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Homewood asks residents to email officials for train station funding

Homewood officials are asking residents for help to ensure funding for the village’s train station renovation, which they say is being challenged by Chicago. The village is asking residents to email a letter to CMAP officials urging them to keep the original funding methodology. Get a copy of the letter here.
 
 

Homewood officials are asking residents for help to ensure funding for the village’s train station renovation, which they say is being challenged by Chicago.
 
According to a village press release, a plan for renovation was submitted to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to be considered through the US Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Program Shared Fund Program.
 
“As most residents and commuters are aware, the Homewood Train Station has been in a severe state of disrepair for several years. It is not handicap accessible and water infiltrates the pedestrian tunnel when it rains,” the statement read.
 
“A full renovation would address these issues, as well as enhance rider access to the adjoining Pace Bus terminal and Amtrak station. The renovation will also rejuvenate our downtown while providing a welcoming, fully-accessible station for all transit riders.”
 
All municipalities eligible for the funding agreed to a methodology to evaluate all submitted projects. All were set to be funded, per the release. The village says CMAP was part of that agreement.
 
But Homewood says Chicago is now challenging the methodology, pushing for projects to receive only partial funding. That would delay and possibly remove funding for the Homewood train station renovation.
 
The village is asking residents to email a letter to CMAP officials urging them to keep the original funding methodology. A copy of that letter is below.
 
 
or  
 
CMAP
 
ATTN: Transportation Program Public Comment
233 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 800
Chicago IL 60606
 
CMAP Officials:
 
As a resident (or commuter) of Homewood, I am extremely pleased to see the Homewood Train Station Renovation as a project on the proposed Surface Transportation Program (STP). Located in the heart of downtown Homewood, this station has been in a state of disrepair for several years. It is not handicap accessible and water infiltrates the pedestrian tunnel whenever it rains. A renovation would address these issues, as well as enhance rider access to the adjoining Pace Bus terminal and Amtrak station. The renovation will rejuvenate downtown Homewood while providing a welcoming, fully-accessible station for all transit riders.  
 
The STP Project Selection Committee adopted a technical methodology to evaluate and score projects and a determination was made that projects would not be partially funded. This policy was agreed to by CMAP officials and should be adhered to. However, the City of Chicago has requested a change to the policy to allow for partial funding.
 
Changing the criteria after being mutually agreed to is unfair to all project applicants. Our project and others projects slated for funding would be delayed or unfunded if projects were allowed to be partially funded.
 
For these reasons, I am opposed to the proposed change in policy for funding projects. Please do not allow partial funding.
 
Thank you,
 
SIGN YOUR NAME
 
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