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[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading 7/16/20

 

Metra OKs contract to build new station on UP North Line

 

Construction on the Peterson Ridge Station (rendering pictured) project is expected to start this fall. Photo – Metra

 

Metra’s board yesterday awarded John Burns Construction Co. a $15.2 million contract to build a new commuter-rail station on the Union Pacific North Line in the Edgewater area of Chicago.

 

SNIP

 

Construction on the Peterson Ridge Station project is expected to start in fall.

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

Metra news release

 

Board approves $15.2 million contract to build new Peterson Ridge Station

 

(July 15, 2020) - The Metra Board of Directors today approved a $15.2 million contract to build a new Peterson Ridge Station and parking facility on the Union Pacific North Line. A Metra station in Edgewater has been planned for years. Click here to see a rendering of the new station.

 

Metra had originally planned to fund the project with its share of proceeds from the 2009 state of Illinois bond programs and money secured by then State Representative and now Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) with strong support from former Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th). However, that funding was held up in the state’s budget woes and then cut in 2017. Funding for the station was restored in recent state budgets. Current 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez also supports the new station.

 

The contract for the work was awarded to John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, through a competitive bidding process. The contractor has committed to awarding 30 percent of the subcontracting work to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms.

 

The project, which is expected to start this fall and take about 18 months to complete, includes construction of two six-car platforms; a new pedestrian bridge over Peterson Avenue; heated concrete stairs and ADA-compliant ramps; a glass and masonry warming house with side canopies and metal roof; two shelters with on-demand heating; an access drive with a cul-de-sac turnaround and ADA pick-up/drop-off; five ADA parking spaces and 44 pay parking spaces along Ravenswood Avenue; bicycle parking; a plaza with associated landscaping and irrigation system; reworked traffic signals for the station entrance; and the rehabilitation of the existing bridges at Peterson and Ridge avenues.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Metra news release

 

Metra, state and local officials break ground on new Peterson Ridge Station

 

 

 

Monday, November 01, 2021

 

 

Metra, state and local officials, including Metra Director Ric Estrada, Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski, Metra Board Vice Chairman Norm Carlson. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Sylvia I. Garcia, Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, State Rep. Greg Harris, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, State Sen. Mike Simmons, Ald. Andre Vasquez and Ald. Harry Osterman, today broke ground on the new Peterson Ridge Station on the Union Pacific North Line.

 

“It is exciting to be breaking ground on this highly anticipated new station for the Edgewater community,” Derwinski said. “We look forward to serving new and existing My Metra riders with a welcoming and comfortable new station.”

 

“Building infill stations like Peterson-Ridge is a great opportunity to give more residents of our county convenient access to transit, helping them get to work, school, and recreation, which strengthens our neighborhoods and supports the region’s economy,” President Preckwinkle said.

The $19 million project, which is expected to take about 18 months to complete, includes two six-car platforms; heated concrete stairs and ADA-compliant ramps; a glass and masonry warming house with side canopies and metal roof; two shelters with on-demand heating; an access drive with a cul-de-sac turnaround and ADA pick-up/drop-off; five ADA parking spaces and 44 pay parking spaces along Ravenswood Avenue; bicycle parking; a plaza with associated landscaping and irrigation system; and reworked traffic signals for the station entrance. There will be an additional $3 million of renovation work on the bridges over Peterson and Ridge avenues.

 

The work is being funded in part by a $15 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), a component of Rebuild Illinois, the state’s historic capital plan. Federal Transit Administration funding will cover the remaining $7 million in work. An estimated 150 jobs will be created during the project.

 

“Through the state’s historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan, DCEO is committed to bringing forward economic development projects that will modernize infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and increase access to opportunity in communities across our state,” Director Garcia said. “We are happy to support the new Peterson Ridge Metra Station, which will increase transportation options in Edgewater and is part of Governor Pritzker’s efforts to increase safe, reliable and equitable access to transportation options for residents and businesses across Illinois.”

 

“Providing safe and reliable transportation options, improving connections to jobs and enhancing quality of life – that’s how the Illinois Department of Transportation and our partners are working together to rebuild Illinois,” Secretary Osman said. “This station is another great example of the teamwork happening under Gov. Pritzker to revitalize infrastructure and communities across Illinois.”

