Metra and its railroad and municipal partners are taking on a wide variety of projects during the 2025 construction season, including improvements to 52 stations and replacement of 43 grade crossings.
In addition to major projects to replace aging bridges on the UP North Line, track, electrical and signal upgrades on the Metra Electric and major tie replacement projects on three lines, the 2025 construction program also includes numerous smaller infrastructure improvements distributed across Metra’s 11 lines. Together, these projects will ensure Metra customers continue to enjoy safe and reliable service. Construction work is already underway and will continue through the fall, weather permitting.
“We plan to take full advantage of the construction season to address projects big and small across the railroad,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “Thanks to our leaders in Washington and Springfield, Metra has received significant financial support in recent years to help us begin to address a backlog of critical capital projects that will benefit our riders for years to come.”
Work is being performed by Metra’s in-house crews, employees of Metra’s freight partners as well as private contractors. Metra is also contributing funds for station repairs and upgrades that will be performed by a municipality or its contractors.
In Metra’s 2025 capital program, $34.9 million is allocated for station and parking improvements, $48.1 million for track maintenance, $46.2 million for bridge projects, $5.9 million for rail crossing replacements and $39.2 million for signal, electrical and communications maintenance and upgrades. Funding for some of the projects included in this release was allocated in prior years’ capital programs or came from outside sources, including municipalities and Metra’s freight railroad partners.
Timing of the projects listed below may change and, when warranted, projects may be added to or removed from this list. A complete list of planned projects is attached to this release.
STATION IMPROVEMENTS
Improvements are planned at 52 of Metra’s 243 stations this year. Along the Metra Electric Line, we are continuing a multiyear effort to rebuild stations and improve accessibility with major projects already underway at 87th and 95th streets.
Platform repairs or replacements are scheduled at Morton Grove, Golf and Grayslake stations on the Milwaukee North Line, Branch, Oak Lawn on the Southwest Service, Naperville on the BNSF Line, Pingree Road on the UP Northwest Line and Kedzie and Geneva on the UP West Line.
On the Rock Island Line, Metra will replace the platform and parking services and build new warming shelters at the 115th Street/Morgan Park Station and work will also continue on the construction of a new infill station at Auburn Park.
Work is nearing completion on the replacement of the platforms and station facilities at Grayland on the Milwaukee District North Line. Stations along the South Chicago Branch of the Metra Electric Line will be repainted and stations and viaducts across the Metra Electric main and branch lines will be power washed.
Accessibility and state of good repair improvements are the focus of smaller projects planned for 26 stations that are scheduled to begin this year and continue through 2026. These improvements may include ramps, handrails, curbs and gutters, parking lots, pavement markings, signage, retaining walls, canopy alterations, and other alterations required to meet accessibility criteria.
TRACK IMPROVEMENTS
Metra and its railroad partners plan to replace approximately 117,000 railroad ties this year. On the Rock Island Line, workers are about to begin replacing 16,562 ties and 22,666 feet of rail between Mokena and Joliet. Metra forces will replace 37,062 ties and 18,920 feet of rail between Canal Street in Chicago and Rondout on the Milwaukee District North Line and about 7,000 feet of rail on curves on the Metra Electric Line. Union Pacific Railroad plans to replace 63,764 ties between Erie Street in Chicago and Barrington on the UP Northwest Line.
Metra and contractors will also continue infrastructure work in preparation for the installation of a fourth track on the Metra Electric Line. Work continues on the final phase of UP West third main project, which will remove a bottleneck between West Chicago and Geneva by adding a third track.
ROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS
Metra and its railroad partners plan to make improvements to 43 level crossings systemwide in 2025. On the Rock Island Line three crossings will be replaced, including 101st Street on the Beverly Branch in Chicago and Mokena Street and Schoolhouse Road in Mokena.
On the SouthWest Service, crossings will be replaced at Kilbourn Avenue in Hometown and Laraway Road in New Lenox.
