Metra Signs Deal on Union Station Design

Jan. 15, 2016

The Metra Board of Directors on Jan. 13, voted unanimously to spend $1 million on a study that will produce 30 percent design plans to improve Chicago Union Station. The project will be funded through a partnership between Metra, Amtrak, the city of Chicago and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

The study will include planning, historic review and preliminary engineering and design work to: increase train and passenger handling capacity in and around the station; modernize the station to better accommodate future commuter rail passengers; reduce congestion and enhance facilities for trains and passengers; improve intermodal connections; strengthen access to jobs by better connecting city neighborhoods and suburban communities, and improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The improvements, outlined in the 2012 Chicago Union Station Master Plan, will address the most immediate capacity, service, accessibility and mobility issues within the station.

“Nearly half of Metra’s customers use Chicago Union Station for their trips, so improving and modernizing it is a top priority for our agency,” said Metra Board Chairman Marty Oberman.  “By working closely with the city and our partners, we believe this significant project will finally move forward and become a reality.”

“This study will help us plan for much-needed improvements to the station platforms and other public areas,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “With Union Station operating at capacity during peak periods, these improvements are critical to the future of Metra’s operations.”

Metra, Amtrak, the RTA and the city of Chicago collectively drafted a statement of work to solicit a team of professionals to work on the project with a selection to be made by March 2016 and design work expected to be completed in late 2017 or early 2018.  Metra is committing $1 million with contributions of $3 million from Amtrak, $1.5 million from the RTA and $500,000 from the city of Chicago.

Chicago Union Station is the third-busiest station in the U.S. and a key transportation facility and vital economic driver for Chicago and the region. It is served by both Amtrak intercity passenger trains and Metra commuter trains. It handles more than 300 trains per weekday carrying approximately 120,000 passengers, a level of passenger traffic that would rank it among the 10 busiest airports in the nation. However, Union Station currently operates at or near capacity during peak periods, threatening its ability to sustain ridership and economic growth.

The Chicago City Council Finance Committee approved the memorandum of understanding at its Jan. 11 meeting.  The full Chicago City Council is expected to vote on the memorandum in January.