Stimulus Dollars Used to Rebuild Winnetka Metra Station

Metra officials joined with Winnetka President Jessica Tucker and other local officials on Monday to break ground on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Winnetka train station on the Union Pacific North line.

 

The nearly $5 million project includes restoring the street-level depot, the pedestrian bridge and six stairways, installing new elevators and vestibules, and replacing the platforms and platform shelters. New landscaping also will be included in the project, which is expected to take about a year to complete.

 

The project is one of several that Metra is funding with its share of money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the federal stimulus bill. The project is expected to create or retain about 40 jobs. Blinderman Construction Co. of Chicago was awarded the contract for the work.

 

“North Shore residents, especially the more than 600 riders who use this station every day, will witness firsthand how we are putting that money to work to create jobs, stimulate the local economy and improve the safety and comfort of our passengers,” Metra Chairman Carole R. Doris said.  “This is just the type of project that the stimulus money was meant for.”

 

Metra Director William A. Widmer of Evanston said the renovated station should prove comfortable, attractive and functional for Metra riders and area residents. “We hope it will further cement the great partnership we have with Winnetka,” he said. “And we hope it will serve our customers and the community well into future.

 

Metra is receiving $140.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects being funded with these dollars include the rehabilitation of locomotives, bridge replacements, station renovations and parking expansions.