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Police Reports: Oct. 23, 2015

Scaffolding is placed in the stairwell leading to the 
Metra platform at the Homewood train station to 
allow workers to repair ceiling tiles and windows. 
The stairwell repairs are among the last in a 
maintenance project implemented by Metra at 
the request of Homewood officials. 

(Photo by Eric Crump/HF Chronicle)

Metra didn’t quite make its goal for completing a list of repairs to the Homewood train station by Nov. 1, but it made enough progress to please village officials.

“A lot of the work has been done,” said Village Manager Jim Marino recently. “They are making significant progress. We’re satisfied.”

The repair work began in August after village officials met with Metra officials to walk through the station and identify long-standing maintenance problems. 

After the meeting, Metra officials submitted a list of 25 specific projects and said the target for completion would be Nov. 1. 

Marino said one item on the list, repairs to the ceiling and windows in the stairwell between the tunnel and Metra’s platform, was delayed because scaffolding arrived late. The scaffolding has been up for more than a week now and repairs are in progress.

Another remaining project is replacement of light lenses in the tunnel to make the passageway brighter. 

Most other items have been completed, including the application of a fresh coat of paint throughout the tunnel and entrances, repairs to elevator lighting, repairs to stucco surfaces on the platform and replacement of steps and risers on the stairway leading to the platform. 

The Homewood station is in line for a major renovation in coming years. An engineering study will be completed in 2016 to determine the scope of the project, but Metra officials have said it is uncertain when funding to do the renovation work will be available. 

In the meantime, Homewood officials have asked the railway to keep the station in good repair because its condition can affect the reputation of the village. 

Marino said the next challenge in that regard is to persuade Amtrak to repair its stairwell and platform. 

He said when village officials approached Amtrak recently about making repairs they were told the funding wasn’t available.

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