Metra breaks ground on new station in Ravenswood - covered platforms and warming shelters
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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on
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great idea. I'm on the ward transportation committee and I'll mention it at our meeting next week.
Eric Roach said:If that is the design then the neighborhood association should get ahead of the problem by (hiring) painting a neighborhood-friendly mural, otherwise look forward to some scribbles with black spray paint.
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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on
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The pace of the project seems to be a little slow, IMHO. 3-years? Really? It's just a freaking train station. I know they have to do some track work and work that around the trains passing through -but the platforms and the buildings really shouldn't take that long to construct. This is is coming from someone who's worked and managed construction for decades. This isn't a 50-story high-rise for chrissakes.
I am exited about a new Metra station though and can't wait for the old one to be GONE. The existing station is just plain YUCK. I'll be happy to see any improvement. WIDE Ramps, in addition to stairs, would be very nice as well. The Ravenswood station is a PITA to carry a bike out of -especially when the crowded stairs are busy with all the other folks getting off of a train. Why do folks insist on scrambling by you when you are carrying a bike? Are they that afraid of being held up a second having to follow someone down the stairs carrying a bike? People are jerks. I get the urge to scrape my pedal up along their temple as they jostle by me, and almost knocking me down and/or dropping my bike -Oopsie! Careful for the pointy/scratchy bits of my bike as you push me into the railing...
As for bike parking -if only Metra made it easier to bring a bike along with you on the trains bike parking would be unnecessary. I'd rather have my bike at the other end of the train ride rather than leaving it behind to get stolen/stripped. First AND last mile -what a concept. But that is just the way things are now at present until Metra gets on board with the 21st Century and quits scrabbling on to the 20th Century way of thinking.
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Everything takes longer in Chicago too. I'm used the pacing of a more economically competitive area. Perhaps they have a couple of walkouts and strikes already figured into the schedule...
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Permalink Reply by Duppie on
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It is not just a "freaking train station". It is a big infrastructure project. In order for the southbound train platform to be put in use, they have to build an entire new track west of the current tracks, between Addison and Balmoral. That means building 11 new bridges and a couple of miles of retaining walls, and lay new tracks with new safety installations, etc. Once that is done they can reroute the southbound trains permanently on the new track. At that point the new station will open southbound only. Estimated to be completed in spring of 2014.
Then they will rebuild the same 12 bridges, but now for the middle track. Once they are put in place they will reroute the northbound trains onto the now middle track. At that point they will put in place the new Northbound station as well. That is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2015.
The entire first phase will be completed by November 2015.
After that they will do the same thing for the 12 bridges between Addison and Webster. That work should be completed in November 2019
It will also set the stage for future expansion into a 3-track operation when demand warrants it.
I know you don't let facts get in the way of your opinion about governments, but you can read about it here: http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/about_metra/capitalprojects/cons...
James BlackHeron said:The pace of the project seems to be a little slow, IMHO. 3-years? Really? It's just a freaking train station. I know they have to do some track work and work that around the trains passing through -but the platforms and the buildings really shouldn't take that long to construct. This is is coming from someone who's worked and managed construction for decades. This isn't a 50-story high-rise for chrissakes.
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Ah, I see. It's "shovel-ready."
I hadn't realized it was a Big Infrastructure Projecttm.
Color me informed now...
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Permalink Reply by Barry Aldridge on
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Some of these comments remind of me of the two old ladies at the restaurant. "The food here is terrible." "Yes, and the portions are so small." Can't you just be happy they're building a new station, instead of using it as an excuse to slam Metra or Chicago?
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Welcome to James' world...
Barry Aldridge said:Some of these comments remind of me of the two old ladies at the restaurant. "The food here is terrible." "Yes, and the portions are so small." Can't you just be happy they're building a new station, instead of using it as an excuse to slam Metra or Chicago?
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Permalink Reply by S on
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Glad to see that you aren't resorting to snark when it turns out your original post was badly misinformed.
James BlackHeron said:Ah, I see. It's "shovel-ready."
I hadn't realized it was a Big Infrastructure Projecttm.
Color me informed now...
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Thank you for noticing. God forbid anyone have a different opinion than you. Throw them into a camp and throw away the keys! Ve mus haff ortah!
Duppie said:Welcome to James' world...
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James, according to the Hitler Rule, you lose.
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Also, just in case you don't have some sort of magic box you can ask questions of, or look things up on:
Hyperbole != Mea Culpa
-Just sayin'...
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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http://metrarail.com/content/dam/metra/documents/UPNtrackdiagram.pdf
Here's a diagram explaining the order that the project is being completed. Hopefully the funding will come through once tracks 1&2 are complete for a 3rd track to be installed. This will allow many more express trains to run on that line and reduce crowding on the non express trains. I'd love to see this line have the service that the BNSF has, when I lived in the western suburbs and commuted to UIC the 25 minute ride into downtown was so much better than driving in rush hour. I would not have taken the train as often had the ride/walk-bus to school taken longer than driving and the schedule less accommodating.
Why not just wait for the non bike carrying passengers to clear the stairway? Are you afraid of being held up for 1 minute while other passengers exit? I find that traffic from stations clears very quickly and it is much easier to carry bikes/large packages down by letting other pass first.
James BlackHeron said:I am exited about a new Metra station though and can't wait for the old one to be GONE. The existing station is just plain YUCK. I'll be happy to see any improvement. WIDE Ramps, in addition to stairs, would be very nice as well. The Ravenswood station is a PITA to carry a bike out of -especially when the crowded stairs are busy with all the other folks getting off of a train. Why do folks insist on scrambling by you when you are carrying a bike? Are they that afraid of being held up a second having to follow someone down the stairs carrying a bike? People are jerks. I get the urge to scrape my pedal up along their temple as they jostle by me, and almost knocking me down and/or dropping my bike -Oopsie! Careful for the pointy/scratchy bits of my bike as you push me into the railing...
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