By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Amtrak is asking the public for ideas on revamping Chicago Union Station ahead of the 100th anniversary of its opening in 2025. The station, which hosts 110,000 commuters and long-distance passenger train riders daily, was last renovated in 1990. 

Amtrak has launched a survey to gather input at ChicagoUnionStation.com.

“The station first opened in 1925 and Amtrak will involve our partners and the general public to develop a preferred design that will take us into the next hundred years,” said Jeannie Kwon, Amtrak Vice President, Mega Programs Development and Coordination. “The work at Chicago Union Station, our most critical linchpin for travel across the national network, will be performed using federal capital funds along with generous contributions from our partners for both the design and construction elements of the project.”

The renovations are part of the Chicago Hub Improvement Program and aim to improve nearly every aspect of the terminal, from amenities to the boarding process.

“We will continue, with our partners at Metra, the City of Chicago, Cook County, the states of Illinois and Michigan, among others, to pursue all viable funding avenues. This includes, but is not limited to, pursuing grant opportunities to help fund the construction to rework the Concourse and deliver a state-of-the-art, first-class station that mirrors the stature of a premier city,” said Barney Gray, Amtrak Assistant Vice President for Major Stations.