Metra reopened Thursday its Grayland station on Chicago's Northwest Side after nearly four years of construction.
The renovated station features longer platforms, ADA-compliant ramps and stairs and new warming shelters. Riders had been using a temporary stop a few blocks south from the renovated station, located at 3729 N. Kilbourn St. The station is part of Metra's Milwaukee District North line.
"It's been great," said Eva Yusa. "Especially considering the construction over the past few years, it's nice to see it back open."
Yusa, 55, of Old Irving Park, works in the Loop near the Willis Tower. She said taking the Metra makes it easier commuting to work, so she doesn't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic while driving. She said during the construction, it was still simple for her to use the temporary stop, but she's happy the reconstructed stop is now open.
The project cost $39.5 million to rejuvenate the station and to fix the railroad bridge over Milwaukee Avenue. The construction process saw numerous delays over its four years, mostly due to issues with reconstruction of the bridge, said Meg Thomas-Reile, a spokesperson for Metra. The railroad bridge was built in 1899, and needed to be replaced due to its deteriorating condition, she said.
"That was the big part of the project," Thomas-Reile said. "We had to build a new bridge, but it had to be raised. The platform of the station had to be rebuilt to match the new elevation of the bridge."
The project was funded with $16.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $17.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration, $2.3 million from Canadian Pacific, and $2.9 million in other Metra funding, according to a statement from Metra.
On Thursday around midday, Kevin Brogan pushed his 8-month-old grandson, George, up one of the newly upgraded ramps. Brogan, of Naperville, takes the Amtrak to Union Station, then takes the Metra to Irving Park weekly to babysit his grandson.
Brogan said the reopening of the station has saved him the further walk he had to take from the temporary station. He said he's excited to utilize the heating station in the winter.
"It's terrific," Brogan said. "It looks great."
Although he wasn't taking the Metra anywhere with his grandson, he wanted to bring him to the stop to see his first in-person train. After one went by, Brogan said George looked slightly frightened.
But after a second one passed, Brogan said George was intrigued.
"He still looked a little scared," Brogan said. "He seemed to like that one a bit better."