JOLIET
UNION STATION |
The
Future of Joliet Union Station
With
the current Presidential administration and Congress talking about the development
of a high-speed Chicago-to-St. Louis passenger rail corridor and the continuing
efforts to revitalize Joliet's downtown area, proposals were developed for the
future of the station.
As currently configured, Joliet Union Station has a few problems: Metra controls UD tower, the interlocking for the crossing. Therefore, Metra trains get preference over freights, including those on BNSF's busy “Transcon” -- the former Santa Fe. It is not uncommon to see hot intermodal trains from both directions waiting for Metra-Rock Island trains to cross the BNSF or waiting for passengers on Metra-Heritage Corridor and Amtrak trains to load or disembark.
After years of several different proposals, the City of Joliet applied for a TIGER grant in 2009 to create a regional multi-modal transportation center as part of a plan to help redevelop downtown Joliet. It would be a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly facility serving intercity and commuter rail, intercity and local bus, taxi and paratransit. The new transportation center would be used as a centerpiece in the redevelopment of downtown Joliet.
The first grant proposal thoroughly explained the station's current drawbacks and showcased the city's hopes for what a new station may bring. The 2009 design had several new buildings designed to blend in with the style of the original station.
After this initial plan, further changes were made and a new grant document was created. The plan included a futuristic parking garage and giant atrium. The historic Union Station building would still exist, but not as a passenger station. Passenger platforms would be moved to positions that do not interfere with traffic on the BNSF mainlines. Expansive glass canopies cover the passenger platforms and tracks, reached by a network of underground tunnels, providing all-weather access for the passengers, but severely restricting photography.
In October 2010, Governor Pat Quinn announced that the State of Illinois would provide $32 million in funding for the Joliet Regional Multi-Modal Transportation Center. (To see a video presentation on the proposal, click here.) As part of this plan, control of UD tower, one of the last interlocking towers in the Chicagoland area, will be given from Metra to the dispatchers for BNSF and Union Pacifc and the tower building will be demolished.
Further changes were made and a new presentation shows a somewhat scaled down plan (see above photo.) The futuristic parking garage and giant atrium has been scaled down and the large class canopies over the new platforms no longer appear. As the project moves forward, more changes are sure to take place. |
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