Unemployment hurts Metra ridership

Metra ridership declined slightly in 2010, but the rail agency still posted the fourth-highest volume in its history.

Lynnette Ciavarella, assistant senior division director of capital and strategic planning, said in an address to the Metra board that total ridership dropped to 81.4 million rides in 2010, down 1.1 percent from 82.3 million the previous year.

She blamed downtown employment, which dropped 0.3 percent last year to 1997 levels, for a large part of the decline.

Yet, as Chicago was entrenched with budget difficulties, Metra also lost high-ridership days with the cancellation of the July 3 and Venetian Night fireworks, although that was in part made up by the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup rally in June.

Metra benefited from roadwork on the Edens and Eisenhower expressways, and from higher gas prices, which although lower overall than in 2008 — Metra's record year — ended the year higher than they did in 2008.

Ciavarella said employment, gas prices and roadwork would continue to have an impact on ridership this year, as would Chicago's dwindling festivals, with top ethnic music fests being rolled into Taste of Chicago. The Rock Island line has also seen a drop from the loss of Chicago's South Side Irish parade, although she said that could be more than made up by the opening of the Lou Jones Station at 35th Street near Sox Park.

Chief Operations Officer William Tupper said they were aiming for a May opening, although it could be delayed by the continuing impact of the blizzard.

“It'll be open for the World Series, right?” Director Edward Paesel said.