Note: Materials from the open house and more details about the project can be found here.
Metra will hold an open house meeting in Woodstock on Thursday, March 21, to share information about the potential locations, engineering, and design of a planned new layover yard near the McHenry County community.
The meeting will be held March 21 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock Opera House Community Room, 121 W. Van Buren St. in Woodstock.
Metra is developing a railyard relocation and expansion project, known as the Woodstock Layover Yard Project, to support expanded service on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, improve operational efficiency, and maximize safety, security, and personnel time. The project would consolidate operations from the current Barrington and Crystal Lake yards at a larger, modernized facility near Woodstock.
The project would generate operational cost savings, bring an estimated 100 new jobs to the area, and attract additional ridership for Metra.
“Modernizing our operations by building state-of-the-art facilities near Woodstock would bring significant improvements for Metra’s riders, our employees, and the surrounding community,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “I am thrilled to see the Woodstock Layover Yard Project get underway with the engineering and design phase, and I look forward to working with our stakeholders and partners to deliver improved access, safety, and better train service to Woodstock and McHenry County.”
At the open house, Metra will provide details about its goals and objectives of the project, the site selection process, potential site locations, environmental considerations, and next steps. Metra is seeking input from the public and stakeholders within the project area and county on the potential site locations and environmental concerns.
Funding for the initial engineering and design for the project comes from a mix of local, regional, state, and federal funds, including approximately $2 million in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. There is no firm timeline to begin construction; that will be contingent on the upcoming environmental review process, land acquisition, and securing funding.
To learn more about the project, please click here.
