line with turnstiles — installed in the 1960s by the Illinois Central Railroad to cut down on personnel costs. On other routes, tickets are checked by conductors on trains. On the Electric District, riders buy tickets and insert them into turnstiles to gain access to platforms.
Some passengers don’t like the turnstiles because the equipment makes them feel like cattle; others hate them because they break down.
Metra Chairman Jeff Ladd previously has said removing turnstiles might require some station consolidation because stops are so close together that conductors might not have time to check all tickets. On Tuesday, he couldn’t rule out that being explored in the future.
Metra plans to add up to 10 conductors to take tickets, said Metra board member Carole Doris, adding Metra will look at accelerating renovations at the grimy Randolph Street Station, where work is well behind schedule.