(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Metra officials received an earful from northwest suburban officials and residents over the cancellation of express trains to and from downtown.
"Arlington Heights feels, and Metra can address this, that we’ve gotten kind of the short end of the stick in terms of the changes," said Arlington Heights village president Tom Hayes.
He said the changes involve Metra cancelling express trains on the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Metra officials told the village board this week that ridership is still vastly lower than it was during the pandemic even though Arlington Heights has the highest ridership on the line.
"We’re only at about 40 percent of our ridership as compared to 2019 so we just don’t have the demand we once had across the system," said Dan Miodonski, Metra's manager of service design.
Trustee Robin LaBedz urged Metra to reconsider.
"Sometimes, an extra 3-4 minutes shaved off of your commuting times might make all the difference when you’re able to pick up your kid from day care or getting home to go to the PTA meeting or see your kids in their sports."
Commuter Cary Wolovick said the lack of an express train in Arlington Heights impacts how long he can see his 20-month old daughter in the morning.
"It’s become a quality of life issue, as well, because I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier to make this new train."
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