Metra has unveiled preliminary plans for a new station and rail flyover for the growing West Loop area. The neighborhood has seen some of the fastest growth of any in Chicago with population numbers nearly doubling in the last five years and the area median income increasing to nearly $120,000 per year, a sharp increase of over $40,000 since its meat-packing days. With a population of roughly 30,000 people and thousands more commuting in for work throughout the day, it has become the next target for Metra service which will force the system to address its largest bottleneck.
Existing A2 interlock by Metra
On the corner of W Kinzie Street and N Western Avenue is the A2 interlocking of four Metra lines. The A2 interlock is right off of both the Union Pacific California Avenue Yard and the Metra Western Avenue Yard, serving an extra three lines which must use the interlock for day-time maintenance and storage. All of this makes it the busiest interlock in the system with seven of the 11
Metra has begun to value-engineer three different options for the flyover. The options mainly vary when it comes to where the flyover will occur, with options beginning the uphill around N Damen Avenue or near N Ashland Avenue. While no selection has been made, they are evaluating which will be the most cost effective and efficient for the over 200 Metra and 16 Amtrak trains that pass by a day. The flyover which will need to be built first will cost between $1-$1.2 billion and increase capacity to the system allowing for expansions on lines towards O’Hare.
New platform and Ashland Green Line stop via Google Maps
Once the A2 flyover is completed, work on a new station could begin, this station is being developed through extensive research on the expanse of workers it could serve. Multiple opinions were considered including an at-grade station between N Racine Avenue and N May Street, however that option was deemed least desirable due to the downtime of the tracks while trains stop. In the end the most viable option was determined to be between N Ashland Avenue and N Ogden Avenue with the potential platform stretching nearly 900 feet and access facilities nearly 1,750 feet in length between the two roads.
1/2 mile employment walkshed by Metra
Metra lines UP-W, MD-N, MD-W, and NCS will pass through the station and platform access will be offered from both east and west sides of N Ashland Avenue and from the west side of N Ogden Avenue. The location was chosen not only for its comparatively less disruptive construction, but also because of its proximity to public transportation with 5,623 potential CTA rail and bus boardings within a quarter of a mile from the Ashland entrance. The overall walkshed of the area was also crucial in the selection with a combined 43,400 jobs being within half of a mile from the two entrances. The station would come with a $400-500 million price tag and be built post flyover.
New station traffic flow and area analysis by Metra
Although a final timeline has not been fully set, Metra plans to continue their analysis including environmental and funding through 2023. Further road improvements are also being studied including stretching W Arbour Place to the south of the station for ride share and vehicle pick-ups. For now the overall $1.4-1.7 billion project could take more than 10 years to build with the station opening no earlier than 2031.
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