Rep. Lipinski asks Metra for more Heritage Corridor trains

Written by jrood

Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) called on Metra to add weekday train service to the Heritage Corridor line, which currently offers three weekday round trips between Joliet and Chicago's Union Station, with stops in Summit, Willow Springs, Lemont, and Lockport.

"I write to request that Metra implement a much-needed
increase in weekday commuter rail service along the Heritage Corridor,"
Lipinski stated in a letter to Metra. "I strongly encourage Metra to coordinate
with Canadian National Railway- the line’s right-of-way owner – to accomplish
this important service enhancement.

"Three round-trip trains
per weekday are simply not enough to meet the current and future needs of
residents along this corridor," Congressman Lipinski continued. "Given recent
infrastructure upgrades to the line in 2007 that significantly improved
efficiency and could facilitate additional trains, increased Metra service will
provide more flexibility for current commuters and facilitate new ridership,
and will help meet the future needs of residents along the corridor."

Rail capacity along the
Heritage Corridor was increased in 2007 by the Brighton Park Junction modernization
project, which eliminated delays that often forced the 70 trains passing
through the junction each day to wait 10 minutes or more for manual track
clearance before proceeding. This reduces the potential for commuter and
freight train conflicts, and provides the flexibility necessary to add Metra
trains.

Having already secured $100
million in federal funding and $300 million in state funding for the CREATE
rail modernization program, Congressman Lipinski continues to seek additional
money for the program, which will help untangle the region’s roads and its
commuter and freight rail system, thereby shortening commutes and growing the
economy. The Brighton Park Junction modernization was a "pre-CREATE" project,
and is an example of the type of projects that are being funded under CREATE.

Congressman Lipinski has
worked successfully with Metra in the past. Last year, he was able to bring
together Metra, Norfolk Southern and local municipal officials to reach an
agreement that brought long-awaited weekend Metra service to the Southwest
Service line, which stops in communities such as Ashburn, Wrightwood, Oak Lawn,
Chicago Ridge, Worth, Palos Heights, and Palos Park.

"The lack of trains on the
Heritage Corridor means there’s a huge gap in Metra service in the area between
the Southwest Service and BNSF Railway lines," Congressman Lipinski said. "The
result is that many of my constituents who live along the corridor and work
downtown have to drive on overcrowded roads, waste time driving to distant
Metra stations on other lines or settle for another, less convenient public
transportation option. For some people, it undoubtedly means they are simply
cut off from jobs and educational opportunities in the city. It’s time we
changed that. I look forward to continuing to partner with Metra to increase,
enhance, and expand commuter rail service in Northeastern Illinois."

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