 

The state funding was secured with support of then-State Representative and now Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) with strong support from former Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th). Current 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez also supports the new station

 

“The construction of the long-awaited Metra station on Peterson in Edgewater will provide additional access to quality public transportation for our community residents,” said Ald. Osterman. “I am proud to have played a role in seeing this project funded and brought to life in our community.”

 

“This project has been years in the making, and I'm very grateful and very proud to have been able to help bring it along to this day’” said Ald. Vasquez. “A new transit hub connecting our neighborhoods to downtown and to the North Shore will strengthen our ward’s accessibility, affordability, and diversity, and I look forward to working with Metra to complete the project.”

 

“Metra historically serves over 150,000 daily passengers in the Chicago region and performs a critical role for Chicagoans in their day to day life – bringing them to work and to visit friends and family. Breaking ground on the Peterson Ridge Station is just the beginning of Metra’s efforts to expand and improve services throughout the area, providing affordable, climate-friendly transportation,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley. “As part of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, I’m committed to securing funding for projects like this and ensuring our communities have strong, accessible transportation and infrastructure.”

 

Significant state dollars allocated to Metra under the Rebuild Illinois program, combined with federal aid, are helping to fund an unprecedented investment in the Metra system. This includes the purchase of new, modern rail cars and newly repowered locomotives, and the rehabilitation of existing cars and locomotives. And it includes the construction of another new station – Auburn Park on the Rock Island Line – and the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing stations and the replacement or rehabilitation of existing bridges. These projects will improve rider comfort, increase accessibility, strengthen service reliability, and improve air quality.

 

The contract for the Peterson Ridge construction work was awarded to John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park. John Burns committed to awarding 30 percent of the subcontracting work to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms.

 

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 5/7/24:

 

 

   Metra to open new station in Chicago, add UP North trains May 20    

 

 

Metra will open its newest station, and expand service on its Union Pacific North Line — which includes that station, Peterson/Ridge — on Monday, May 20, the commuter rail operator has announced.

 

 

This item is cross-posted in thread for Peterson/Ridge station and the Commuter Trains forum.

[CNJRoss]

Metra news release

 

UP North Line weekday service to expand May 20 as new Peterson/Ridge Station opens

 

Monday, May 06, 2024

 

 

Metra’s newest station at Peterson/Ridge in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood is set to open to the public on Monday, May 20. On the same day, Metra will add four trains to weekday service on the UP North Line. The new schedule will accommodate the station stop and increase options for riders across the line.

 

“We continue to monitor customer feedback and this new schedule shows that we are listening,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “In addition to the new trains, riders in Kenosha and Waukegan as well as reverse commuters will now have more options. The grand opening of our new station at Peterson/Ridge also provides another much-needed access point to our service.”  

 

The added trains, which begin service on May 20, address customer requests to fill gaps in rush hour service and reduce crowding on some rush hour trains. The schedule changes also increase the number of trains serving Waukegan and Kenosha and provide additional options for reverse commuters. Metra is also adjusting midday train departure times to accommodate the new stop at the new Peterson/Ridge Station and allow sufficient time for the train to be prepared for its next trip. Current riders should review the new schedule at metra.com.

 

New inbound Train #390 will depart Waukegan at 5:35 a.m. and make all stops to Chicago, arriving at 6:55 a.m. This new train specifically addresses customer requests to provide additional service during this time period. A second new inbound Train #392 will now depart Winnetka at 7:53 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 8:35 a.m., providing customers with a new option and relieving crowding.

 

For outbound service, Metra is adding a 6:40 a.m. departure serving stations between Chicago and Highland Park. For the evening rush, Train #393, which will serve stops between Chicago and Winnetka, is being added and will depart Chicago at 4:50 p.m. This train was added to the schedule to relieve crowding on other rush hour trains. Train #393 will also stop at Ravinia Park during concert season.

 

The UP North Line has experienced a strong ridership rebound since the pandemic, especially on weekends. Metra is examining opportunities to upgrade weekend service on the line and hopes to be able to announce additional schedule improvements later this year.

A copy of the new schedule can be found here.

 

 

Cross-posted in thread for Peterson/Ridge station and the Commuter Trains forum.