(The following article by Richard Wronski was posted on the Chicago Tribune website on February 18.)
CHICAGO — Expanded commuter rail service, more stations, rising gasoline prices–and even the Bears sell-out games at Soldier Field–were cited as key factors behind a record ridership year for Metra, officials said Friday.
The 84.3 million passenger trips reported in 2006 was the best ridership in Metra’s 23-year history, according to the commuter rail line.
Officials credited new Union Pacific West Line service to Elburn; a doubling of trains on the SouthWest and North Central Service lines; new stations and parking among key reasons for the increase. Three sell-out Bears games at Soldier Field in December also contributed, said Lynnette Ciavarella, director of planning and analysis.
Ridership increased 5.2 percent over 2005 and continued a steady growth since a low point of 58.9 million passenger trips in 1983.
That was the year “ridership went down the tubes” due to substantial fare hikes, Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano said. Since then, ridership has gradually recovered by the rail line’s adherence to a policy of smaller, incremental fare increases that the public can absorb, he said.
Metra board members called 2006 a banner year and said the numbers were evidence that the rail line was well-managed and operating efficiently. “Our house is in good order,” Chairwoman Carole Doris said.
Nevertheless, board members expressed worry that Metra’s operating and capital funding needs might not get enough attention as the General Assembly grapples with other issues.
Legislators have other priorities such as education and health-care funding, Doris said. “Transit is not at the top of the list,” she said.
As part of its 2007 strategic plan, the Regional Transportation Authority is asking the state for a $10 billion capital investment over the next five years. It is also seeking an additional $400 million a year to operate the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace and Metra.
To fill a more immediate need, the three agencies are counting on the state to plug a combined $226 million shortfall in their 2007 budgets.
The RTA funding strategy “is a part of our story but not our whole story,” she said.
Metra “has a record of accomplishment” and “we will make a case for ourself,” Doris said.