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* From the Daily Herald’s transportation reporter…
Metra estimates $535.5 million shortfall in 2020 and 2021. Ridership down by 97%, latest figures show.@dailyherald
— Marni Pyke (@DHInTransit) May 20, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:35 am
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Oy (banned punctuation).
Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:37 am
Metra probably doesn’t need as many employees right now.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:41 am
If/when I start heading downtown for work again, I may ever well end up just driving. At least until I get it or test positive for antibodies or there is a vaccine.
But next month, no way… Would drive and pay to park, also I am confident I am not going back for months at the earliest
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:43 am
I was a regular customer until mid-March. With the changes to my own workplace that are being discussed carried forward, I am not sure when my next boarding will be, and I hope it was as convenient as before. I wonder about some of the marginal routes like the service to Manhattan and the Blue Island electric branch surviving into the future. But I don’t see total doom and gloom…too many commuters will still depend on it, no matter what the new normal is going to be. Maybe the order for new transit cars will consider designs to cut down the risk in case of future pandemics.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:47 am
Metra better be figuring out a new business model.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:49 am
Robot conductors
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:52 am
Time to follow the airlines lead and reduce trains by 90% until demand increases. It’ll come back, but makes no sense to have wasted effort.
Comment by AD Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:53 am
Now would be a good time to work on repairs.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:55 am
I rode everyday before the shelter in place order. Hopefully, I will be back riding soon. Stay healthy.
Comment by Trapped in the ‘burbs Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:56 am
===Time to follow the airlines lead and reduce trains by 90% until demand increases===
Reducing the # of cars might make sense. When transit reduces the frequency of service, a lot of demand goes away because the timing doesn’t work out for many potential trips. Few people want to show up two hours early or two hours late for work.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:00 pm
“Time to follow the airlines lead and reduce trains by 90% until demand increases.”
Unfortunately, people really need certainty in public transit. Sure, maybe you could drop the “multiple trains at rush hour”, but you’re still going to have to run every hour/two hour slot.
Adding or reducing service hours has massively nonlinear effects.
Comment by Odysseus Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:04 pm
I think its a good thing ridership is down. There is no way you can keep those stations and those Metra cars clean enough to stop the spread of the virus. Places that use public transportation the most have seen the quickest spread of the virus.
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:14 pm
has Metra had any furloughs?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:18 pm
I thought everyone was ignoring the Governor and were all out and doing whatever?
“Ok, now do CTA and L ridership”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:34 pm
“Places that use public transportation the most have seen the quickest spread of the virus.”
Not in Asia or Europe. They need to keep the cars clean and _everyone_ needs to wear a mask.
Comment by FP_J Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:47 pm
What percentage of Metra is to downtown office jobs that may switch to home for good? Most manufacturing and warehouse is along the tollways. Based on Where workers work. Health care all over and most others can be work from home or laid off a lot of retail and food service type.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:53 pm
Can see the occasional all-hands on board meeting. And when courts open up, lawyers will need to go to trial downtown.
But I’m hearing people are just as productive working from home as they are from the office.
Office buildings will be at 50% vacancies indefinitely.
Comment by bogey golfer Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:42 pm
I was optimistic and bought a monthly pass for April. Used it one day. Went to the office twice after, drove in on the amazingly empty Ike and paid to park. Just felt safer. But Metra needs to make it. It’s what makes working downtown possible for many of us.
Comment by park Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:43 pm
no public transportation or valet parking for me. not until things settle way down.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:50 pm
=== Reducing the # of cars might make sense. When transit reduces the frequency of service, a lot of demand goes away because the timing doesn’t work out for many potential trips. Few people want to show up two hours early or two hours late for work.===
The demand has already gone away. There’s no need to throw half a billion dollars at it. If people have to wait to save some money, unfortunately that’s going to be part of it. We can’t afford the Cadillac of public transit right now, but we can give them a Toyota.
Comment by AD Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:53 pm
A family member who works for a very well known firm with a downtown presence has indicated there have been high level discussions regarding the need for a physical office. Most of the corporate staff have been working from home since mid-February, virtual meeting as needed and they are amazed at the efficiency of the remote workforce. Projects are being completed and the work is getting done. One of the (many)unintended results may be a cultural shift to a new paradigm where the technical infrastructure built for consumer needs overtakes the corporate need for cubicle farms and the high overhead costs of maintaining a large facility. Other things that have been discussed is the reduction in ancillary HR costs, such as workplace dissension and harassment suits.
Comment by anon Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:12 pm
- -I thought everyone was ignoring the Governor and were all out and doing whatever?- -
Metra and CTA riders are smarter.
Comment by Fly like an eagle Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:13 pm
“If you worked at home, you’d be home now.”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 3:52 pm