Chicago’s 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.”

Metra’s Construction Projects 

Work is being performed by Metra’s in-house crews, employees of Metra’s freight partners, and 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.