CHICAGO — Metra is considering expanding a pilot program in a move that would enable riders to bring their small pets on all weekend trains.
The train service started a pilot in July that allowed Rock Island Line riders to bring small pets in carriers onto weekend trains. Metra received no complaints, said spokesman Michael Gillis, and so it will consider expanding the pilot to all weekend lines as part of a pilot that would run Oct. 10 to the end of January.
The measure is expected to go to a vote at a Monday board meeting.
"Long story short, we felt that the pilot project went well enough that we would kind of extend the pilot and expand it a little bit," Gillis said.
The pilot program specifies that pets must be in enclosed carriers that can be hand-carried by the owner. The carriers must be kept on the passenger's lap or under their seat and cannot take up another seat or be in the aisle.
Metra will consider making the pilot permanent once it's done, Gillis said.
The first pilot program came after an online petition in late 2013 asking Metra to allow pets onto their trains.
Riders are already allowed to bring service animals on the trains.
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