Cook County, Metra team up to give two trains a 2020 census makeover

Cook County and Metra are teaming up in preparation of the 2020 census count by giving two of the transit agency’s trains a makeover with census ads this summer.

One train from the Rock Island and Metra Electric lines — which serve hard-to-count communities on the South Side and south suburbs — will feature the “Be Counted” county ads by the end of July. There will also be census advertising inside those trains.

“This is a good way to remind our residents to participate in the census,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Friday at the LaSalle Street Metra station. “It’s your civic duty, it’s the basis of our congressional delegation, and lots of resources come into our state as a result of every person who’s counted.”

Preckwinkle said Illinois is projected to lose one congressional seat already because of population loss, and warned that an undercount could result in the loss of two seats.

Metra’s CEO and Executive Director James Derwinski pointed out that the transit agency relies on the census count for funding to replace locomotives, railcars, tracks and improving stations.

“Millions of dollars will come directly to Metra and billions of dollars will come to the region,” Derwinski said.

Households will begin receiving information in the mail about how to respond to the 2020 census between March 12 and March 20. Residents will be able to respond by phone, mail or online.

Residents can begin filling out their forms as soon as they receive their information, but April 1 is observed nationwide as Census Day. Census takers will being visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 census from May through July.