The rail crossings at Techny and at Shermer roads in Northbrook, Dewes Street in Glenview and Osterman Avenue in Deerfield will be replaced on the Milwaukee District North Line. On the Milwaukee District West Line, crossings will be replaced at Nordica Avenue in Chicago, Walnut Avenue in Itasca and Prospect Street in Roselle. Four crossings on the Metra Electric Line South Chicago Branch at Cornell, Yates, Merrill, and Oglesby avenues will be replaced as will the Union Street crossing on the line’s Blue Island Branch.
On the BNSF Line, road crossings Loomis Street in Chicago and Harlem Avenue on the Berwyn-Riverside border will be replaced. Pedestrian crossings will be installed on the BNSF in Berwyn at Ridgeland, East, Oak Park, Grove, Home and Harlem avenues.
On the Union Pacific lines, 12 crossings are planned for replacement in 2025. These include the crossings at Wilmette and Forest avenues in Wilmette, Martin Luther King Drive in North Chicago, and Shiloh Boulevard in Zion on the UP North Line. Crossings on the UP Northwest Line slated for replacement this year are Oakton Street in Park Ridge, Cuba Road in Barrington Hills, Lincoln Avenue in Fox River Grove, and Main Street and Walkup Avenue in Crystal Lake. The UP West Line is scheduled for crossing replacements at Wolf Road in Berkeley, Ardmore Avenue in Villa Park, Western Avenue in Geneva and La Fox Road in La Fox. The following stations on the UP West Line are also slated for crossing replacements: Bellwood, Berkeley, Elmhurst, and Wheaton.
BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS
A major project to rebuild 11 120-year-old bridges between Fullerton Avenue and Addison Street in Chicago on the UP North Line continues. The $337 million project will also replace 4 miles of track structure and 1.75 miles of retaining walls. On the Rock Island Line, Metra will continue work on the replacement of the bridge at Morgan Street in Chicago.
SIGNAL/COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVEMENTS
Metra’s Signal Department is undertaking several major projects in 2025. One of its largest projects will be the replacement of the 124-year-old 16th Street Tower on the Rock Island Line. Signal will also be working at various locations on the Metra Electric Line to upgrade infrastructure and install new control points for the South Shore Line expansion project. On the Milwaukee District lines, the department will continue a project begun last year to upgrade the signal systems between Canal Street and the A-2 interlocking in Chicago.
Over the past few years, Metra has been working to upgrade technology at its roadway crossings by installing SMART crossing technology that allows continual remote monitoring of crossing devices to identify performance issues and enable proactive maintenance. In 2025, Metra is planning SMART crossing upgrades from Narragansett Avenue in Chicago to Franklin Park on the Milwaukee District West Line and between Yates Avenue and 93rd Street on the Metra Electric Line South Chicago Branch. As funding becomes available, Metra plans to deploy this technology throughout its system.
Throughout 2025, Metra will continue replacing its platform announcement system as well as the installation of new electronic signage on platforms across its system.
Most work will be performed during off-peak hours and on weekends, which could result in delays to trains during those times. Riders are advised to check metra.com/constructionnotices for information about how service may be impacted by construction. Riders can also use Metra’s train tracker, available at metratracker.com, to check the status of their trains.
