Extend Metra Electric Service to Kankakee County
Extend Metra Electric Service to Kankakee County
The Issue
The residents of Kankakee County, Illinois, are currently underserved by public transportation options. The Metra Electric line, a critical rail service in the region, ends in University Park - leaving those living further south without direct access. This lack of service impacts the quality of life for many residents who could benefit from more convenient commuting options to Chicago and other areas. Extending the Metra Electric line into Kankakee County would provide significant benefits including reduced travel times and increased economic opportunities. We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and efficient public transportation. Therefore, we call upon the relevant authorities to extend the Metra Electric line into Kankakee County. Sign this petition if you support better public transportation for all residents of our county.
This extension would help the towns near the proposed extension. There is an Amtrack station in the city of Kankakee that runs to Chicago, but this service only runs 3 times a day. This is not helpful to those people who commute to Chicago or into Kankakee County for work. An extension wouldn't only help these communities on the route with better access to the city, it would help the economy and diminish the pollution in the air from those people driving to work on a daily basis. More stores would be willing to come into Kankakee County with the better economy brought by this extension.
Multiple feasibility studies have been done on this extension dating back to 2005 https://idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/transportation-system/reports/dpit/kacor-final-rpt---jan-2005.pdf and 2013 https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/task-force-continues-to-look-at-extending-metra-line-to-kankakee/article_e11f5a68-524e-5493-ab66-64caabdf4e66.html These studies have shown how well this extension will do in the Kankakee County area.
If you'd like to get involved further, please contact Metra and let them know how an extension of the Metra Electric service will improve your experience.
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The Issue
The residents of Kankakee County, Illinois, are currently underserved by public transportation options. The Metra Electric line, a critical rail service in the region, ends in University Park - leaving those living further south without direct access. This lack of service impacts the quality of life for many residents who could benefit from more convenient commuting options to Chicago and other areas. Extending the Metra Electric line into Kankakee County would provide significant benefits including reduced travel times and increased economic opportunities. We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and efficient public transportation. Therefore, we call upon the relevant authorities to extend the Metra Electric line into Kankakee County. Sign this petition if you support better public transportation for all residents of our county.
This extension would help the towns near the proposed extension. There is an Amtrack station in the city of Kankakee that runs to Chicago, but this service only runs 3 times a day. This is not helpful to those people who commute to Chicago or into Kankakee County for work. An extension wouldn't only help these communities on the route with better access to the city, it would help the economy and diminish the pollution in the air from those people driving to work on a daily basis. More stores would be willing to come into Kankakee County with the better economy brought by this extension.
Multiple feasibility studies have been done on this extension dating back to 2005 https://idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/transportation-system/reports/dpit/kacor-final-rpt---jan-2005.pdf and 2013 https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/task-force-continues-to-look-at-extending-metra-line-to-kankakee/article_e11f5a68-524e-5493-ab66-64caabdf4e66.html These studies have shown how well this extension will do in the Kankakee County area.
If you'd like to get involved further, please contact Metra and let them know how an extension of the Metra Electric service will improve your experience.
40
The Decision Makers
Petition created on March 21, 2024