Metra has launched its 2025 construction program, outlining a series of infrastructural improvements aimed at enhancing service reliability and safety across the Chicago metropolitan area. The planned upgrades include works at 52 stations, the replacement of 43 grade crossings, and significant bridge and track renewal projects. These efforts will improve operations and ensure a smoother experience for passengers across Metra’s 11 lines.
Metra’s 2025 capital program allocates funding across several key areas, with $34.9 million for stations and parking, $48.1 million for track maintenance, $46.2 million for bridge projects, $5.9 million for grade crossing replacements, and $39.2 million for signal, electrical, and communications upgrades.
Upgrades are planned at 52 of 243 stations, with major accessibility and infrastructure works continuing at the 87th and 95th Street stations on the Metra Electric Line. Additional platform repairs or replacements are scheduled for Morton Grove, Golf, Grayslake, Naperville, Oak Lawn, Pingree Road, Kedzie, and Geneva stations. The Rock Island Line will see platform, parking, and shelter improvements at 115th Street/Morgan Park station, while work progresses on the new Auburn Park station.
Metra and its partners will replace approximately 117,000 railway ties in 2025. Major tie and rail replacement projects are planned for the Rock Island Line, the Milwaukee District North Line, and the Metra Electric Line. Infrastructure work on the Metra Electric Line will lay the groundwork for the installation of a fourth track, while the UP West third track project aims to eliminate a bottleneck between West Chicago and Geneva. Grade crossing replacements are scheduled at 43 locations systemwide, including crossings on the Rock Island, SouthWest Service, Milwaukee District North and West, Metra Electric, BNSF, and Union Pacific lines.
A significant project on the UP North Line to rebuild 11 bridges between Fullerton Avenue and Addison Street in Chicago will be continued. The $337 million project will also replace 2.4 miles of track and nearly 1.2 miles of retaining walls. The Rock Island Line will see continued work on the Morgan Street bridge replacement.
Signal upgrades in 2025 include replacing the 124-year-old 16th Street Tower on the Rock Island Line and improving the Metra Electric Line to support the expansion of the South Shore Line. Additionally, the deployment of SMART crossing technology will be expanded to enable remote monitoring and proactive maintenance at crossings on the Milwaukee District West and Metra Electric lines. Construction work is already underway and is expected to continue through autumn, weather permitting.