Politics & Government
Metra Station Construction Start Pushed Back
Contractor bids won't be opened until Aug. 7, according to the City of Oak Forest.
Breaking ground on the City's new Metra station could be delayed to the fall, City Administrator Troy Ishler said Friday.
The opening on the bids for the project won't be opened until Aug. 7, which is pushing back the expected start date. The would then vote on a bidder, giving the go-ahead for the contractor to begin.
Contruction could begin in August or possibly as late as September, Ishler said.
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"That’s what we’re hoping for," he added.
The new $3.4 million Metra station was expected to break ground in July. It is planned for 159th Street and Cicero Avenue and will have several amenities, including a warming shelter, restrooms, indoor and outdoor seated waiting areas and a geothermal heating system.
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Two grants will help pay for the project. Oak Forest received $1 million from the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and $1.3 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The current station in Oak Forest serves about 1,600 weekday passengers and is on the Rock Island District route.
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