Metra in McHenry County/4 more train stations proposed Options

[Sloan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/n...0,5923974.story

[KevinKorell]

The Prairie Grove and Johnsburg stations have been discussed for some time. They are beyond McHenry, currently the only station on the spur that runs northward off the UP-NW line to Harvard. The spur splits from the mainline in Crystal Lake, in between the Pingree Rd. and downtown Crystal Lake stations. The spur has rush hour only service, only inbound on weekday mornings and only outbound on weekday evenings, with the exception of one lone outbound morning trip. METRA has in the past talked about putting a yard near Johnsburg, so presumably this would mean much more frequent service along the spur to McHenry and on to Johnsburg.

Johnsburg is also relatively close to Fox Lake, so potentially it gives people in that area another choice. It also brings service closer to the Wisconsin border so that residents of that state who don't live near the METRA UP North line to Kenosha have another route they can take.

[KevinKorell]

From Chicago, IL Tribune, 1/20/10:

Crystal Lake annexation deal paves way for Metra stop

Crystal Lake officials have approved a pre-annexation agreement for a 17-acre site, where Metra plans to build a commuter train stop.

The station, between the Woodstock and Crystal Lake stations, would cost an estimated $5 million and take four years to open, Metra officials say. It is part of a planned expansion to the Union Pacific Northwest line.

This story is here.