(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It’s not just expressways where you’ll notice construction this summer. Metra has construction plans as well.
Metra plans to spend nearly a quarter of its nearly $120 million dollar capital funding for this year on rebuilding and renovating commuter stations with a big focus on the Electric Line and its elevated stations.
According to spokesman Michael Gillis, “We’re targeting 13 stations on that line and the goal is to make all those stations ADA accessible,” by putting in elevators.
There’ll also be a lot of bridge work, including replacing a 124-year-old bridge over Milwaukee Avenue along the Milwaukee District North Line near the Grayland Station. Metra is also finishing rehab work on Vermont Street in Blue Island along the Rock Island Line and the new inbound platform and shelters at Ravenswood on the UP North Line.
“We’re kind of playing catch-up to a little extent but, we did get a boost in capital funding from the state and feds and so, we are going to be investing that into our system,” said Gillis.
There’ll be basic maintenance construction too, including replacing nearly 210,000 railroad ties, at least 7,500 feet of rail and 24 crossings.
Gillis said Metra will be adding 340 new bicycle parking spaces across the system at 17 stations.
There are also plans to preserve a couple of historic stations this year. There’ll be major rehab work on the 132- year-old Kenilworth Station on the UP North Line and the 97-year-old LaGrange Road station on the BNSF Line.
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