Plans have been revealed for the expansion and renovation of the existing 59th Street/University of Chicago Metra station in Hyde Park. Located between East 59th Street and East 60th Street, the station will serve the upcoming Obama Presidential Center as well as the university. The project is being led by Metra.
Site map for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Site rendering for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
The existing station currently utilizes a single outdoor entrance on 59th Street. It hasn’t seen significant renovations in decades, and the 60th Street entrance has been closed for the past 45 years. Due to this—and the increased ridership expected—Metra has partnered with Legat Architects to reconstruct the station with improved accessibility.
Plans for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Plans for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Diagram for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Both the 59th and 60th Street entrances will receive new glass enclosures around the existing colonnades. Each will include two elevators to the platform, a storage room, and digital information boards. The upper levels will feature an enclosed exit and an extended roof over the platform. A new lighting package will also be installed.
Rendering for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Rendering for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Rendering for 59th Station reconstruction by Legat Architects
Clad in various types of concrete panels and glass storefronts, the station upgrade will carry a $74 million price tag. Earlier this month, the Department of Planning and Development approved the project, as it falls within a Lakefront Protection District. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and finish by early 2030.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
So they plan to start work on the station right after the Obama Center opens?
Yes, in classic Chicago fashion. Let’s look at it this way, at least it’s a more ambitious timeline than the CTA had for opening an L station when the United Center was completed.
A colossal improvement in terms of safety, convenience and accessibility.
And it will be finished by early 2030…if there are no further delays.
$ 74 Million? I will take the over bet !
It will balloon to $700 million soon enough
The bright lights in the entrance passage feel much safer. And it’s good to see elevators. Will the doors be ADA accessible with push buttons?
3.5 years to redo a train station. They build skyscrapers in less time.
They don’t care about cost or timeline, as long as they can brag about all the unions they got involved and minority owned businesses.
Many skyscrapers are less complicated. Among other issues, there are safety consideration and construction constraints when working on an active (and electrified) railway involving two railroads, retrofitting a project into an existing structure adds complexity, more of the work is outside relative to a residential structure, and a public transit agency is overseen by not only state and federal entities (including the FRA), but require more consensus to make decisions.
It’s almost always harder to redo something existing than to build new.
It took like 14 years for the Ravenswood Metra remodel and that was much less ambitious, so let’s see…
I’m happy for 59th street station. Another accessible station. Yippee Skippy! That’s wonderful.
So nothing for the 63rd Street Station which is equidistant to the proposed library? In fact, closer depending on what exit you use. Interesting.
Awesome. Love to see it. With the new hotel tower on the way too the Obama Center is really revitalizing this whole area
Max: So would you rather have all-white, non-union contractors working on the project? Or, do you detest the bragging, because mentioning race would NOT have been necessary.
Exactly! Because what’s your point?
Amazing. The 60th Street entrance was closed in 1980. Metro didn’t even exist then.