The Metra Board of Directors today approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Deerfield that will allow needed improvements to the community’s historic train station to move forward.
“Today’s action by our Board allows us to fund critical repairs to this historically significant building in partnership with the village,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “This train station is a community landmark and this project ensures that it will continue to serve as a welcoming gateway to Deerfield for years to come.”
The Deerfield Station building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. A railroad station has existed at the 860 Deerfield Road location since 1900. The current station structure dates back to 1917 when it was rebuilt following a fire.
Under the agreement, Metra will allocate $175,000 to fund the replacement of the historic station’s cedar shake roof and wooden floor. The repairs also include the replacement of the piping and radiators for the building’s heating system and the installation of period-appropriate wall-mounted fans to cool the interior during summer months.
The village’s Department of Public Works will oversee the project at the station, which serves more than 1,200 passengers each weekday. Contracts were awarded following a competitive bidding process. Woodridge’s Integral Flooring Systems and Waukegan Roofing were the successful bidders.