Options during the Dan Ryan reconstruction

octr202 wrote:What's the parking situation like on the Electric and the RI (and the South Shore, for that matter, too)? Are there good lots with lots of space for commuters who give up on the highway? That might be one reason to limit how much Metra markets itself -- just like the CTA not wanting new riders' first impression to be in a scary part of town, Metra would want to be careful not to end up with far more riders than there is parking for. Given that most commuter rail systems are limited as much by parking as anything else, its an issue to consider

Additional parking has recently been added at RI's 103rd/Washington Heights station, but since that's along the main line, there's only service there during rush hours. As for the ME stations along the main line between 75th and Kensington, IIRC there are a few limited spaces at 103rd, but as a rule, parking is pretty much limited to the streets in the immediate vicinity of the station, there are no maintained lots. For the most part, stations in this corridor are in pretty rough shape, dimly lit with short platforms, are not ADA-compliant, and the surrounding neighborhood isn't very inviting either. It's pretty safe to say that regular Dan Ryan commuters choosing these stations as options probably won't become regular Metra users.

The stations along ME's South Chicago branch are in a little bit better shape, thanks in no small part to station upgrades that began shortly after the extension to the new 93rd St. terminal was completed, which does have some modest amount of parking. Might be a bit too far east for many commuters looking for alternates, unless traffic on the Skyway gets really backed up. Otherwise, they'd probably be better taking their chances at Kensington, at least there's express train service available there...

Yeah, parking on the Beverly branch is terrible. Metra pushes its new parking lot at Washington Heights on the main line, but too few trains serve that station. Gresham has a decent, new-ish parking lot which still has capacity to spare. Unfortuantely, that station has a perceived "safety" issue with it, as well.

doepack wrote:

octr202 wrote:What's the parking situation like on the Electric and the RI (and the South Shore, for that matter, too)? Are there good lots with lots of space for commuters who give up on the highway?

Additional parking has recently been added at RI's 103rd/Washington Heights station, but since that's along the main line, there's only service there during rush hours. As for the ME stations along the main line between 75th and Kensington, IIRC there are a few limited spaces at 103rd, but as a rule, parking is pretty much limited to the streets in the immediate vicinity of the station, there are no maintained lots. For the most part, stations in this corridor are in pretty rough shape, dimly lit with short platforms, are not ADA-compliant, and the surrounding neighborhood isn't very inviting either. It's pretty safe to say that regular Dan Ryan commuters choosing these stations as options probably won't become regular Metra users.

The stations along ME's South Chicago branch are in a little bit better shape, thanks in no small part to station upgrades that began shortly after the extension to the new 93rd St. terminal was completed, which does have some modest amount of parking. Might be a bit too far east for many commuters looking for alternates, unless traffic on the Skyway gets really backed up. Otherwise, they'd probably be better taking their chances at Kensington, at least there's express train service available there...

Also that most of the stations on the ME between Kensington and 55th-56th-57th sts.(including 103rd) are flag stops(even during rush hour), and not all trains serve these stations, and there are no parking spaces north of kensington(execpt the little street parking at 103rd) unless they want to park on the city streets, which will not be a good idea for saftey reasons.

JamesT4 wrote:Also that most of the stations on the ME between Kensington and 55th-56th-57th sts.(including 103rd) are flag stops(even during rush hour), and not all trains serve these stations

Actually, there are a handful of trains during rush hours that are scheduled to make all main line stops between 75th and Kensington, so Dan Ryan commuters choosing Metra Electric who might not be familar with the "flag stop" process (or just ignore the "f" designation on the schedule, which does happen) would be better off on these scheduled all-stop trains...

octr202 wrote:What's the parking situation like on the Electric and the RI (and the South Shore, for that matter, too)? Are there good lots with lots of space for commuters who give up on the highway? That might be one reason to limit how much Metra markets itself -- just like the CTA not wanting new riders' first impression to be in a scary part of town, Metra would want to be careful not to end up with far more riders than there is parking for. Given that most commuter rail systems are limited as much by parking as anything else, its an issue to consider.

That said, if there's anything that could be done to add temporary parking at stations for the duration of the project...

The RI fills up quickly. Automated signs on I-80 and LaGrange Road tell motorists how many parking spots are left at 80th and Hickory Creek. It isn't uncommon to find some open spots at Tinley/Oak Park, Oak Forest, Midlothian, and Blue Island, but they're often hard to come by. Most of these towns don't even have space to expand their current lots, let alone offer temporary parking during the Ryan project.

EricL wrote:Gresham has a decent, new-ish parking lot which still has capacity to spare. Unfortuantely, that station has a perceived "safety" issue with it, as well.

VERY perceived. Namely, people of one color/background who are overly fearful of people of another color/background. In all reality, the number of people on foot near Gresham to hassle commuters is pretty small. And if you leave your car there and it gets broken into, it's just a material item that can be replaced anyway, and the neighborhood is a lousy excuse when cars get broken into in well-lit mall parking lots in upper middle class communities.