Politics & Government

New Metra Station Will Break Ground in July

Two grants will help pay for the construction of the more than $3 million station at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Forest.

Oak Forest residents can expect to see shovels in the ground for the new $3.4 million Metra station this July.

The made the announcement in a news release earlier this month. The new Metra station, planned for 159th Street and Cicero Avenue, will have several amenities, including a warming shelter, restrooms, indoor and outdoor seated waiting areas and a geothermal heating system.

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 in the fall, according to officials.

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"We're just tying up the loose ends at this point," said Community Development Director Adam Dotson in a news release. "We worked diligently to pursue these funding opportunities because we believe that the train station plays a very important role in revitalizing the area."

Oak Forest's Metra station serves about 1,600 weekday passengers and is on the Rock Island District route, which runs from Joliet to downtown Chicago.

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