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U.S. Rep. Lipinski calls for more Metra service on Heritage Corridor
I support the good Congressman and civic leaders in this endeavor. All they have to do is get the checkbook out and start writing multi-million dollar checks to CN!
First, that additional weekday train frequencies are needed on the Metra Heritage Corridor line is undisputed. Metra’s own ridership studies support this need.
Second, Metra should be able to add these train frequencies with better utilization of existing rolling stock and crews, so no capital expense is involved here.
Third, with the recent congressional redistricting, the Heritage Corridor communities of Summit, Willow Springs, Lemont, Romeoville and Lockport are now all in Rep.Lipinski’s district, and all of these communities appreciate Rep. Lipinski’s support for additional train frequencies.
Forth, Romeoville’s design for their new Heritage Corridor commuter station has been given approval by Metra, but is still awaiting approval from Canadian National.
First, that additional weekday train frequencies are needed on the Metra Heritage Corridor line is undisputed. Metra’s own ridership studies support this need.
Second, Metra should be able to add these train frequencies with better utilization of existing rolling stock and crews, so no capital expense is involved here.
Third, with the recent congressional redistricting, the Heritage Corridor communities of Summit, Willow Springs, Lemont, Romeoville and Lockport are now all in Rep.Lipinski’s district, and all of these communities appreciate Rep. Lipinski’s support for additional train frequencies.
Forth, Romeoville’s design for their new Heritage Corridor commuter station has been given approval by Metra, but is still awaiting approval from Canadian National.
Lipinski has always been very supportive of public transportation and infrastructure investments. I applaud the effort and all of the communities served by the line (with the expecting of Summit) have been very pro active in planning transit oriented development, this building up a new ridership base. One interesting side note is that since the purchase of EJ&E; I see the orange J locomotives all the time on this corridor now. Always a fun sight.
I live in the area and it seems like there is less traffic since CN bought the EJ&E.
If Metra ponies up some $$$ for track work I bet it will be a deal.
There 's actually more traffic on that corridor. The UP runs its trains to and from Global 4 via this route with trackage rights and also Plaines empties run on this route back to Proviso via the IHB. It could accommodate the additional trains if the CN really wanted to.
it should iclude a none stop bus or maybe even an orange line ll line extension from midway airport.
Move the Amtrak traffic to the Rock Island line. Then you would have slots for mre Metra traffic.