Background

To broaden my understanding of the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Metra line potential, I took a round-trip Kenosha-Chicago train today.

The drive to Kenosha naturally went well early in the morning. But, unfamiliar with Kenosha, a directional sign or two would add a level of reassurance while navigating to the station.

Kenosha’s Metra station interior could use some economic development. The outside seems fine, but the inside seems too dark and out of date. Also, the men’s room needs soap. (Kenosha cabs also need updating.)

The station and boarding

The north-south tracks separate the station on one side from the Metra office and shops on the other. As the end of the line, trains go back and forth through a wye to turn turn themselves around for the next run. The station, office/shops, wye and tracks account for several acres of property.

The friendly guy running the “sandwich shop” cheerfully sold the $1.50 parking permit needed for the day.

At least 30 people boarded the train at Kenosha this morning, including a couple of suits, a couple of families, business-casual types and assorted other passengers, some with luggage. One locomotive powered the six bi-level cars.

Metra does not staff Kenosha with a trainmaster, so passengers buy tickets on board from the friendly conductors. Chicago one-way, $7.05 ($5 on weekends.).

The ride

Like a precision clock, the 7:51 express moved out on time. Smooth, quiet and comfortable.

As we pick up passengers at station after station, a pattern emerges: Everyone reads! Almost everyone reads a newspaper, others read a book or smartphone while some open their cases for paperwork. You looking for a high concentration of newspaper readers? They’re on the 751.

Regular passengers take their regular seats, put their passes in holders for the conductors to punch — some greet friends and colleagues on the train (“Oh. I see you’re going in early today!” hahaha).

On time, of course, the train stopped at 9:15 inside the Ogilvie Transportation Center, on Madison (across the street from Amtrak/Union Station).

The return trip

The 12:35 return trip unwound the morning’s experience — the train started with a full load and dropped off passengers until a few of us remained for Kenosha.

All the while, thoughts came easily of fine service like this running frequently between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Do it yourself!

Take a field trip of your own. This is a one-time test drive, for sure. It makes little sense to drive an hour to Kenosha to take a 84-minute train to Chicago! But this can instill a real-world, hands-on experience of what a KRM Metra train could do for people in and between Chicago and Milwaukee. A quiet, civil, stress-free and literate way to travel.

Riding at different times of day and days of week may change your experience from the one summarized today.

Resources
http://metrarail.com/Sched/cnw_n/cnwn.shtml

http://metrarail.com/riders.html

http://metrarail.com/general.html

I represent the Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee and the challenge about this proposal is : 1) we are one of only a handful of states where the performing arts groups PAY SALES TAX on their ticket sales. An additional 1% sales tax will cost these groups well over $250,000 in aggregate. 2) Now, and in the November referendum, there is no indication if there will be any additional funds for these arts groups as the needs of transit and parks have largely overshadowed culture. And, 3) We believe that a dedicated public funding source for arts and culture is best developed on a regional, not county, basis – because that is how patrons support arts and culture.

So, we will be looking very closely at how this unfolds and what it can mean for arts and culture in our region.

I’m confused. Everything that I can read about what happened last night makes it seem that the KRM board is only authorized to levy the $16 rental car fee.

Do you have any additional insight? Thanks for the help – Ryan