Metra announces planned 2025 construction upgrades

Chicago commuter railroad Metra yesterday announced its 2025 construction program includes improvements to 52 out of 243 stations and the replacement of 43 grade crossings.

The 2025 capital program allocates $34.9 million for station and parking improvements, $48.1 million for track maintenance, $46.2 million for bridge projects, $5.9 million for rail crossing replacements and $39.2 million for signal, electrical and communications maintenance and upgrades, Metra officials said in a press release. 

Metra also is continuing its replacement program for 11 bridges that are over 120 years old. The multiyear $337 million bridge replacement program will also replace 4 miles of track structure and nearly 2 miles of retaining walls, Metra officials said.

Metra will replace its 124-year-old 16th Street Tower on the Rock Island Line, and will upgrade crossing technology to enable remote monitoring of crossing devices. Platform announcement systems and electric signage will also be replaced in 2025.

Among the planned station improvements are platform replacements and repairs, including at the 115th Street/Morgan Park Station, which will also receive new parking services and warming shelters, Metra officials said.

Stations and viaducts along the Metra Electric Line will be repainted and power washed. Smaller projects such as accessibility upgrades and state of good repair will be implemented at 26 stations. These projects are scheduled to begin this year and continue through 2026.

Metra and its railroad partners plan to replace 117,000 rail ties this year, Metra officials said. On the Rock Island Line, workers are about to begin replacing over 16,000 ties and over 22,000 feet of rail between Mokena and Joliet. Infrastructure work is continuing in preparation for the installation of a fourth track on the Metra Electric Line, Metra officials said.

The planned 43 grade crossing improvements will take place across the system on the Milwaukee District North Line and West Line, Metra Electric Line, BNSF Line, and Union Pacific lines. 

A full breakdown of the construction program can be found here.