The RTA is partnering with the Illinois Department on Aging to implement the People with Disabilities Ride Free program. The new legislation provides free rides on fixed-route transit (regularly scheduled CTA, Metra, and Pace buses and trains) to be made available to any Illinois resident who has been enrolled as a person with a disability in the Illinois Circuit Breaker program. To find out more, click here. Riders Guide for Customers With Disabilities. Our Riders Guide for Customers with Disabilities is also available upon request by phoning Jim Ferneborg at 312.322.6766.Click here to view guidelines established by the U.S. Access Board for "common" wheelchair measurements. For P-8 Shuttle Service Information click here. All twelve train lines in the Metra system are fully accessible to customers with disabilities, according to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Metra has modified rail cars and made accessible most of its busiest train stations along the lines to accommodate individuals with hearing, vision, and mobility disabilities. Train service for customers with disabilities spans all six counties in metropolitan Chicago. The highliner cars on the Electric District are equipped with roll-on bridge plates that cover the gap between the vestibule and the highlevel platforms. The diesel-powered lines have at least one lift-equipped car per train to provide access from low level platforms. The number of customers utilizing this accessible equipment continues to increase. Every accessible diesel Metra train can be identified with the "access" symbol. Non-downtown platforms have an "accessible boarding area(s)" where the lift-equipped train car will stop for boarding. Each accessible car has three wheelchair areas for riders who prefer to remain in their chairs. Customers can also transfer to standard seats. Metra currently has 163 fully accessible stations and 25 partially accessible stations which meet some but not all of the ADA requirements. These represent our busiest stations, used by over 94% of our customer base. Customers who use wheelchairs at partially accessible stations will be able to access train platforms from the street. However, ramps, ticket windows, and/or buildings and shelters may not fully conform to ADA guidelines. These stations are designated as partially accessible so as not to deter customers from facilities which may be useable Customers should call ahead to check the level of accessibility at stations they plan to use, or scroll down to the end of this page to view that information. Metra System Sector Maps Available As a service to our customers who are disabled, Metra has available the systemwide "large print" accessibility map. The map is divided into three sectors: North, West, and South. Each sector map includes the area's rail lines and stations along the lines. The station names are larger and more easy to read. Every station in the system is color-coded to identify accessible, partially accessible, and inaccessible stations. Monthly and 10-Ride Tickets Available on Metra's Web Site Metra has a program that permits customers to purchase Monthly and 10-Ride tickets electronically through this web site. Once a personal identification number has been established with Metra, riders are permitted to order up to three tickets at a time. Monthly tickets need to be ordered by the 20th of the month and 10-Ride tickets are mailed directly within five working days. The cost for both tickets is deducted automatically from the rider's checking account. For more information, visit the "Ticket By Internet Program" on the main menu of this website. "All Aboard" Video Available Metra has available a 13-minute video to acquaint new customers to the Metra system. The video, "All Aboard," overviews the changes that have been made to rail cars and stations in order to accommodate individuals with hearing, vision, and mobility disabilities. The video is available to organizations that work on behalf of the disabled and can be obtained by calling Jim Ferneborg at (312) 322-6766. Your Comments Are Welcome
Since all twelve of Metra's train lines are accessible to persons with disabilities, we anticipate more riders to our system. We greatly value our customers and would like to hear from you about your trip on Metra. Your comments about our service or suggestions for improvement are always appreciated. And, if you experience a problem on one of our trains or at a station, let us know as soon as possible so we can correct the situation. The more information that you provide, like station name, train number, time of day, etc., the easier it is to correct. Please call or write to: 547 W. Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 322-6777 TTY: (312) 322-6774
Click here to view a text only version of our stations accessibility. Metra's twelve rail lines (and the area served) are as follows:
All Contents and Images © 1995 - 2006 Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
