Auburn Park station

Auburn Park
Rock Island District
Construction site at the future Auburn Park station in July 2024
General information
Location79th Street
Chicago, Illinois
United States
Coordinates41°45′01″N 87°38′25″W / 41.7502°N 87.6402°W / 41.7502; -87.6402[1]
OwnerMetra
LineRock Island District
Tracks2
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusUnder construction[2]
Fare zone2
History
Opened1879[3] (Rock Island)
Opening2026
Closed1978[4] (Rock Island)
RebuiltSeptember 30, 2019[2]
Future services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Gresham
toward Joliet
 Rock Island 35th Street
toward LaSalle
Former services
Preceding station Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Following station
Gresham
toward Joliet
 Suburban Service Hamilton Park
toward Chicago
Location

Auburn Park is an under-construction railroad station on the South Side of Chicago serving Metra's Rock Island District. It will be located on the southeast corner of 79th Street and South Lowe Avenue.[5][6]

History

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operated an Auburn Park station at 78th Street[4] from 1879[3] to 1978.[4] After ridership dropped to 21 daily riders, the station was dropped from most train schedules in favor of increased service to the Oak Forest and Midlothian stations in the suburbs.[7]

The Metra station was expected to begin construction after two state bonds were approved in 2009;[8] however, budgeting issues delayed the release of funds.[5][2] The ceremonial groundbreaking of the station was held on September 30, 2019.[2][9][10] Construction began near the end of 2020 with the demolition of the vacant warehouse in favor of the station facility.[6] Although the $35 million project was intended to last for three years,[6] the project was delayed by a few years.[11][12] In the meantime, another groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 22, 2022, for the construction of the station facility.[11] The project also called for raising the bridge carrying Rock Island District trains, necessitating the planned closure of the entire line on August 29 and 30, 2026.[13][14] Construction is slated to conclude by the end of 2026.[14]

Bus connections

CTA

  •  79  79th (Owl Service)

References

  1. ↑ "79th Street & South Lowe Avenue" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Auburn-Gresham neighborhood breaks ground on new Metra station at Auburn Park". ABC 7 Chicago. September 30, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 11.
  4. 1 2 3 Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 9.
  5. 1 2 "Metra joins local leaders to celebrate new Auburn Park Station project" (Press release). Metra. September 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Golden, Jamie Nesbitt (December 8, 2020). "Construction Starts Soon On Auburn Park Metra Station Along Rock Island Line". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ "South Side stops cut: SW suburbs win increased train service". Chicago Tribune. March 31, 1977. p. B6.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Patrick (December 16, 2009). "Local historic Metra stations in line for renovation project". The Beverly Review. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  9. ↑ Wisniewski, Mary (September 30, 2019). "New Metra station coming to Auburn Gresham neighborhood". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ Zegeye, David (October 1, 2019). "Auburn Gresham Metra stop, which broke ground yesterday, could spur South Side retail - Streetsblog Chicago". Streetsblog Chicago. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Reed, Atavia (June 22, 2022). "Auburn Park, A $35 Million Metra Station, Is Moving Forward: 'Auburn Gresham Is On The Move'". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ Reed, Atavia (November 30, 2023). "As Auburn Park Metra Station Gears Up For 2025 Debut, Neighbors Share Concerns". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ Harvey, Judy (August 23, 2026). "Metra plans weekend closure of Rock Island Line out of Joliet". Shaw Local. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Metra Rock Island line remains closed until Monday. Here's what to know". CBS Chicago. August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.


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