Contact Contact

RTA study identifies costs, and potential local funding strategies, for improvements along Metra North Central Service

May 19, 2020

NCS Blog Image

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) recently completed a study of potential service improvements along Metra’s North Central Service (NCS) line and the feasibility of various funding mechanisms to support those improvements.

The RTA partnered with the Village of Mundelein, the Lake County Transportation Alliance, and a steering committee made up of representatives from 17 other communities along the rail line to complete the NCS Corridor Analysis and Implementation Study. After budget-related service cuts to the line in 2017, the Village of Mundelein applied for technical assistance through the RTA’s Community Planning program for this project. This study was completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in temporary changes to the NCS schedule.

NCS improvements could advance local and regional multi-modal and transit-oriented development goals, but fiscal constraints require innovation and collaboration. This study is a productive first step to understand the scope and bring together leaders from along the corridor to discuss solutions.

The study identifies three possible scenarios for potential service improvements including a range of additional weekend or weekday trains. Each scenario includes estimates of capital, maintenance, and net annual operations costs, as well as analysis of funding mechanisms. Further study will be necessary to determine the level of demand for expanded NCS service.

While traditional federal funding for any of the scenarios would be unlikely, the study describes innovative local funding options that could be explored as part of a multijurisdictional partnership. If successful, the basics of the funding model could be applicable in the future along other transit lines.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Type your email address here
What emails would you like to receive from the RTA
Tagged in: Community Planning | Metra | RTAMS

Related Articles

RS63256 63rd Warehouse 2024 07 22 008 With equity at the forefront, CTA, Metra, and Pace open new facilities, prioritize upgrades in south and west communities

This year, CTA and Pace have opened or advanced various new facilities in south and west communities throughout the region, and Metra has prioritized upgrade...

October 9, 2024
A Metra station under construction New project management oversight report highlights more than 100 projects representing $8.2 billion in capital investments

The RTA’s Project Management Oversight (PMO) program ensures that the Service Boards—CTA, Metra, and Pace—are spending capital funds and managing their infra...

June 27, 2024
Graphic that says "Transportation Tuesday, attend a four-part webinar series #TransportationTuesday" Transportation Tuesday recap: Improving and expanding the transit system strategically

With last year’s adoption of Transit is the Answer came 15 new evaluation metrics that comprise a strategy for evaluating and selecting capital projects. Now...

May 30, 2024
Navy Pier Bus Turnaround Electric Bus and Ferris Wheel 0321 Transit is the answer to meeting Illinois’ climate goals

As we celebrate Earth Day 2024, the RTA is announcing Transforming Transit —the agency’s commitment to lead the Chicago region’s transit system into the futu...

April 18, 2024
Red line extension Three years into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Chicago’s transit system is winning competitive grants and advancing critical projects

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed in 2021, represented a historic level of federal investment for shoring up the nation’s infrastruct...

March 12, 2024
22 RTA 0812 Why fully funding paratransit service and reduced fare programs is key to closing the transit budget gap

With transit facing a fiscal cliff in the coming years, fully funding critical programs like ADA paratransit service and free and reduced fare programs is on...

February 29, 2024
RTA
CTA
Metra
Pace
Copyright © 2024 Regional Transportation Authority. All Rights Reserved.