The Metra Board of Directors decided to spend USD 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, to modernize the station to better accommodate future commuter rail passengers; reduce congestion and enhance facilities for trains and passengers; improve intermodal connections.
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 USD 1 million with contributions of USD 3 million from Amtrak, USD 1.5 million from the RTA and USD 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.
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