New Metra
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefIllinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) on Monday signed a bill creating the Southeast Commuter Rail Transit District, a step designed to implement regional rail passenger service for southeastern Chicagoland.
The district will be overseen by officials in 20 municipalities along the future line, and will help channel any funding required to institute Metra service. A final proposal for the line is due this year.
The proposed line, about 33 miles in length, would link Crete, Ill., almost due south of downtown Chicago, with Chicago’s LaSalle Street Station. Stops could include a Ford Motor Co. plant on Chicago’s South Side and U.S. Cellular Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox.