Metra 2025 Construction/Capital Improvement Projects
STATIONS
Rock Island Line
• Auburn Park, Chicago – Ongoing construction of new infill station
• 103rd Street/Washington Heights – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Blue Island Vermont Street – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Robbins – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Midlothian – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 95th Street, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – Beautification landscape work
• 99th Street, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 103rd Street, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – Beautification landscape work
• 111th Street/Morgan Park, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 115th Street/Morgan Park, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – Rehab of station platforms and parking areas and new shelters
Southwest Service
• Oak Lawn – Renew inbound platform
• Palos Park – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 143rd Street (Orland Park) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 153rd Street (Orland Park) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 179th Street (Orland Park) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
Milwaukee District North Line
• Grayland – Ongoing project to rebuild station, including new commuter platforms
• Edgebrook – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Morton Grove – Village led project to rehab station facility with Metra forces replacing portion of inbound platform
• Golf – Platform renewal
• Northbrook – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Prairie Crossing, Libertyville – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Grayslake – Platform renewal
• Long Lake – ADA and state of good repair improvements
Milwaukee District West Line
• Hanson Park – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Franklin Park – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Bensenville – Replace depot roof and ADA and state of good repair improvements
Metra Electric Line
• Millennium – Public bathroom renovations
• Millennium/South Water – Rehab of entrance and elevators
• Van Buren – Water damage repairs and painting
• 87th Street/Woodruff – Ongoing rehab of station facility including ADA accessibility
• 95th Street/ Chicago State – Complete rehab of station facility including ADA accessibility
• South Chicago Branch (multiple stations) – Painting
• Homewood – Platform canopy painting and new tactile installation
• Riverdale - Platform Repairs
• 147th Street/Sibley – Upgrade parking lot lighting
• University Park – Entrance canopy repairs and installation of backup generator
• Power wash stations on both main and branch lines and mainline viaducts
• Ivanhoe – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Calumet – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 211th Street (Lincoln Highway) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• South Shore – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• 93rd Street (South Chicago) – ADA and state of good repair improvements
Heritage Corridor
• Summit – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Lemont – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Lockport – ADA and state of good repair improvements
• Joliet – ADA and state of good repair improvements
BNSF Line
• Naperville – Replace platform panels
UP North Line
• Waukegan – City managed project to install new bike racks
UP Northwest Line
• Pingree Road – Repair retaining walls ADA ramp surface, platform and drainage
UP West Line
• Kedzie – Platform repair and replacement
• River Forest – Install epoxy flooring inside center platform headhouse as well as handrails and benches. Replace concrete walkway at the south side tunnel entrance.
• Geneva – Complete the remaining portion of the south platform and remove temporary platform
CROSSINGS
Rock Island Line
• 101st Street, Chicago (Beverly Branch) – Crossing replacement
• Mokena Street, Mokena – Crossing replacement
• Schoolhouse Road, Mokena – Crossing replacement
Southwest Service
• Kilbourn Avenue, Hometown – Crossing replacement
• Laraway Road, New Lenox – Crossing replacement
Milwaukee District North Line
• Techny Road, Northbrook – Crossing replacement
• Shermer Road, Northbrook – Crossing replacement
• Dewes Street, Glenview – Crossing replacement
• Osterman Avenue, Deerfield – Crossing replacement
Milwaukee District West Line
• Nordica Avenue, Chicago – Crossing replacement
• Walnut Avenue, Itasca – Crossing replacement
• Prospect Street, Roselle – Crossing replacement
Metra Electric Line
• Cornell Avenue (South Chicago Branch) – Crossing replacement
