One of the oldest stations in the Metra system, the Blue Island Vermont Street Station on the Rock Island Line was built in 1868, replacing a structure that was built when the Rock Island Railroad first established service in the area in 1852. The station and railroads have played a critical role in Blue Island’s history, including as a flashpoint in the 1894 Great Pullman Strike. Metra recently completed a $3.7 million renovation of the facility that included a full interior and exterior restoration.