On Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 5:07:22 PM UTC-6, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:

Just one of those is about $7 million, said Metra CEO Jim Derwinski, who called out state legislators.

Derwinski is one of the Pence Crew:
"A resident of northwest Indiana who commutes via Metra now and again, Derwinski was hired by the transit agency in 1997, working his way through the ranks to management.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-metra-board-ceo-0816-20170816-story.html
The GOP Metra Cesspool wasted hundreds of millions on needless extensions to fringe farmlands:
"Ceremonies later Monday marked the long-awaited return of train service to Elburn, which was served by passenger trains from the 1850s to the 1950s.
An array of government officials, including U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano, attended.
Hastert, whose congressional district is served by the Metra West Line, was instrumental in obtaining the federal funding that made the $105 million expansion project possible, said Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd, who oversaw the ceremonies."
This Extension gets LESS THAN 600 USERS PER DAY;
Elburn station: 307 riders
La Fox station: 276 riders
"Now, word of a $103 million plan to extend commuter rail service to Manhattan could bring some changes. Some welcome the move, but others fear it could turn Manhattan, 36 miles southwest of Chicago, into just another bedroom community.
``I have heard the comments, 'Why is Metra doing this when there will be four riders?''' said Matthew Zimmerman, village administrator. ``I have also heard the comments that we are encouraging sprawl.''
The village, population 3,136, is surrounded by farms. Two taverns are the entertainment in the central business district. The tallest building is a grain elevator."
This Extension gets LESS THAN 50 USERS PER DAY;
Manhattan Station: 22 riders
Laraway Road: 24 riders https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/metra_state_of_the_system_2018_reduced_0.pdf

rCLQuite honestly, without a capital bill right now, we have no mechanism to fund newer stuff,rCY Derwinski said.

rCLItrCOs really frustrating that the state has allowed things to get to this
point,rCY Harnish said.

But help is on the way thanks to car manufacturer Volkswagen. Volkwagen
just paid a huge penalty for violating the clean air act. The Illinois EPA announced this week that Metra will receive $14 million from that settlement.

The money comes with stipulations: Metra must use that money to buy brand new locomotives.

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