My Metra is committed to improving our customers’ experience, and this begins with first impressions. Modern, clean, and accessible station facilities increase customer confidence demonstrating that we care about their safety and comfort.
Throughout 2023, the bulk of our capital spending ($119.5 million) is allocated to rebuilding and renewing station facilities. In fact, our five-year plan includes improvement projects for about 20% of Metra’s 242 – soon to be 244 – stations.
And we couldn’t do any of it without the support of our elected officials and community leaders. The Chicago area’s congressional delegation helped secure $204.1 million in competitive federal grants for projects in 2022, including $86.6 million for station projects – the most by far in any year in Metra’s history. The State of Illinois, Cook County and local communities have also been essential funding partners.
Under the Metra Electric Community Initiative, a multiyear plan to improve 13 stations on the line, work is scheduled to continue this year at the 147th St. Station and begin at six more: Homewood, 95th, 79th, 87th, 103rd and Millennium (South Water entrance). These projects will completely renew station facilities and focus on accessibility features, such as elevators, to ensure people can easily access our system.
In addition to that work, we will replace the existing wooden platforms at 83rd and 67th and replace the stairs and retaining walls at 27th. Major station projects are also being planned next year for the Van Buren, 59th-60th St./University of Chicago, 111th Street/Pullman and Harvey stations.
Work will also continue this year on two new stations: Peterson Ridge on the Union Pacific North Line, slated for completion this year, and Auburn Park on the Rock Island Line, scheduled for completion next year.
Metra is also continuing work on the new Grayland Station on the Milwaukee District North Line in conjunction with the replacement of a 124-year-old bridge over Milwaukee Avenue. We also will finish the rehab of Blue Island Vermont Street on the Rock Island Line and the new inbound platform and shelters at Ravenswood on the UP North Line.
Rehabilitation work is also expected to begin this year on the 132-year-old Kenilworth Station on the UP North Line and the 97-year-old LaGrange Road Station on the BNSF Line.
Platform replacement and repair projects are scheduled at Grayslake on the Milwaukee District North Line, Wood Dale and Big Timber on the Milwaukee District West Line, Brainerd on the Rock Island Line, Oak Lawn/Patriot on the SouthWest Service, Kenosha and Clybourn on the UP North Line and Kedzie on the UP West Line.
Other station improvements planned in 2023 will create a total of 340 new bicycle parking spaces across Metra with projects at 17 stations. Metra will also be focusing on smaller ADA accessibility projects such as replacing worn tactile edging on its platforms and improving pathways.
Track and other maintenance projects are also planned this year, as keeping these assets in the best condition possible is one of the best ways that we can ensure that we provide our customers with safe, reliable, and on-time service. Across the Metra system we plan to replace nearly 210,000 ties, at least 7,500 feet of rail, and 24 crossings. We also plan two separate projects to test new technologies that monitor the performance of safety equipment at rail crossings, with the goal of using that data to proactively identify maintenance needs.
The Metra system is a $35 billion asset that requires ongoing investment. Our focus on stations in 2023 is part and parcel of living up to the goals set out in Metra’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Each of the projects will enhance Metra service to help us grow ridership and provide mobility choices for the entire Chicago region while ensuring the Metra experience is safe, easy, and enjoyable for all our customers.
Below is a list of the projects currently planned for 2023:
Stations
Metra Electric Line
- Harvey –147th Street/Sibley - Ongoing work to rehab station.
- Chicago – Millennium Station South Water Street – Rehab of the station facilities and access points.
- Homewood – Rehab of station facilities and access tunnel.
