Stopping West Line Commuter Service, maybe.
While surfing the net I found an article about Chicago transit's luming financial cliff, titled,"
Visualizing Service Cuts With StoryMaps: Background & Methodology", 01/14/2025.
https://metroplanning.org/visualizing-service-cuts-with-storymaps-background-methodology/
To the point, this article states that it would be advantageous to stop Metra commuter service on six rail lines, one of which is the UP West line.
"Stopping all service on Metra’s Heritage Corridor, North Central Service, Southwest Service, the Milwaukee District North and West, and UP West Lines".
If this scenario comes to fruition what job protection would I have if the Metra West line service ceased to exist?
Will I get "universal Metra" seniority to allow me to qualify on other non- UP Metra rail lines?
I read the article more as a "what if we don't cover the budget shortfall". The writers are seemingly advocating for funding so service isn't cut and are showing what those cuts might look like. At the end they even say "The region’s transit system will be a shadow of its current self" and "such transit service reductions will have big negative impacts on the region’s economy, environment, and equity." Articles like these are necessary to visualize to those in positions of power how screwed the region would be if they don't do anything. SEPTA (Philly's transit system) posted a service cut plan in october and by december they had received more funding to keep going, for the time being at least.