Metra announced that the agency and its railroad and municipal partners are undertaking a list of construction projects in 2023.

Construction work got underway the first week of April and will continue through the fall, weather permitting, according to Metra's news release.

Metra's Focus on Spending

In 2023, Metra said it is focusing nearly a quarter of its annual capital spending ($119.5 million) on rebuilding and renewing station facilities. Its five-year plan includes improvement projects for about 20% of Metra’s 242 – soon to be 244 – stations.

“Clean, modern, and accessible passenger facilities are an integral part of a good customer experience and create a welcoming gateway to a community,” said Jim Derwinski, Metra executive director/CEO. “For that reason, our capital plans over the next several years are focused on investments in stations across the Metra system.”

Metra Electric Community Initiative

The Metra Electric Community Initiative, a multiyear plan to improve 13 stations on the line, is an example of Metra’s focus on connecting to the communities it serves.

Work is continuing this year at the 147th St. Station and is scheduled to start at six more: Homewood, 95th, 79th, 87th, 103rd, and Millennium (South Water entrance). Each project will completely renew station facilities and focus on accessibility features, such as elevators, to ensure people can easily access Metra's system.

Other Metra Projects Underway

Metra is also planning to replace the existing wooden platforms at the 83rd Street and 67th Street stations and the stairs and retaining walls at 27th Street. Major station projects are also being planned in 2024 for the Van Buren, 59th-60th St./University of Chicago, 111th Street/Pullman, and Harvey stations.

Construction is ongoing at two new stations: the Peterson Ridge Station on the Union Pacific North Line, slated for completion this year, and the Auburn Park Station on the Rock Island Line, scheduled for completion in 2024.

On its Milwaukee District North Line, the Grayland Station is being rebuilt in conjunction with the replacement of a 124-year-old bridge over Milwaukee Avenue. Metra is also finishing 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.

Preserving the station facilities across the Metra system is also a part of the 2023 capital program, with rehabilitation projects set to begin 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 include the addition of 340 new bicycle parking spaces across Metra, with projects at 17 stations. Metra added that it will also be focusing on smaller ADA accessibility projects such as replacing worn tactile edging on its platforms and improving pathways at station facilities.