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Statement on Metra's New SouthWest Weekend Service

Congressman Dan Lipinski

Statement on Metra's New SouthWest Weekend Service
Oak Lawn Metra Station
Monday, March 2, 2009

Today we mark a historic moment in the history of the SouthWest Service Line and all the communities along the line.  From 2002 to 2007, ridership increased almost 60% along this line as the expansion was built and they came.  This expanded service made all the communities along the line even better places to live.  But one option was still missing - weekend service.  Countless residents of the communities along the line, as well as elected officials from Manhattan to Wrightwood, came to me about the need for weekend trains.  Many viewed weekend trains on the SouthWest Service as only a dream.  But - as planned and promised - that dream is now coming true.

Whether someone from Chicago or Chicago Ridge is going to work, a student from Worth or New Lenox is going to a Saturday class, or a family from Palos or Manhattan is going out for a day of fun, weekend service is a great benefit, especially in these tough economic times.  This will also help communities along the line to bring people to destinations in their towns, like the Oak Lawn Children's Museum.

Today's announcement is the result of many months of hard work and planning.  Last July, I brought all the relevant stakeholders together to find ways to make weekend service happen, and over the past 8 months we hammered out the details.  From planning, to providing the funds, to implementation, I would like to commend Metra and the RTA for the critical role they both played.  I would especially like to thank Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano, Metra Board Chairman Carole Doris, and RTA Board Member Judy Baar Topinka. And I would also like to thank the freight railroads, especially Norfolk Southern - the carrier that owns this line - represented today by Jeff Harris.  Without the railroads' continued support of commuter rail and willingness to coordinate this additional service, Saturday train service would not be possible.

While this initial expanded service has started as demonstration project to test ridership, I have no doubt that if you run it, they will come.