METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Metra Breaks Ground on Reconstruction of 95th Street/Chicago State University Station

The $56M project brings ADA upgrades, new connections, and campus access to the station.

June 16, 2025
A digital illustration of changes to the 95th Street/CSU station.

The 95th Street/CSU Station is one of several Metra Electric Line stations being renovated as part of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to improve and make accessible stations along the line.

Photo: Metra

2 min to read


Metra recently broke ground on a $56 million project to rehabilitate and expand the 95th Street/Chicago State University (CSU) Station on the Metra Electric Line. The project aims to improve the station’s accessibility and connection to the university.

The station was closed in March 2025 for construction, which is expected to be completed in late 2027.

Ad Loading...

“This is an opportunity to grow our relationship with Chicago State University and build a station that is a welcoming and comfortable gateway to the school and our system,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “We want to thank the federal, state, and local officials whose steadfast support for this project got us where we are today.”

“This is an exciting project for Chicago State and the Southeast Side. The partnership between Metra and Chicago State will bring safe and equitable transit access to our community,” said Z Scott, president of Chicago State University. “Bringing attention to the need for and importance of an updated Metra station was one of the first initiatives of my tenure at Chicago State. This groundbreaking marks years of hard work and dedication from all those involved.”

95th Street/CSU Station Gets Major Accessibility and Infrastructure Upgrade

The project, awarded to John Burns Construction of Westmont, includes

  • The replacement of the existing headhouse, platform, and stairs.

  • Construction of a new street-level entrance on 95th St. with a new storefront, enclosed entrance area, and elevator.

  • Construction of a new platform with a full-length canopy.

  • Construction of a new CSU campus headhouse.

  • A walkway and bike lane that connects to a new commuter parking lot and new tunnel entrance.

“No matter their zip code, all Chicagoans deserve reliable and accessible public transit to get to school, get to work, and more easily move throughout Chicagoland,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth, who co-sponsored the federal All Stations Accessibility Program, which is helping to fund the rehabilitation. 

Ad Loading...

“As construction begins to modernize this station — including critical ADA upgrades to support all riders — I’m proud to help secure federal support for this vital project on Chicago’s South Side. I’ll keep working with our local leaders and the Illinois congressional delegation to make public transportation more efficient, safe, and accessible for all of Chicago,” Duckworth said.

The 95th Street/CSU Station is one of several Metra Electric Line stations being renovated as part of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to improve and make accessible stations along the line. Work has been completed at the 79th Street/Chatham, 103rd Street/Rosemoor, 147th Street/Sibley, and Homewood stations. Work is ongoing at the 87th Street/Woodruff Station.

More Rail

Graphic from Amtrak promoting the B&P Tunnel Replacement and Frederick Douglass Tunnel project, featuring the Amtrak logo, project title and an illustration of a high-speed train near the West Baltimore MARC Station.
Railby News/Media ReleaseMarch 17, 2026

Amtrak Announces Community Grants for Projects Near Baltimore’s New Frederick Douglass Tunnel

Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.

Read More →
Amtrak train with logo
Railby StaffMarch 16, 2026

Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations

The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.

Read More →
A view looking down the rail across the new Portal North Bridge.
Railby Staff and News ReportsMarch 13, 2026

NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge

The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →