A renovation permit has been secured for the 79th Street Chatham Metra station at 1113 E 79th Street in East Catham. Elevated on an embankment and accessible from under a bridge, the station is poised for a series of enhancements by the listed owner Metra.
The planned upgrades, outlined by architect Susan A. Thayer, feature a new elevator, a station enclosure at both street and track levels, an elongated platform with a canopy, enhanced lighting, and a dedicated electrical room. For safety measures, a dispersal area equipped with two-way communication will be established at the far end of the station entrance.
While the permit doesn’t specify any changes to parking arrangements, the station is situated directly adjacent to the 79th & Greenwood intersection, which offers Route 79 bus service.
IHC Construction Companies is overseeing the project as the general contractor. The reported cost in the filing is $12,600,000, and the completion date remains to be announced.
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If cost weren’t a consideration, Metra could probably do something fun with the abandoned rail bridge and the two green spaces on each side of the tracks.
This abandoned line does seem like a good candidate for a short rail trail in the future. All the better that it can connect people to a transit station.