Auburn Park is a planned 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]

Auburn Park
Construction site at the future Auburn Park station (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]
Owned byMetra
Line(s)Rock Island District
Tracks2
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusUnder construction[2]
Fare zone2
History
Opened1879[3] (Rock Island)
Opening2025 (Metra)
Closed1978[4] (Rock Island)
RebuiltSeptember 30, 2019[2]
Future services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Gresham
toward Joliet
Rock Island 35th Street
Former services
Preceding station Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Following station
Gresham
toward Joliet
Suburban Service Hamilton Park
toward Chicago
Location
Map

History

edit

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] As of June 2022, construction is estimated to be completed by 2025.[9]

Bus Connections

edit

CTA

  • 79 79th (Owl Service)

References

edit
  1. ^ "79th Street & South Lowe Avenue" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Auburn-Gresham neighborhood breaks ground on new Metra station at Auburn Park". ABC 7 Chicago. September 30, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ Golden, Jamie Nesbitt (8 December 2020). "Construction Starts Soon On Auburn Park Metra Station Along Rock Island Line". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 26 May 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 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ 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.