CHICAGO — Metra plans to renovate its Electric District station at 95th Street, serving Chicago State University, with the goal of boosting ridership and creating a transit hub.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the commuter railroad has agreed to a “memorandum of understanding” with the university to build a new platform, stair enclosure, elevator, and on-demand heater, as well as upgrading the 119-space parking lot.
Metra plans to begin design work immediately. There is no timetable for completion of the work.
Crain’s Chicago Business reports the project will be funded through money from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s state capital investment plan.
The good news is that Metra has done a wonderful job upgrading some of the once-decrepit stations on the former Illinois Central electric. The bad news is that this process has taken several decades and is nowhere near completion.