Chicago’s Metra released a draft study outlining the improvements and estimated costs needed to provide more frequent, all-day service across its rail network, a goal shared by the agency’s strategic plan and the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA).

The Systemwide Network Plan (SNP) will be the subject of public outreach this fall, including a virtual public hearing in November. Once finalized, the plan will be submitted to NITA to support future regional planning efforts.

Developing a Regional Rail Vision

Metra undertook the study in response to its strategic plan, which examined post-pandemic ridership patterns and called for a transition toward a regional rail service model.

Under that model, Metra would maintain rush-hour service for downtown commuters while expanding service in both directions throughout the day and week to accommodate a wider range of trips.

The transition is also supported by the NITA Act, which requires Metra to implement a regional rail pilot on the Rock Island Line by January 2027. The legislation also establishes regional rail as a service standard Metra will be expected to meet going forward, according to agency officials.

“This plan lays out near- and mid-term implementation steps to support the evolution of our service, but it also defines a long-term vision for what regional rail can become,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “We hope it will serve as a blueprint to support the transition and success of NITA in a regionally coordinated effort to implement regional rail.”

Identifying Service Improvements

Metra officials said each rail line presents different challenges involving infrastructure, freight traffic, ridership patterns, and other factors, making a single approach impractical.

On some lines, existing service patterns could be maintained with more frequent trains. Others could benefit from a service model dividing routes into inner and outer zones.

The plan outlines two potential levels of regional rail service:

• Regional Rail 1.0: Trains operating every 30 to 60 minutes.
• Regional Rail 2.0: Trains operating every 15 to 30 minutes with additional investment.

“Metra’s Systemwide Network Plan represents an opportunity to put years of work and rider engagement into action and improve transit connections across the region,” said NITA interim Executive Director Jamie Rhee. “We know that riders want to move more easily from city to city across the suburbs and collar counties in addition to more frequent service downtown. NITA looks forward to incorporating all Service Board efforts into our regional service planning framework beginning 2027.”

Developed in alignment with the NITA Act, the plan identifies steps toward expanding service on the Chicago region’s existing rail network to accommodate changing travel patterns.

The study focuses on improvements within Metra’s current footprint, largely avoiding costly investments in new rights-of-way and additional mainline capacity beyond existing plans.

Estimated Costs and Next Steps

Metra estimates Regional Rail 1.0 would require $2.7 billion in capital investment and $269 million in additional operating costs.

Advancing to Regional Rail 2.0 would require an additional $6.4 billion in capital investment and $411 million in operating costs.

Metra has already taken steps toward regional rail service, including simplifying and standardizing train schedules, reducing the number of stopping patterns, shortening off-peak headways, improving reverse-commute service, and strengthening transfer connections.

According to the agency, schedules incorporating more regional rail elements have generally experienced stronger ridership recovery.