Grand MetroLink Station Getting Complete Makeover
As part of the replacement of the Grand bridge, Metro will be redesigning the Grand MetroLink station.  Below the bridge will be the new Grand MetroLink Station Transit Plaza:
The new transit plaza will be constructed underneath the new bridge where the current bridge piers are located. Because it will be under the bridge structure, the new plaza will be protected from weather. The new plaza will include:
- Seating;
- A vending area;
- Landscaping and new lighting, including lit paving stones and lit artwork;
- A new bus turnout area between the MetroLink Station and the new plaza;
- New elevator and stair tower structures that connect the plaza below to the bridge bus stops above.
The elevator/stair towers will be removed from the MetroLink platform and relocated north so that they touch down in the new plaza, which will open up the MetroLink platform and provide better visibility for MetroLink operators as they approach the station. The new parking lot will accommodate approximately 60 cars.
I’m not totally convinced all the changes are a good thing — such as moving the elevators — but I will withhold judgment until complete. Â The project is going forward regardless of my opinion so I might as well wait.
– Steve Patterson
Anything to jazz it up would be welcome…I always felt it was the most depressing and scary of the platforms I have used. Even better would be a magic pile of money to put a street car line down Grand to tie into the new station….a guy can dream.
Anything to jazz it up would be welcome…I always felt it was the most depressing and scary of the platforms I have used. Even better would be a magic pile of money to put a street car line down Grand to tie into the new station….a guy can dream.
Along with hoping they can improve the depressing station, I really hope the sidewalks on the new Grand bridge are widened and made more pedestrian friendly. Walking anywhere to/from the Grand station is really unpleasant on that bridge.
Along with hoping they can improve the depressing station, I really hope the sidewalks on the new Grand bridge are widened and made more pedestrian friendly. Walking anywhere to/from the Grand station is really unpleasant on that bridge.
The sidewalks will indeed be wider in the rebuild.
I used this station when I was there last. I will enjoy going back and seeing the improvements.
I used this station when I was there last. I will enjoy going back and seeing the improvements.
MetroLink sometimes acts like heavy rail and sometimes like light rail. Considering the type of system that basically makes sense, but my thinking is that metro should be incrementally moving to be more like heavy rail at key stations, ie more separation of trains and pedestrians. By that measure the new station design is a step backward. In the old design, Grand had one grade crossing for a secondary access to the north. The new design moves all platform access to the new plaza, so all passengers need to cross the tracks to get to the train. Since Grand is such a busy station, forcing everybody to cross the tracks is discouraging to some passengers because of safety worries, not to mention actually dangerous. In some cases a track crossing is more practical but at Grand it seems better and not impractical to maintain direct access to the platform from the bridge. An explanation for the new design I heard from one of the designers was they needed to improve sight lines for the security guard. But I genuinely would still like to know a clear and sensible reason for changing it.
MetroLink sometimes acts like heavy rail and sometimes like light rail. Considering the type of system that basically makes sense, but my thinking is that metro should be incrementally moving to be more like heavy rail at key stations, ie more separation of trains and pedestrians. By that measure the new station design is a step backward. In the old design, Grand had one grade crossing for a secondary access to the north. The new design moves all platform access to the new plaza, so all passengers need to cross the tracks to get to the train. Since Grand is such a busy station, forcing everybody to cross the tracks is discouraging to some passengers because of safety worries, not to mention actually dangerous. In some cases a track crossing is more practical but at Grand it seems better and not impractical to maintain direct access to the platform from the bridge. An explanation for the new design I heard from one of the designers was they needed to improve sight lines for the security guard. But I genuinely would still like to know a clear and sensible reason for changing it.
It’s true that that the people who used to descend to the platform from above will now have to cross the westbound track, but everyone approaching from Scott Avenue has always had to cross the westbound track. Previously, people crossed at the eastern end of the platform; the new crossing will be at the western end instead – in front of a stopped train, rather than an incoming train. Grand is busy, but it isn’t like the westbound train is coming every two minutes.
