Title
Resolution supporting collaborative efforts to investigate the necessary improvements to the Milwaukee District North Metra line (MD-N) to allow for enhanced service to the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Staff Summary
• Local area businesses have indicated that there are service gaps in the current Milwaukee District North Metra line (MD-N) service schedule that do not meet the travel needs of their employers and employees that may use the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest. They have requested that the schedule be enhanced to provide additional services.
• Local area businesses provide private shuttle services to promote the use of public transportation and believe an efficient and effective public transportation option is critical to maintain and recruit a talented workforce.
• Lake County Partners, Lake County, the City of Lake Forest, and local area businesses recently met with representatives of Metra to explore opportunities for enhanced services along the MD-N.
• Metra has indicated that infrastructure improvements, including installation of a universal crossover south of Illinois Route 60 in Lake Forest, is necessary to fully facilitate these enhanced services.
• This resolution supports the collaboration and potential improvements required to implement enhanced services at the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the County of Lake (the “COUNTY”), is an Illinois body politic and corporate, acting by and through its Chairman and County Board; and
WHEREAS, one goal of the COUNTY’s strategic plan is to enhance economic opportunities by increasing collaboration and cooperation with other units of local government to cultivate integrated economic development and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY is committed to providing a safe, efficient and innovative transportation system to enhance mobility, economic development and quality of life in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY is also committed to developing and implementing transportation solutions that provide alternatives to single occupied vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY is home to over 700,000 residents, more than 30,000 businesses, including 12 Fortune 500 headquarters, and offers a workforce of approximately 400,000 people many of which are located within a five-mile radius of the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest; and
WHEREAS, having convenient access to public transportation, including Metra passenger rail service is a benefit to the residents and businesses of the COUNTY; and
WHEREAS, local area businesses have identified service gaps in the current MD-N service schedule that do not meet the travel needs of their current and prospective employees that could use the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest and have requested that the schedule be enhanced to provide additional services; and
WHEREAS, local area businesses currently provide private shuttle services to promote the use of public transportation and believe an efficient and effective public transportation option is critical to maintain and recruit a talented workforce; and
WHEREAS, Lake County Partners, the COUNTY, the City of Lake Forest, and local area businesses recently met with representatives of Metra to explore opportunities for enhanced services along the MD-N; and
WHEREAS, Metra has indicated that infrastructure improvements, including installation of a universal crossover south of Illinois Route 60 in Lake Forest, may be necessary to fully facilitate these enhanced services.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this Lake County Board hereby supports the collaboration with stakeholders to investigate potential improvements along the
MD-N that would allow for enhanced services to the Telegraph Road Metra Station in Lake Forest and would be a direct benefit to Lake County residents and businesses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Lake County Board hereby supports the following continued efforts:
I. Collaboration between Metra, Lake County, the City of Lake Forest, Lake County Partners, and local area businesses to reexamine the train schedule for the MD-N Line and explore mutually beneficial modifications to better meet the needs of businesses and increase opportunities for public transportation ridership.
II. Work with stakeholders to investigate potential service enhancement options such as providing reverse commute schedules in the morning and afternoon as well as additional express services.
III. Work with stakeholders to collect projected ridership data that supports the schedule changes and potential necessary infrastructure improvements.
IV. Work with stakeholders to identify potential private and public funding sources.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on August 14, 2018.