2012 Budget Book.indd - Metra

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E ective Stewardship, continued
to identify, develop and promote coordinated services
that provide “last mile” connections for reverse
and suburb-to-suburb commuters. Metra encourages
and supports other connecting options for
suburban employees, such as Pace’s Metra Feeder
vanpool program, which enables Metra’s reversecommute
passengers to park Pace vans at or near
suburban Metra stations overnight and use them to
reach job sites in the morning.
Improve Regional Real-time Travel
Information
Since September 2009, Metra has been publishing
service advisories online and via “My Metra” account
e-mail and Twitter alerts. In March 2010, Metra’s
mobile website was launched and now draws 25
percent of the Metra’s website usage. Automated
audio train announcements have been installed at
a majority of Metra’s system stations. These announcements
inform Metra riders of when each
train is arriving at a station based on the location of
the train. Next train arrival announcements have
been implemented at nine of the Metra Electric
District Stations. The remaining stations will have
the automated audio train announcements by early
2012. Metra is working with the RTA, CTA, and Pace
to provide web-based, on-time arrival information
by July 1, 2012, as required by Illinois Public Act 97-
0085.
Downtown Connections
Metra is working with the RTA to improve signage
at downtown Metra stations to provide coordinated
interagency service and connection information
to enhance the customer experience. Through
on-site tours with RTA, we have identi ed potential
improvements. We will continue to work with the RTA
and other transit services on collateral materials such
as the downtown visitor guide maps, connections
guides and other popular passenger informational
materials. Metra works with RTA and the other service
boards on joint outreach initiatives, targeting speci c
populations such as central business district (CBD)
commercial property managers, hotel concierges
and sales sta , to raise awareness about Chicago’s
vast network of coordinated transit services and to
promote ridership among local commuters as well as
visitors and convention attendees.
Regional Open Standards Fare System
Metra will be working with the RTA, CTA, and Pace to
implement an “account-based” regional fare payment
system to provide fare acceptance via personal
credit, debit and pre-paid cards on all xed-route
services. RTA secured CMAQ funding to develop a
Regional Interagency Fare Model in order to evaluate
interagency fare products. Metra will be working
with the RTA, CTA, and Pace on the development of
this model. Metra is also awaiting the outcome of the
CTA’s Open Fare Payment Collection System procurement
expected in Fall 2011. According to Illinois
Public Act 97-0085, a policy regarding transfer fares
on all xed-route public transportation services provided
by CTA, Metra, and Pace must be developed by
January 1, 2013, and a regional fare system must be
implemented by January 1, 2015. There will be many
technology, infrastructure, and nancial challenges
for Metra to overcome to implement a regional fare
system.
Metra will continue to work with the RTA, CTA, and
Pace on these interagency projects. It is important to
note that it is unlikely that these e orts will result in