Inside the Transformation of Chicago’s Transit Network

Does commuter rail still describe what the service is becoming in many cities? Across the industry, the traditional model of carrying workers downtown in the morning and home again in the evening is evolving. At Metra in Chicago, that change is showing up in a fascinating way: total ridership remains below 2019 levels, but CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski says Metra now serves more unique passengers than it did before the pandemic. People are still riding. They're just riding differently. This week on Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort takes the show aboard a Metra train in Chicago to explore another chapter in the continuing evolution of commuter rail—and what happens when a system built around the commute starts serving a much broader range of trips. Metra is responding by spreading service more evenly throughout the day, improving connections between lines and attracting more discretionary and weekend riders. Jim calls the strategy regional rail, part of a broader shift away from designing service almost entirely around traditional rush hours. But changing commuter rail in Chicago comes with some extraordinary operational challenges. Metra operates 11 lines and roughly 700 revenue trains a day at the center of the nation's rail network. Its trains interact with six Class I freight railroads and Amtrak, meaning more frequency and better connections also require navigating one of the most complicated rail environments in the country. Jim and Paul also look at the next chapter for the wider Chicago transit network through the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). Metra, Chicago Transit Authority and Pace are moving toward greater regional coordination, with opportunities for integrated fares, fare capping, better multimodal connections and service that makes transferring between systems easier for passengers. Parts of Chicago's rail network still rely on air-powered switching technology dating to the 1930s. At the same time, Metra is preparing to test battery-powered trains and introduce a new generation of smart railcars—putting nearly a century of rail technology side by side on the same system. Jim also shares his own Metra story, from joining the agency as an electrician after serving in the Navy and working in freight rail to eventually becoming its CEO. In this episode: - Why the term "commuter rail" may no longer tell the whole story - How changing travel patterns are reshaping when and why people ride Metra - Why Metra has more unique passengers even as total trips remain below 2019 levels - What the shift toward regional rail looks like in practice - How Metra operates 700 daily trains in the center of America's freight rail network - Why frequency and better connections are critical to attracting new trips - How Metra, CTA and Pace could become a more integrated regional network 00:00 Welcome to Transit Unplugged 00:20 Meet Metra CEO Jim 01:19 Riding the Train Live 01:25 Metra Network Overview 01:52 Sharing Tracks With Freight 02:49 Chicago Rail Spiderweb 03:07 Class One Railroads Explained 03:21 Amtrak and Metra Yards 03:41 Metra Origins and Subsidies 04:02 Chicago Dispatching Challenges 04:50 A2 Tower Time Capsule 05:21 Union Station and Terminals 05:58 Ridership Today and Peaks 06:17 Post Pandemic Rider Shift 06:37 Regional Rail Scheduling 08:08 How Far Metra Reaches 08:40 Transit Unplugged Promo Break 09:13 NITA and System Integration 09:50 Universal Fares and Capping 10:21 Farebox Recovery and Funding 11:35 Building Hubs and Frequency 13:05 Commuter Rail Coalition View 15:07 Jim Derwinski Career Story 15:53 Future Expansion and New Tech 17:08 Battery Trains and Smart Cars 18:45 PTC and Operations Changes 19:38 Old Towers to Remote Control 20:27 NITA Timeline and Next Steps 22:13 Wrap Up and Credits Credits Host and Producer: Paul Comfort Executive Producer: Julie Gates Producer: Chris O’Keeffe Production Assistant: Desmond Gates Editor: Patrick Emile Associate Producer and Thumbnail Photo: Cyndi Raskin Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye Production Assistant: Desmond Gates Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people. For more information, visit: www.Transit Unplugged.com Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.