Metra OKs 2020 budget, capital plan

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 11/11/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
Metra’s 2020 budget and capital program will be forwarded to the Regional Transportation Authority board for final approval.Photo – Metra Facebook

Metra's board last week approved a 2020 budget of $827.4 million in operating costs and $480.5 million in capital expenses.

The Chicago commuter railroad's capital spending plan — significantly bolstered by Illinois' new state capital program — includes $331.1 million in investments in locomotives and rail cars, stations, bridges and yards.

Metra’s operating budget will increase by $5 million compared with the 2019 budget.

Higher revenue from regional transportation sales tax and a reduction in operating costs will cover the increase, Metra officials said in a press release.

The 2020 budget and capital plan will be sent to the Regional Transportation Authority's board for its approval as part of a consolidated budget for Illinois public transit systems, including the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace bus network.

Also last week, Metra's board awarded a $15.5 million contract to Railhead Corp. to design, implement and install a surveillance camera system inside its rail cars. 

The system will be capable of capturing video of all passenger seating areas and vestibules on a minimum of 400 rail cars and a maximum of 700 rail cars. 

Metra intends to install nine cameras per rail car, railroad officials said in a press release.