Today I will discuss one of the most crucial infrastructure projects in Chicago - the Chicago Union Station Redevelopment.
It is a critical transportation hub in Chicago, especially for national network trains serving the western and midwestern corridor services.
It is a crucial center for Amtrak's intercity passenger train service, Metrolink's commuter rail service, and Metra's rail and bus services.
In this article, you will learn about the following:
the importance of the Chicago Union Station to Chicago,
the Reasons why AmTrak needed to redevelop the Chicago Union Station, the Chicago Union Station Access Project, and
How will the Chicago Union Station Redevelopment help grow and succeed in the 21st-century economy?
Why is the Chicago Union Station vital for Chicago?
A daily average of more than 100,000 commuters, travelers, and tourists use the Chicago Union Station.
It is the third-busiest railroad terminal in the United States, serving over 300 trains per weekday.
And it is most significant for Amtrak because it is the hub of Amtrak’s network of regional trains serving the Midwest as well as most of the nation’s overnight trains, which connect to the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts.
Chicago Union Station is most known for its majestic Great Hall, which is typically bathed in soft light.
It serves as the hub for national network trains serving the western and midwestern corridor services. In the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White constructed the intercity and commuter rail terminal designed by Daniel Burnham.
So now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Why did AmTrak need to redevelop the Chicago Union Station?
Why did AmTrak need to redevelop the Chicago Union Station?
Similar to the struggles of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the Chicago Union Station has strained under the huge traffic of people going in and out of the structure. Growing Amtrak and Metra ridership have made it a crowded and unpleasant place to catch a train. AmTrak needed to preserve the existing architectural heritage of the Chicago Union Station, ensure efficiency, safety, and pleasantness in trips, and create a vibrant commercial center and civic asset in the area. The Chicago Union Station is key to the economy of Chicagoland.
To preserve its existing architectural heritage.
As much as the goal to provide more convenience to its people, the Chicago Union Station still puts importance on the existing architectural heritage.
This does not only aim to preserve history, but to also continuously show the beauty of these existing architectures which have survived several years of constant change.
To ensure efficiency, safety, and pleasantness in trips
Growing Amtrak and Metra ridership have made the Chicago Union Station a crowded and unpleasant place to commute.
Amtrak seeks to redesign the station to accommodate more than 100,000 passengers every day without any hassle.
Amtrak’s redevelopment of the station seeks to ensure efficiency, safety, and pleasantness in trips.
This is one way to make sure that all travelers are well taken care of and hassle free in every travel they make within the borders of the Windy City.
To create a vibrant commercial center and civic asset
As the economy evolves, so do its demands. And by keeping the station going, this also includes economic development and the station as a civic asset.
With the number of travelers going in and out of the city, ensuring that the station is well preserved and maintained, it will continuously boost the economy of the city.
Now let’s proceed to the redevelopment itself called the Chicago Union Station Access Project.
Chicago Union Station Access Project
The Chicago Union Station Access Project is the product of the 2012 Master Plan. Amtrak, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Metra, and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) prepared transportation-related improvements and provisions for transit-oriented developments surrounding the station.
The project focuses on increasing station capacity, accessibility, and safety to prepare it for the next 100 years. Amtrak has invested more than $60 million into this, especially to improve the tracks, signals, and dispatching systems for Amtrak and Metra trains to and from the station.
Here is the completed Parts of the Chicago Union Station Access Project so far:
Union Station Transit Center
In 2016, the $41 million Union Station Transit Center started operating on Jackson Boulevard between Canal and Clinton streets. It includes an off-street platform that will serve six CTA bus routes in an attempt to alleviate high congestion around Union Station. There were colors of communication in the center to help people in familiarizing with the signs and symbols in the station.
The bus routes served here are Nos. 1–Bronzeville/Union, 28–Stony Island, 121–Union/Streeterville Express, 124–Navy Pier, 151–Sheridan, and 156–LaSalle.
Restored Burlington Room
Since 2010, the Chicago-based Goettsch Partners architecture firm has been working at Union Station.
The Burlington Room has been completely restored and is now available for rental as a conference room and for special occasions.
It is known for its ornate ceiling, champagne-colored columns, and French block murals, making it perfect for a wedding, cocktail reception, seated dinner, or gala.
It can accommodate groups of up to 350 and features its own dedicated entrance and catering kitchen.
Renovated Great Hall
The Great Hall has now been completely renovated, with the ancient skylight and its 2,052 pieces of glass being given a second, high-performance skylight to deal with Chicago's changing weather.
Headhouse Elevator
The Headhouse elevator provides direct ADA-accessible access from the west side of Canal Street down to the Concourse Level.
Riverside Investment & Development Co. is the Master Developer for commercial elements of Chicago Union Station and neighboring Amtrak-owned properties.
320 South Canal
320 South Canal is a 52-story Class A trophy office tower near Union Station.
As part of Chicago Union Station's redevelopment, the structure recently underwent modifications.
It currently has expanded space and market-leading upgrades. The new building will connect to Union Station and the CTA's Union Station Transit Center.
Designed by award-winning architect Goettsch Partners, its market-leading upgrades include excellent light and air with views of Lake Michigan, the largest outdoor park in the West Loop, highly efficient rectilinear floorplates and floor-to-ceiling window lines, private terraces on select floors, state-of-the-art fitness center, hotel-caliber conference center, expansive outdoor terrace space, and full-service dining options.
The redevelopment of the Chicago Union Station is a joint venture between the government and AmTrak with the approval of the riding public organizations.
The Federal Railroad Administration will award a $3 million grant for the Chicago Union Station Redevelopment. This will go to upgrading concourses.
The FRA funds will be matched by $1.5 million by Metra, $600,000 by the Chicago Department of Transportation, $400,000 from Amtrak (via money from a real estate transaction at the station), and $250,000 each from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways.
Rick Harnish, executive director of the Chicago-based High-Speed Rail Alliance, appllaud Amtrak’s redevelopment plans.
The HSRA are optimistic that the redevelopment of the Chicago Union Station would enable both Metra and Amtrak trains to travel faster.
Among these lauded plans are the complete rebuild of the station’s beyond-outmoded engineering system,internal redesign to make the station flow better, rebuilding the long abandoned mail-train platform, and building new track and realigning and making better use of the St. Charles Air Line bridge in the South Loop.
HSRA appreciates that in this plan, the Chicago Union Station will be able to handle four trains at once, allow Metra to run trains south using Metra Electric and Rock Island tracks rather than relying on often congested Canadian National freight tracks, and allow direct service from O’Hare International Airport to McCormick Place via Union Station.
How will the Chicago Union Station Redevelopment help grow and succeed in the 21st-century economy?
The Chicago Union Station is transforming to serve the needs of Chicagoans and everyone who gets into and out of Chicago.
It continues to restore existing historic architecture while integrating new materials and technology that provide more strength and power to the structure.
The redevelopment adheres to the needs of the 21st-century economy - to residents, visitors, workers and commuters.
This would make traveling in and out of Chicago easier and more convenient.
Get updated with the latest news in Chicago real estate by subscribing to our newsletter.
