Metra Completes Homewood Station Renovation
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
David C. Lester
CHICAGO - Metra has finished its Homewood Station project after crews spent 20 months to rebuild the station and improve ADA accessibility.
The $21 million project was part of an “intermodal transportation facility serving Metra, Amtrak, and Pace customers,” according to the release from Metra. After the rebuild, the station reopened to passengers on December 9th. The facility now has an ADA-acesible east head house with a ramp, wind breaks, warming house, renovated platform, and gatehouse. Crews also upgraded the drainage, ventilation, interior finishes, and lighting as well as replaced the elevator and stairs. The project is part of a multiyear plan to make stations along the Metra Electric Line through the South Side and south suburbs more accessible.
Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said, “This new facility offers a tremendous improvement to the customer experience for Metra, Pace, and Amtrak riders. . . It also demonstrates how cooperation from multiple entities can secure funding and create tangible benefits in our communities.”
“Homewood is excited to open the facility and reconnect the commuters to downtown Homewood,” said President Hofeld. “While this project was being constructed, Homewood facilitated the development of several new downtown opportunities for commuters and residents to enjoy, including a new mixed use residential building, shops, eateries, new restaurants and bars, just steps away from the new station. We invite commuters to stop into the downtown and explore downtown Homewood.”
