Amtrak Starts $112 Million Chicago Union Station Platform Project
The 30-month project will convert former mail and parcel platforms into ADA-compliant passenger boarding platforms at the station.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Amtrak is preparing to begin a $112 million project to build new boarding platforms at Chicago Union Station. Major construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Why it matters
The project creates the station's first level-boarding platforms, making boarding easier for passengers without ramps, stairs or lifts. It will also provide added capacity as Amtrak continues broader modernization efforts at the station.
Chicago Union Station is one of the region's busiest transit hubs, with roughly 30 million riders passing through each year. Riders can expect construction disruption over the 30-month project period.
The players
Amtrak
Amtrak is the United States' national passenger rail operator, which serves as a joint applicant for the federal grant funding this project.
Clark Construction
Clark Construction is a large U.S. general contracting firm serving as the general contractor on the Chicago Union Station platform project.
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is the U.S. Department of Transportation agency that regulates and funds rail safety and infrastructure, and administers the $49.6 million grant for this project.
The details
The project converts dormant platforms originally built for mail and parcels into passenger platforms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It includes a climate-controlled waiting area with restrooms, and the post office above the tracks has been relocated.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2025: $40 million in federal appropriations allocated to the project.
End of 2026: Major construction expected to begin.
30 months: Overall project duration.
Roadmap
Amtrak is working through accessibility upgrades at more than 80 stations, and this Chicago project is the first in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program to advance to construction. The platforms are part of a broader push to modernize one of the country's largest rail hubs.
Travelers who use Chicago Union Station should expect construction disruption once work begins by the end of 2026. The new level-boarding platforms will eventually make boarding easier for passengers without ramps, stairs or lifts.
The takeaway
Accessibility upgrades at major rail hubs can be a long process, but the new level-boarding platforms at Chicago Union Station will make travel easier for many riders once complete.
What happens next
Major construction at Chicago Union Station is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with the overall project lasting 30 months.
Further reading
Explore more local projects in our Home Renovation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
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