As far as the elevator tower relocation, the station redesign includes the new plaza, which will be just north of the platform. To accommodate that design, the elevator towers had to be relocated slightly north. I believe that the City was involved in that decision as well, since they’re building the bus turnouts up top that need to match the design below. Removing those towers from the platform allows for the new crossing, but also clears up the line-of-site for the operators approaching the station and for the security guard. That makes people feel safer, knowing the guard can see everything happening on the platform all in one glance. I think it will make people feel better about the platform because it won’t be cluttered with hulking infrastructure. And the new well-lit plaza is going to help the feel of the station too.
I guess I’m just asking you to reserve judgment til you see how well the new design works. Believe me, we want things to be as easy and safe as possible for passengers.
The sidewalks will indeed be wider in the rebuild.
The sidewalks will indeed be wider in the rebuild.
The sidewalks will indeed be wider in the rebuild.
I’m so happy this is happening! (Despite the fact that as a South Grand resident, I now have to take a roundabout way to get to and from 40…)
I rarely take the Metro Link, so I guess my opinion isn’t super important, but as a frequent driver of the bridge, I’ve always worried of the safety of MetroLink riders. The sidewalks aren’t very big right there and there are always crowds of people standing so close to traffic. And sometimes people just cross the street, with cars sceaming towards them on Grand. And from time to time there are cars stopped on the bridge picking people up and dropping them off. Hopefully these improvements will increase safety AND convenience.
I’m so happy this is happening! (Despite the fact that as a South Grand resident, I now have to take a roundabout way to get to and from 40…)
I rarely take the Metro Link, so I guess my opinion isn’t super important, but as a frequent driver of the bridge, I’ve always worried of the safety of MetroLink riders. The sidewalks aren’t very big right there and there are always crowds of people standing so close to traffic. And sometimes people just cross the street, with cars sceaming towards them on Grand. And from time to time there are cars stopped on the bridge picking people up and dropping them off. Hopefully these improvements will increase safety AND convenience.
I think they will. The bus pullouts will allow buses AND cars to pull out of traffic for the dropoffs; the City believes that the bridge median will keep people from crossing up above (rather than down below, in the plaza). The new elevators will be more appealing, so even if you’re too lazy to walk down and back up the steps to cross, you’ve got that option. And the sidewalks will be wider and much more appealing than the narrow, jersey-barrier-lined walkways of old.
And perhaps in a truly miraculous turn of events, Metrolink will find it possible to post a bus schedule at the station and then, after the heavens open up and the Cubs win the world series, a bus route map.
It’s true that that the people who used to descend to the platform from above will now have to cross the westbound track, but everyone approaching from Scott Avenue has always had to cross the westbound track. Previously, people crossed at the eastern end of the platform; the new crossing will be at the western end instead – in front of a stopped train, rather than an incoming train. Grand is busy, but it isn’t like the westbound train is coming every two minutes.
As far as the elevator tower relocation, the station redesign includes the new plaza, which will be just north of the platform. To accommodate that design, the elevator towers had to be relocated slightly north. I believe that the City was involved in that decision as well, since they’re building the bus turnouts up top that need to match the design below. Removing those towers from the platform allows for the new crossing, but also clears up the line-of-site for the operators approaching the station and for the security guard. That makes people feel safer, knowing the guard can see everything happening on the platform all in one glance. I think it will make people feel better about the platform because it won’t be cluttered with hulking infrastructure. And the new well-lit plaza is going to help the feel of the station too.
I guess I’m just asking you to reserve judgment til you see how well the new design works. Believe me, we want things to be as easy and safe as possible for passengers.
I think they will. The bus pullouts will allow buses AND cars to pull out of traffic for the dropoffs; the City believes that the bridge median will keep people from crossing up above (rather than down below, in the plaza). The new elevators will be more appealing, so even if you’re too lazy to walk down and back up the steps to cross, you’ve got that option. And the sidewalks will be wider and much more appealing than the narrow, jersey-barrier-lined walkways of old.
And perhaps in a truly miraculous turn of events, Metrolink will find it possible to post a bus schedule at the station and then, after the heavens open up and the Cubs win the world series, a bus route map.