Amtrak recently began construction on the $112 million Chicago Union Station project, the first in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) to advance to construction.
CHIP invests in regional and intercity passenger rail in the Midwest.
The 30-month project will convert dormant platforms originally built for mail and parcels into passenger platforms that will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The platforms serve multiple tracks and will enable boarding for tracks 30 and higher without ramps, stairs or lifts, and will include a climate-controlled waiting area with restrooms. Nationwide, Amtrak has more than 80 stations with accessibility projects underway.
“Today marks an exciting milestone for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program as construction begins on Platforms 30 through 38 at Chicago Union Station,” Warren LeBeau, Amtrak vice president of infrastructure project delivery, said. “This investment will deliver a fully ADA-compliant, level boarding platform that makes travel easier and more convenient for all Amtrak passengers, while launching a new chapter of improvements at the station. Together, these investments are creating a more welcoming, modern, and customer-focused station for the millions of travelers who pass through it each year.”
Major construction work will begin by the end of this year.