Hi All,
In case you haven't heard, the new outbound Platform 1 at the Ravenswood Metra station opened today, sunday May 10th. It's a very nice station. Two large ramps for bike and wheelchair access from both Lawrence and Leland, both a partially and fully enclosed warming shelter, tactile edging, concrete platforms, and the most striking feature, orange glazed tile walls. Missing though are ANY security cameras. That seems very weird considering that both ramps leading to the platforms are quite long and completely enclosed.
With the station open, that also means that UPN outbound trains are utilizing the new western tracks. Does this mean that phase 1 is complete? Does that also mean that Phase 2 will be starting shortly? The original schedule called for Phase 1 to be finished in 2014, and Phase 2 in 2018, but that was before the whole 1-track fiasco, and a more recent press release by Metra states: "The first phase, which will cost $112 million and take until November 2015, will cover bridges over Balmoral, Foster, Winnemac, Lawrence, Leland, Wilson, Sunnyside, Montrose, Berteau, Irving Park and Grace." There's no way that the middle bridges can be removed and completely rebuilt in just 6 months. Anyone know of an updated timeline?
