Effective immediately, onboard personnel who see anyone attempting to board a Metra train with a hoverboard in their possession will require that person to exit the train.
Chicago's Metra commuter rail line announced that hoverboards will no longer be permitted onboard its trains due to concerns over potential fire hazards related to the self-balancing, electronic scooters.
“The safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “There have been multiple reports of fires and injuries caused by hoverboard use throughout the country, and while there have been no incidents on Metra, we simply want to be proactive by banning this potential fire hazard from being carried on our trains.”
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Douglas Rahden
The popular two-wheeled motorized scooters have been banned for transport by all major U.S. airlines, Amtrak and L.A.’s Metrolink rail system due to concerns over reports of fires thought to be caused by the lithium ion batteries used to power the devices. Use of the scooters has also been reportedly banned or restricted at more than 20 college campuses across the U.S. and from use on New York City streets.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in December 2015 that it has launched an investigation into the root cause of these fires. Just this week, the commission reported that it's now investigating 28 fires in 19 states tied to the motorized scooters.
Effective immediately, onboard personnel who see anyone attempting to board a Metra train with a hoverboard in their possession will require that person to exit the train.
The Plan is CTA's formal response to an FTA Special Directive issued in December and details how the agency will significantly expand the law enforcement surge it launched.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
During a safety blitz, Metra employees will visit one of the railroad’s 243 stations during the morning rush hour, distributing educational materials on train and grade-crossing safety, answering questions, and listening to riders’ safety concerns.
Operated in partnership with Tech Valley Security, trained CDTA Ambassadors will be on select routes and will rotate throughout CDTA’s route network. Their presence is intended to provide customers with an approachable, visible resource focused on assistance and engagement.
Customers have always been able to report concerns through the CATS Customer Service line or the “Report a Problem to CATS” feature in the CATS-Pass mobile app; however, CATS has also integrated a Text-a-Tip line, giving riders multiple, easy-to-use channels to get support.
