Metra NCS expansion: so much for so little
Metra first introduced North Central Service(NCS) in 1996 between Chicago and Antioch. Trains leave Chicago heading west 12 miles to Franklin Park on Milwaukee District West line, then turn north to finish the rest 40 miles on Wisconsin Central line.The initial cost was only 61 million dollars, about 1 million per mile. It serves 10 northwest suburban communities - Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Praire View, Venon Hills, Mundelein, Prairie Crossing, Round Lake Beach, Lake Villa and Antioch. NCS service was limited to 10 trains on weekdays only, due to the fact that Wisconsin Central line was on a single track and used heavily by freight trains.
The NCS expansion is the answer to the demand for better services and rapid residential growth along local communities. In 2006, Metra's 216 millon dollar NCS expansion was finished, about 4 million per mile. Wisconsin Central line now has double tracks. Trains are doubled to 20 on weekdays and four more stations Grayslake, Rosemont, Schiller Park and Franklin Park are added. However, NCS commuters are not happy about the result of NCS expansion. Here are 3 main reasons why we are not happy.
What is promised us is 22 trains on weekdays. After NCS expansion, we only get 20 trains instead of 22 on weekdays. Out of 20 trains, only 19 are actually useful. The last Inbound train 118 leaves Grayslake at 7:16 pm, making no stop until West Avenue. It skips the majority of suburban stations and serves the only purpose to reposition the train. Furthermore, weekend service is still not available.
What is promised is expanded morning peak hours and evening peak hours service. After NCS expansion, we get a more limited peak hour service. The window of morning rush hour remains the same. Trains arrive at downtown Chicago from 6:50 am to 8:30 am. It is nice to have an extra peak hour train. However, the last morning rush hour train 108 now departs about 10 minutes earlier along the stations on Wisconsin Central line. Working parents used to drop off their kids at school at 7 am and still got 30 minutes or so to catch the train. 1o minutes in the morning make a big difference. With the next morning train leaving for Chicago 2 hrs later, it makes a impossible task for some parents. The window of evening rush hour actually is reduced by 17 minutes, and there is no additional train in evening rush hour. Anyone who misses 6:00 pm outbound train now has to wait for a full hour until 7:00 pm.
What is promised is reduced travel times and improved service. However, travel times are increased for all communities along Wisconsin Central line after doubling the tracks. Let us take Prairie View for example, a commuter could see daiy round trip travel time increased for 15 minutes. Over average 48 working weeks for a year, this will result about extra 60 hours on the train.
So much is promised for Metra NCS expansion, and so little is delivered. We deserve a better service for our 216 million dollar investment.Contact Metra Board Of Directors today at 547 West Jackson Street, Chicago, IL 60601 or call them directly at 312-322-67777.
