(rshsdepot) Western Springs, IL

["Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_home.com>]

Link to station photo:
http://ribbonrail.com/Metra/Station-images/western_springs_station.jpg

Train station decision fast approaching

By Kate Thayer/Staff writer - Chicago Suburban Newspapers

The Western Springs Properties and Recreation Committee will discuss
remodeling or rebuilding the train station Wednesday, Jan. 9.

At the Dec. 3 Village Board meeting, Village President John Kravcik said the
board will arrive at a final decision after considering the committee's
recommendations on this particular part of the train station's fate. He said
he hopes to reach a conclusion early next year.

``The two options are to rebuild the station or redo the station,'' Kravcik
said. ``We want this to be done as quickly as possible.''

In the midst of the Western Springs Downtown Advisory Committee study, many
residents protested station reconstruction, especially a possible station
relocation. As a result, the board requested a separate train station study.

The committee broke down into three separate committees to assess the main
train station improvement issues, Kravcik said. The three areas of concern
are train station maintenance, Wolf Road blockage and platform extension.

Kravcik said rebuilding the station in the late 1970s created foundation
problems and it needs repair. Those matters will be addressed at the Jan. 9
meeting.

The other two major train station issues are emergency vehicle blockage and
pedestrian tunnels, he said.

Since eastbound trains stop in front of the Wolf Road intersection,
emergency vehicles are blocked, which prompted moving the station west,
Kravcik said. After further discussion, an ad hoc committee suggested to
extend the platform so the gates could go up at the Wolf Road intersection,
allowing emergency vehicles through when a train is stopped.

Residents were concerned with the possibility of moving the train station
west along the tracks because it would increase the traffic flow on their
streets, as opposed to Wolf Road or Central Avenue and trains would be
stopped in front of their blocks.

Lisa Bridges, a Woodland Avenue resident, said she did not anticipate a
stopped train engine at the end of her block when she moved in 12 years ago.

``I hope the board understands that they cannot make changes without the
residents putting up a fight,'' she said.

The third issue involves two pedestrian tunnels replacing the crossing at
the east end of town and will be entirely funded by a federal grant, Kravcik
said.

Kravcik said while the Properties and Recreation Committee will discuss the
reconstruction of the station, the Planning and Zoning Committee will
address the platform and tunnel issues later.

``We plan to work closely with Metra and Burlington Northern to solve these
problems,'' he said.

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #225
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