As a public transit agency, Metra is already green. But to celebrate Earth Day this year, Metra is going even greener with a week of activities to clean along its tracks, renew landscaping, and plant trees on Metra property.
“We feel good about the role Metra plays in helping the environment, primarily by taking cars off the road and reducing pollution, but we can always do more,” Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “We can set a good example and promote good environmental practices across the communities we serve.”
From Wednesday, April 19 through Friday, April 21, Metra employees will be out cleaning along the tracks, removing dead plants and planting new ground cover and trees at various locations on Metra property. Cleanup and gardening activities will be taking place along the Rock Island Line, the Metra Electric Line, SouthWest Service, and Milwaukee District North lines.
A list of some Metra’s Earth Day activities can be found below. News media seeking to cover these activities are asked to contact Metra’s Media Relations Department in advance at 321-322-6776.
Of course, Metra encourages the public to use public transit for the good of the environment – not to mention the benefits to your wallet, stress level and productivity. But we also hope to inspire the public to take other steps to observe Earth Day, which this year falls on Saturday, April 22: Take a walk, plant a tree, ride your bike, plant a garden, recycle, or carpool. Go to earthday.org for more information on how your actions can help the planet we all share.
My Metra Earth Week Activities April 19-21
All activities will take place between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. News media seeking to cover these activities are asked to contact Metra’s Media Relations Department in advance at 312-322-6776.
Wednesday, April 19 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Rock Island Line clean up 89th Street from Vincennes Avenue to Ashland Avenue
• Rock Island clean up 28th Street to 51st Street along the west side of the tracks
• Rock Island Line tree planting at 87th Street and Vincennes Avenue
• Metra Electric clean up Hyde Park viaducts and stations
• Metra Electric clean up right-of-way and sidewalks 127th Street and Indiana Avenue
• Milwaukee North Line clean up and renew landscaping at Mayfair Station
Thursday, April 20 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Rock Island Line clean up 89th Street to 108th Street
• Rock Island clean up 28th Street to 51st Street along the west side of the tracks
• Rock Island Line tree planting at 89th Street and Morgan Street
• Metra Electric clean up Pullman area stations
• Metra Electric clean up right-of-way and sidewalks 127th Street and Indiana Avenue
• Milwaukee North Line clean up and renew landscaping at Mayfair Station
Friday, April 21 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Rock Island Line clean up 89th Street to 108th Street
• Rock Island clean up 28th Street to 51st Street along the west side of the tracks
• SouthWest Service tree planting at 167th Street
• Metra Electric clean up Blue Island Branch stations
• Metra Electric clean up South Chicago Branch stations
• Metra Electric clean up right-of-way and sidewalks 127th Street and Indiana Avenue
• Milwaukee North Line clean up and renew landscaping at Mayfair Station