By Dan McLeister
For The Elmhurst Independent
At a recent meeting of the Elmhurst City Council, a City consultant suggested a new wider tunnel closer to York St. with an estimated cost of $1 million for the Metra train station in downtown Elmhurst. The cost of replacing the entire station as well as the tunnel was discussed as well.
Alderman Marti Deuter (1st Ward) commented at the October 17th meeting that the design should be what is best for the community, not just for commuters. Pedestrians should be willing to use the tunnel, she said.
Consultant Ben Harber, senior project manager for CDM, recommended that the existing tunnel be abandoned.
“The tunnel is a dark place,” he said. “The station is not the most pedestrian-friendly place.”
The new tunnel could be a maximum of 15 feet wide but would more likely be 12 to 13 feet wide.
Ald. Chris Healy (5th Ward), chairman of the Public Affairs and Safety (PAS) Committee, said he favored having a new tunnel.
Mayor Steve Morley said that most aldermen seemed to favor a new tunnel. He asked for more input from the Public Works and Buildings (PWB) Committee.
The existing Metra train station was built in 1960 and rehabbed in the 1990s. It serves about 2800 riders per day. Alderman Scott Levin (5th Ward) asked what the cost would be to replace the entire station including the tunnel.
Harber replied, “North of $10 million.”
The cost could be split 80-20% or a 75-25% between grants and what the City could pay. Healy pointed out that a source of funding for the City could be Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District since the train station falls within the boundaries of TIF #1.
The next step for the City is to hold a public hearing in November, according to Cori Tiberi, assistant public works director. A date has not been set yet.
Harber noted that his company had been meeting with representatives from the DuPage Mayor and Managers Conference, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Metra, and Union Pacific for additional input.
The proposed plan includes what Harber called a slightly larger waiting room at about 3000 square feet, compared to the existing 2500 square feet. A portion of it could be open 24 hours a day. He said there could also be more warming shelters.
Ald. Kevin York (4th Ward), chairman of the Finance Committee, suggested clearing the bicycles in the area.
“It would be highly desirable to clean up the 250 bicycles which litter the area as the City redevelops the downtown, including more than 300 living units planned in a midrise building near the train station,” he said.