- Chicago – 79th Street, Chatham – Rehab of station and platforms
- Chicago – 87th Street, Woodruff – Rehab of station and platforms
- Chicago – 95th Street, Chicago State University – Rehab of station and platforms
- Chicago – 103rd Street, Rosemoor Station – Rehab of station and platforms
- Chicago – 83rd St – Platform replacement
- Chicago – 67th St – Platform replacement
- Chicago – 27th Street – Stair and retaining wall repairs
Milwaukee District North Line
- Chicago – Grayland – Ongoing project to replace station and platforms
- Grayslake –Platform replacement
Milwaukee District West Line
- Wood Dale – Platform replacement
- Elgin – Big Timber – Platform replacement
Rock Island Line
- Chicago – Brainerd – Platform replacement
- Chicago – Auburn Park – Ongoing work to construct new station
- Blue Island – Vermont Street – Ongoing work to rehab historic station
- Chicago – 103rd St Washington Heights – Complete rehab of depot and ADA access improvements
SouthWest Service
- Oak Lawn Patriot – Platform replacement
UP North Line
- Chicago – Clybourn – Platform improvement
- Chicago – Peterson/Ridge – Ongoing work to construct new station
- Chicago – Ravenswood – Ongoing work to replace station facility and platforms
- Kenilworth – Rehab and upgrade facilities at historic station
- North Chicago – Rehab of depot interior
- Kenosha – Platform replacement
UP West Line
- Chicago – Kedzie – Platform replacement
- La Fox – Repave driveway to station parking lot
BNSF Line
- LaGrange – LaGrange Road – Rehab and upgrade of station facilities
Crossing Replacements
Metra Electric Line
- Chicago – 78th Street (South Chicago Branch)
- Chicago – Jeffrey Boulevard (South Chicago Branch)
- Chicago – Stewart Avenue (Blue Island Branch)
- Chicago – Wallace Avenue (Blue Island Branch)
Milwaukee District North Line
- Lake Forest – Everett Road
- Bannockburn – Half Day Road
- Niles – Touhy Avenue
- Round Lake – Hart Road
Milwaukee District West Line
- Franklin Park – Edgington Street
- Itasca – Prospect Avenue
- Roselle – Rodenburg Road
Rock Island Line
- Chicago – Ashland Avenue, Beverly Branch
- Tinley Park – 66th Court
- Chicago – Prospect Avenue, Beverly Branch
SouthWest Service
- Will County – Maple Street
- Oak Lawn – Central Avenue
UP Northwest Line
- Barrington – Main/Cook Street
- Des Plaines – Graceland Avenue
- Ridgefield – Country Club Drive
UP West Line
- Villa Park – Villa Avenue
- Elmhurst – Poplar Avenue
BNSF Line
- Westmont – Cass Avenue
- Riverside –Cowley Road
- Hinsdale – Monroe Street
Track Projects
Metra Electric Line
- Chicago – Replace 38,000 ties between Adams Street and 111th Street
- Chicago – Replace 900 ties between Randolph Street and 11th Place in Chicago
- Chicago – Replace 2,000 feet of rail to fix worn curves at the north end of McCormick Place
Milwaukee District North Line
- Lake Forest – Install new crossovers
- Libertyville – Replace 2,500 feet of rail to fix worn curves
- Rondout – Install two turnouts and new siding track
Rock Island Line
- Chicago – Replace 14,000 ties between Englewood and LaSalle Street
- New Lenox – Replace 3,000 feet of rail near Cedar Road to fix worn curves
UP North Line
- Chicago to Highland Park – Replace 41,000 ties
UP Northwest Line
- Chicago to Harvard – Replace 116,000 ties
UP West Line
- West Chicago to Geneva – Project to add third track continues between West Chicago and Geneva
BNSF Line
- Westmont – Replace platform ties at the station
Bridges
Metra Electric Line
- Chicago – Ongoing project to repair bridge columns
Milwaukee District North Line
- Chicago – Work continues to replace the bridge over Milwaukee Avenue near the Grayland Station
Rock Island Line
- Chicago – Lift bridge over freight tracks between 78th and 79th Street as part of the Auburn Park Station project.
Signal/Communications
Metra Electric Line
- Chicago – Install remote monitoring system at 14 grade crossings along the South Chicago Branch to quickly detect anomalies and repair critical safety devices
Milwaukee District North Line
- Lake Forest – Ongoing signal grade crossing improvements
- Rondout – Finish signal renewal project
Milwaukee District West Line
- Hanover Park – Install signalized pedestrian crossing
SouthWest Service
- Mokena – SMART crossing pilot project