While Metra officially took over operating responsibility for Union Pacific’s three commuter lines in the Chicago area in May, the transit agency and Class I are still battling over the fees the latter will charge the former for using its tracks. 

Shortly after Metra took control on May 16 of the UP North, Northwest, and West lines, UP issued a press release urging the commuter agency to accept its terms for a new contract that will take effect on July 1. UP officials stated that the “market-based rates” are consistent with other passenger agreements it has in Illinois, Colorado, and California. 

“For more than a decade, Metra has paid rates that are significantly below commercial market value for the use of Union Pacific’s assets,” said Liisa Stark, Vice President for Public Affairs for Union Pacific. “It is our hope these new rates will resolve the issue without further expensive litigation or regulatory appeals that has no benefit to Metra, Union Pacific nor Chicago taxpayers.”

But in a filing with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Metra officials wrote that the rates would result in a 100 percent increase in its costs to use UP’s facilities. To maintain service after the current agreement expires, Metra has asked the STB to grant it trackage rights on the Class I’s trackage. UP responded that the federal government could do no such thing because it can only regulate interstate commerce and Metra’s “essential character” is that it only serves Illinois. Metra replied that it has at least one station in Wisconsin on the UP North line. —Justin Franz