New Elmhurst Metra Station In Works

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst is planning to replace the downtown Metra station with a larger building and a pedestrian underpass. This week, the City Council received an update on the project from an architectural and engineering firm, CDM Smith.

The city is in line to receive more than $20 million in outside grants for the project, with the overall price tag estimated to be up to $25 million.

In the fall, the city plans to hold a "public visioning session" to figure out what residents would like to see in a new Metra station. The three styles are modern, historic or something resembling another building in town, officials said. The project could go out to bid in spring 2021.

"This is something that is definitely important to the town," Mayor Steve Morley said at Monday's council meeting. "I appreciate that staff went out and applied and got over $20 million in grants, so we don't have to ask our residents for the money."

Alderwoman Noel Talluto wondered how the city is figuring in Metra's declining ridership as a result of the pandemic.

Elmhurst City Manager Jim Grabowski responded that Metra expected to regain most of its ridership in 18 to 24 months.

"By the time we get to peak ridership, we should have a brand-new station," Grabowski said. "We are doubling the size of the station and adding warming shelters and other platform areas that will help people spread out."

Ben Harber, a senior project manager with CDM Smith, said the new station is expected to last a half century or more.

"The city has invested a lot in the downtown over the last 30 years, and I think the thought was that this was one of the last pieces to that puzzle," he said.