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11/11/2019
Metra's board last week approved a 2020 budget of $827.4 million in operating costs and $480.5 million in capital expenses.
The Chicago commuter railroad's capital spending plan — significantly bolstered by Illinois' new state capital program — includes $331.1 million in investments in locomotives and rail cars, stations, bridges and yards.
Metra’s operating budget will increase by $5 million compared with the 2019 budget.
Higher revenue from regional transportation sales tax and a reduction in operating costs will cover the increase, Metra officials said in a press release.
The 2020 budget and capital plan will be sent to the Regional Transportation Authority's board for its approval as part of a consolidated budget for Illinois public transit systems, including the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace bus network.
Also last week, Metra's board awarded a $15.5 million contract to Railhead Corp. to design, implement and install a surveillance camera system inside its rail cars.
The system will be capable of capturing video of all passenger seating areas and vestibules on a minimum of 400 rail cars and a maximum of 700 rail cars.
Metra intends to install nine cameras per rail car, railroad officials said in a press release.