With major renovations already underway at several Metra Electric line stations, more work is planned for Olympia Fields and Chicago State University stops.
New sources of funding allowed the Regional Transportation Authority to infuse more into outdated and inaccessible commuter rail stations on the line that extends from the heart of Chicago to Governors State University, according to Metra Communications Director Michael Gillis.
He said capital funding granted by the General Assembly over past years in addition to federal infrastructure money have provided the RTA “more capital money than we’ve ever had in our history.”
Conditions of certain stations have repeatedly raised concerns among elected officials and advocates. Last summer, stairs caved in at the University Park station, injuring one, six years after Metra agreed to begin upgrades there.
“We made the repairs to the stairway there,” Gillis said. “We do have plans to do a full rehab there, but those are in the early stages, so early that we don’t really have a timeline for that yet.”
In Olympia Fields, Sharpwatch Community Action Group celebrated the announcement of renovations to the 203rd Street stop near the Olympia Fields Country Club. Sharpwatch President Eugene Broyls said he began requesting work in 2020 to improve the station’s accessibility for people with disabilities and provide better shelter for people waiting for the train.
“Its kind of like the gateway to our community when people come to visit,” Broyls said. “I’ve written to Metra several times in the wintertime, and it does have a wall to protect the riders from the weather, wind, snow and rain, but it’s not a very pleasant place to be.”
Gillis said Metra is investing $3.4 million in preliminary engineering, environmental review and final design phase activities for the Olympia Fields station as well as $17.7 million for construction to begin in 2026. The existing tunnel will be gutted and repaired after complaints of water leakage, he said, and passengers can expect amenities such as LED monitors, lighting and signage.
Further along are plans to construct a new 95th Street/Chicago State University station starting this summer, which will cost $33.4 million and take a little over three years to complete. Updates include building an enclosed street-level entrance on 95th Street, a new platform with a full-length canopy and a walkway and bike lane that connects to a new commuter parking lot and tunnel entrance, according to a Metra news release.
Gillis said Metra will spend $809 million on the electric line this decade, more than half of which is dedicated to station rehabilitation. Between 13 and 15 more stations are being considered for improvements in the next few years.
Other south suburban stations are reopening after having been closed for upgrades. The 147th Street/Sibley Boulevard station in Harvey is expected to open later this summer after receiving its own set of ADA accessibility improvements and new structures. Homewood’s new $14.5 million enclosed station is expected to reopen to travelers next summer, Gillis said.
Metra will continue recommending nearby stations to use as others temporarily shut down for construction, though not all stations will require complete closure.
“I think most people understand that these are going to be significant improvements to their stations,” Gillis added. “They’ve been very tolerant and patient of the work going on because they know the end result is going to be real beneficial to riders.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
