Metra workers have spent the last several months with hammers, paint brushes and other tools sprucing up stations across our system in a focused effort to make our station environments more inviting and welcoming.
“Our stations are the gateways to our system and the communities we serve but they are exposed to the elements and can show wear over time,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “Through this program, we are working to create the best environment for our commuters so that they can feel safe, secure and comfortable while waiting for our trains.”
Metra’s station beautification program is in addition to the major station rehabilitation and replacement projects that take place across our system each year. All work under this program is performed by Metra employees and is intended to address minor issues such as paint, concrete patching, window replacement, gutter repair and platform sealing. However, in some cases, more extensive work such as platform decking and stair replacement was performed. These issues if left unattended contribute to the deterioration of station facilities and leave a less than favorable impression on our passengers and the community as a whole.
In 2014, nearly $2 million in beautification and repair work was performed at 59 Metra stations with nearly $1 million of the dollars spent through this program allocated to projects at 18 stations on the Metra Electric Line. This included extensive work at the 18th Street, 63rd Street, 75th Street (Grand Crossing), 91st Street (Chesterfield), Burr Oak and Richton Park.
Beautification projects have also taken place at 16 stations on Metra’s Milwaukee West Line, ten stations on Metra’s Milwaukee North Line, ten stations on the Rock Island Line, three stations on the Heritage Corridor and one station each on the North Central Service and the BNSF.