Metra Town Hall To Address Transit Issues In Western Suburbs

DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- Commuters who use Metra services in Chicago's western suburbs will have a chance to vent about issues, learn about new developments, and more at an upcoming Metra Town Hall planned in Downers Grove. State Senator John F. Curran (R-41) and representatives from Metra and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), will be on hand to answer questions at the free June 20 event.

In a Facebook post about the event, Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett wrote,

"It is nearly daily that we hear from residents who are disappointed, delayed and frustrated with the quality of METRA rail service along the BNSF line. Downers Grove residents depend on METRA to get them to and from work every day, but with delays, mechanical failures, equipment and switching problems, fires, overcrowded cars, signal malfunctions – a list that never seems to end – frustration is extremely high."

Barnett and other local officials will be in attendance at the town hall in the hopes of bringing some common complaints to light and finding a potential resolution. "[W]e need to understand the root of these problems and what is being done to find solutions," Barnett wrote.

Metra recently held a similar town hall meeting in Harvey to workshop issues affecting commuters in Cook County.

The town halls come after Metra recently announced it is adding more trains to its weekday BNSF schedule. Metra is also testing out a summer pilot program with additional weekend trains to and from Chicago. The changes went into effect on June 8.

The Metra Town Hall in Downers Grove is free and open to commuters in western suburbs. No RSVP is necessary to attend.

What: Metra Town Hall

When: June 20 at 7 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Center, 935 Maple, Downers Grove