Metra has been invited by the village of Homewood to hold an informational meeting to detail renovation plans for the Homewood Station on the Metra Electric Line. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 10, in the board room at Homewood Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
Members of the design team will present preliminary plans and answer questions about the proposed renovations to the station, which serves more than 1,200 Metra customers a day and is also a stop for some Amtrak trains. The public is encouraged to attend.
Proposed renovations include reconstruction of the east and west entrances; installation of new stairs and ADA compliant ramps; new stairs leading to the Amtrak platform; reconstruction of the Amtrak platform and canopy; installation of water seepage barriers and a drainage system in the tunnel, new tunnel walls, ceiling and lighting; and reconfiguration of parking on the Park Avenue side of the station.
Improvements to Metra’s portion of the station will take place when funding becomes available. Construction of the Amtrak portion of the station is scheduled to begin next year.
Metra in late 2015 completed interim repairs at the Homewood Station that were aimed at making the station more welcoming and comfortable until a more extensive rehabilitation could be designed and funded. The interim work included replacing all the steps on the metal stairway that connects the pedestrian tunnel with the platform; replacing all of the ceiling tiles above those stairs; cleaning, sealing and painting all windows above the stairs; repairing and painting stucco; painting areas throughout the station; painting ceiling tiles at the east and west entrances; adding LED bulbs in the tunnel; and other improvements.