This project funds the long-term railcar replacement program and will purchase up to 500 state-of-the-art railcars. The modern, multilevel railcars will offer a smoother and more comfortable ride. Metra's new railcars will have two entranceways on each side with doors nearly level to the platform which will improve the speed of boarding and deboarding at each station. Boarding will require only one step to enter and faster wheelchair lifts will bridge the slight difference between the station platform and the floor of the railcars. The new railcars will require significantly less maintenance time and frequency, thereby reducing operating costs. Initial plans are to retire as many as 300 railcars from Metra's fleet that are nearing 50 years old.