Several factors are behind the drop, according to Derwinski. One is that Metra has raised fares six times over the last eight years, and some people have decided that it’s too expensive. South Cook County also saw its population drop — the region is down 103,351 residents, or 5%, between 2000 and 2017, almost twice the percentage drop seen in the county overall. The unemployment rate has increased to 13.7%, compared with 9.7% in the county overall.