Proposed Elmhurst Train Station Cost Rises

ELMHURST, IL – The cost estimate has risen again for the proposed new train station in downtown Elmhurst, a city memo indicated Thursday.

The latest estimate is $47.3 million, which is up from the $44 million cost given in January.

In mid-2020, officials estimated the Metra station's costs at $25 million.

The new estimate was given as part of a memo on the planned replacement of the police station. Besides utility work, the train station and the public works garage are the only other high-dollar projects in the city's long-term plans, the memo said.

As the costs of the train station have increased, grants from the federal government and other entities have also gone up, now totaling $35.1 million.

That means Elmhurst must come up with $12.2 million. According to the memo, the city would go into debt and pay back the money from a downtown tax increment financing district, or TIF.

During public meetings, officials have indicated some uncertainty about the train station project as the costs have risen. Late last year, the city said it may go out to bid by June. Over the summer, the city indicated it planned to seek bids in December.

The station project is expected to include warming shelters, a pedestrian tunnel, a platform reconstruction and surface parking improvements.

The current station, which is considered undersized for its ridership, is the fourth busiest in the Metra system. It was built in the 1960s and updated in the 1980s.

As for the police station project, the latest estimate is $48 million. That includes the $2 million for relocating and getting temporary space during the construction work.

Officials have explained why they believe the city needs to replace its police station.