Amtrak to Begin $12M Rehabilitation of Chicago’s Iconic Union Station

By Ioana Neamt, Associate Editor

Union Station Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced that Amtrak plans to invest $12 million into much-needed rehabilitation work at Chicago’s Union Station. The 90-year-old building will undergo extensive renovation work, including a redesign of the overcrowded passenger concourse, safety improvements, enhanced temperature controls and repairs to the building’s exterior façade.

Over the following months, the City of Chicago will work closely with the state of Illinois, the federal government, Amtrak and Metra in order to facilitate the rehabilitation work of the building. According to a news release, the project will require a $500 million investment.

“By bringing Union Station into the 21st century, we will bring more economic opportunities to residents all throughout the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Emanuel. “With this investment in the future of Union Station we will provide a more reliable link between downtown and our neighborhoods, connecting residents to work and keeping Chicago on the move.”

Located on the west side of the Chicago River at 225 S. Canal St., Chicago’s Union Station is the third busiest terminal in the United States, after Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station in New York City. The terminal serves roughly 120,000 passengers daily and is currently the only intercity rail terminal in the city.

The rehabilitation of Union Station will be supported by other projects already under way, such as the development of the Union Station Transportation Center and a new Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus terminal.

Image courtesy of Dewitz Photography

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