Amtrak To Start Construction of New Boarding Platforms at Chicago Union Station

Easier access on and off Amtrak trains with Level Boarding

CHICAGO – Construction is underway soon for Chicago Union Station’s first “level boarding” platforms, serving multiple tracks and enabling boarding without ramps, stairs or lifts. The $112 million project will create a more accessible and streamlined experience for Amtrak passengers.

The 30-month project will convert dormant platforms originally built for mail and parcels into passenger platforms that will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, increase rail capacity, and enhance operational flexibility. These platforms were connected to a post office above these tracks until the post office was relocated.

The project includes a climate-controlled waiting area with restrooms and access for tracks 30 and higher. It will also provide critical interim capacity during future station modernization efforts, helping maintain passenger service while other platforms undergo reconstruction.

“Amtrak is committed to making our stations accessible to all customers and we are actively working on accessibility across the national network where more than 80 stations have accessibility projects under construction.” said Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera. “We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming environment for every passenger.”

The work will be done through a design-bid-build delivery method and major construction work will begin by the end of this year.

Clark Construction is the General Contractor. WSP USA will continue in their role as Designer of Record, providing construction phase services. HNTB was awarded a Project Manager/Construction Manager contract and will provide management support through construction, embedded within Amtrak’s in-house Capital Delivery Department.

“Today marks an exciting milestone for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program as construction begins on Platforms 30 through 38 at Chicago Union Station. This investment will deliver a fully ADA-compliant, level boarding platform that makes travel easier and more convenient for all Amtrak passengers, while launching a new chapter of improvements at the station.” said Amtrak Vice President of Infrastructure Project Delivery Warren LeBeau. “Together, these investments are creating a more welcoming, modern, and customer-focused station for the millions of travelers who pass through it each year.”

The project is funded by Congress through a $49.6 million FY22-23 Federal State Partnership Grant administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, $40 million in FY25 Federal Appropriations, and $22.4 million in local match contributions from Amtrak, City of Chicago, and Cook County. Amtrak and Illinois Department of Transportation were joint applicants for the federal grant.

Known internally as the Platform 30-38 Project, it is the first in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) to advance to construction. CHIP is transforming regional and intercity passenger rail in the Midwest with critical investments in rail infrastructure, facilities, and Chicago Union Station. Learn more about CHIP here: https://amtraknewera.com/chip/

Reactions:

“The start of this project is exciting for Chicagoans and tourists alike as it will create a more accessible and streamlined experience for Amtrak passengers at Chicago Union Station. I’ve been proud to help secure federal funding for this project alongside Senator Duckworth,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).

“Chicago is a national epicenter of passenger and commuter rail, and these new level boarding platforms will make getting around easier for parents with strollers, wheelchair users and people of all ages. Modernizing infrastructure at Union Station is key to improving rail service and reliability across Illinois and making trips safer for the more than 30 million riders who pass through each year. Projects like this are transforming our transportation system one station at a time, ensuring it works for all riders. That’s a win for Chicago and our entire country,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois).

“Since I arrived in Congress, I’ve worked to make our transportation system more accessible for everyone,”. “A Chicago Union Station with level boarding platforms will facilitate the process for all passengers, ensuring a smoother ride. I am proud to have helped deliver these funds that will benefit the millions of people who travel through Chicago Union Station every year,” said Cong. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Illinois)

“For the people we serve, Amtrak is a vital connection, especially for trips to Springfield. It helps us bring disabled people’s voices to statewide advocacy and work alongside other Centers for Independent Living across Illinois. Access Living could not be as involved in that work without Amtrak. This is universal design in action: building access into the journey from the beginning, so people with mobility disabilities can board alongside other passengers. That is the kind of welcome we want at every station,” said Laura Saltzman, Senior Policy Analyst at Access Living, Chicago’s Center for Independent Living.