• Yates Avenue (South Chicago Branch) – Crossing replacement
• Merrill Avenue (South Chicago Branch) – Crossing replacement
• Oglesby Avenue (South Chicago Branch) – Crossing replacement
• Union Street (Blue Island Branch) – Crossing replacement
BNSF Line
• Loomis Street, Chicago – Crossing replacement
• Ridgeland Avenue, Berwyn – Install pedestrian crossing
• East Avenue, Berwyn – Install pedestrian crossing
• Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn – Install pedestrian crossing
• Grove Avenue, Berwyn – Install pedestrian crossing
• Home Avenue, Berwyn – Install pedestrian crossing
• Harlem Avenue, Berwyn/Riverside – Install pedestrian crossing
• Harlem Avenue, Berwyn/Riverside – Crossing replacement
UP North Line
• Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette – Crossing replacement
• Forest Avenue, Wilmette – Crossing replacement
• Martin Luther King Drive, North Chicago – Crossing replacement
• Shiloh Avenue, Zion – Crossing replacement
UP Northwest Line
• Oakton Street, Park Ridge – Crossing replacement
• Cuba Road, Barrington Hills – Crossing replacement
• Lincoln Avenue, Fox River Grove – Crossing replacement
• Cary Station – Depot crossing replacement
• Main Street, Crystal Lake – Crossing replacement
• Walkup Avenue, Crystal Lake – Crossing replacement
UP West Line
• Wolf Road, Berkeley – Crossing replacement
• Bellwood Station – Depot crossing replacement
• Berkeley Station – Depot crossing replacement
• Elmhurst Station – Depot crossing replacement
• Ardmore Avenue, Villa Park – Crossing replacement
• Wheaton Station – Depot crossing replacement
• Western Avenue, Geneva – Crossing replacement
• La Fox Road, La Fox – Crossing replacement
TRACK
Rock Island Line
• Mokena to Joliet – Replace 16,000 ties
• Mokena to Joliet – Replace 562 switch ties
• Mokena to Joliet – Replace 22,666 feet of rail
• Blue Island – Replace ties on the Cal-Sag Channel bridge
Milwaukee District North Line
• Canal Street, Chicago to Rondout – Replace 36,000 ties
• Canal Street, Chicago to Rondout – Replace 1,062 switch ties
• Canal Street, Chicago to Rondout – Replace 18,920 feet of rail
• Rondout – Renew track crossovers
Metra Electric Line
• South Chicago Branch – Replace 4,000 feet of rail on curves
• Mainline – Replace 3,000 feet of rail at various locations
• Chicago – Continuation of track and infrastructure improvements to accommodate fourth track for South Shore (NICTD) service expansion
BNSF Line
• Lavergne, Berwyn – Replace switch machines, upgrade switch heaters and turnouts
• Union Avenue, Chicago – Replace wooden ties with concrete ties
Union Pacific Lines
• Lake Street, Chicago – Replace 10 switch machines at interlocking
• Erie Street, Chicago – Install new crossovers
UP Northwest Line
• Erie Street, Chicago to Barrington – Install 63,764 ties
UP West Line
• West Chicago to Geneva – Complete installation of third main track
BRIDGES
Rock Island Line
• Morgan Street, Chicago – Completion of project to replace Morgan Street Bridge
• 55th Street to 60th Street, Chicago – Retaining wall repairs/replacement
BNSF Line
• Keeler Avenue to Kedvale Avenue, Chicago – Retaining wall repairs
UP North Line
• Fullerton Avenue to Addison Street, Chicago – Ongoing project to replace 11 bridges
SIGNAL & COMMUNICATIONS
Rock Island Line
• Chicago – Retire 16th Street Tower and install new control point
• Chicago – Install new signal microprocessor at LaSalle Street Station
• Various locations – Install fiber optic connections at signal bungalows
SouthWest Service
• Various locations – Install fiber optic connections at signal bungalows
Metra Electric Line
• Chicago – Continue signal infrastructure upgrades to accommodate South Shore (NICTD) expansion project
• Chicago – Install new control point CP Congress
• 79th Street to 147th Street – Continue renewal of power feed infrastructure
• Chicago – Install SMART gates on South Chicago Branch as part of grade crossing renewals between Yates Avenue and 93rd Street
• Flossmoor to University Park – Continue renewal of the AC distribution infrastructure
Milwaukee District North and West Lines & North Central Service
• Chicago – Continue project to upgrade signal infrastructure between Canal Street and the A-2 interlocking
• Narragansett Avenue, Chicago to Franklin Park – Install SMART gates and add pedestrian gates
• Various stations – Continue Voice of Metra replacements
• Various stations - Continue with Visual Information System (VIS) replacement and installation of Troi-net train information monitors
• Various stations and yards – Install new security cameras
• Various stations and signal locations – Add fiber optic connections
UP West Line
• Kedzie Station – Repair and replacing signal cables located at the south platform
