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Metra, state and local officials today officially cut the ribbon on the new Peterson/Ridge Station in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. The station opened to rail service on May 20.
“We are pleased that this station is already serving as a gateway to the Metra system and to the beautiful Edgewater community,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “It was a long time coming, but we hope you agree that it was worth the wait.”
The station construction, which cost $27.8 million, included two six-car platforms; heated concrete stairs and ADA-compliant ramps; a glass and masonry warming house with side canopies and metal roof; two shelters with on-demand heating; an access drive with a cul-de-sac turnaround and ADA pick-up/drop-off; five ADA parking spaces and 44 parking spaces along Ravenswood Avenue; bicycle parking; and a plaza with associated landscaping and irrigation system.
“I am incredibly pleased that the much-anticipated Peterson Station is operational and open to the public,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley. “This station is a critical step in Metra’s goal of expanding and improving service throughout our region, and helping make safe, affordable, and climate-friendly transportation available to all. As the highest-ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds transportation projects, I will keep fighting to bring home funding for projects like this one.”
“As more people continue to take Metra, the new Peterson/Ridge Station will make commutes easier and more efficient,” said FTA Regional Administrator Kelley Brookins. “FTA was happy to support this new station so Metra can increase the number of trains and improve train connections for Chicagoland commuters.”
“Many of us rely on public transportation daily but struggle with convenient access or face unaccommodating service hours. I'm proud that we are expanding our train lines with the new Peterson/Ridge Station,” said State Rep. Kevin Olickal. “This much-needed access point will benefit families, students, and older adults in Chicago’s northern neighborhoods, providing them with reliable transportation to essential services, schooling, and jobs throughout Chicagoland.”
“The new Peterson/Ridge station is a much-welcomed addition to our densely populated area,” said State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. “I am always in support of public transit improvements and with the added ADA-compliant fixtures I could not be happier. We as a society need to always put the needs of those who rely on public transportation and face personal mobility obstacles when moving around Chicago at or near the top of any public needs priority list. This new station with its improvements to the existing infrastructure is a great example of seeking to provide comfort and care for people reliant on public transportation and it's a critical step towards a more accessible city.”
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming this new transit option to the 40th Ward!” said Ald. Andre Vasquez. “This station is the result of the collective efforts of so many people, from the many city and state legislators who have been involved since the station was proposed over a decade ago – including my predecessor, Pat O'Connor, former 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, former majority leader Greg Harris, Senator Ram Villavalam the Chairman of Transportation, Governor Pritzker – to the neighbor groups who advocated for a safer, more sustainable station, to the Metra and construction teams who worked tirelessly to bring this project across the finish line.”
“The new Metra station here in Edgewater will have a transformative effect on our community and its residents for years to come,” said retired 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, who secured state funding for the station while he was a state representative. “On behalf of our community I want to thank Metra and the key government stakeholders who worked in collaboration to make this day possible.”
The work was funded in part by a $15 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), a component of Rebuild Illinois, the state’s historic capital plan. Federal Transit Administration funding covered the remaining construction costs.
Significant state dollars allocated to Metra under the Rebuild Illinois program, combined with federal aid, are helping to fund an unprecedented investment in the Metra system. This includes the purchase of new, modern rail cars and newly repowered locomotives, and the rehabilitation of existing cars and locomotives. And it includes the construction of another new station – Auburn Park on the Rock Island Line – and the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing stations and the replacement or rehabilitation of existing bridges. These projects will improve rider comfort, increase accessibility, strengthen service reliability, and improve air quality.