Amtrak Chicago Platforms Are Moving Toward Level Boarding
Published: November 10, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Amtrak said in Chicago on November 9, 2026, that construction is underway soon for the first “level boarding” platforms at Chicago Union Station. The platforms will serve multiple tracks and will allow boarding without ramps, stairs or lifts. The project is $112 million and is planned for 30 months. Major construction work will begin by the end of this year.
A classic view of Amtrak at Chicago Union Station with P40DCs #815 and #814 are outbound from the terminal with their respective trains on October 6, 1996. Wade Massie photo.
Platforms 30 through 38
The project will convert dormant platforms, originally built for mail and parcels, into passenger platforms that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Amtrak says the work will increase rail capacity and enhance operational flexibility. The platforms were connected to a post office above these tracks until the post office was relocated.
The project includes a climate-controlled waiting area with restrooms and access for tracks 30 and higher. It will also provide interim capacity during future station modernization, so passenger service can continue while other platforms are reconstructed.
The work will be done through a design-bid-build delivery method. Clark Construction is the general contractor. WSP USA will continue as Designer of Record and will provide construction-phase services. HNTB was awarded a Project Manager/Construction Manager contract and will provide management support through construction, embedded in Amtrak’s in-house Capital Delivery Department.
Known internally as the Platform 30-38 Project, it is the first project in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program to advance to construction. Amtrak describes that program as investments in Midwest rail infrastructure, facilities, and Chicago Union Station. The station work is separate from the Canal Street Yard assessment, which remains open for public inspection through December 7, 2026.
Funding
Congress funded the project through a $49.6 million FY22–23 Federal State Partnership Grant administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, $40 million in FY25 Federal Appropriations, and $22.4 million in local match contributions from Amtrak, the City of Chicago, and Cook County. Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joint applicants for the federal grant.
What Amtrak and local voices said
“Amtrak is committed to making our stations accessible to all customers and we are actively working on accessibility across the national network where more than 80 stations have accessibility projects under construction,” said Dr. David Handera, vice president of accessibility. “We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming environment for every passenger.”
“Today marks an exciting milestone for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program as construction begins on Platforms 30 through 38 at Chicago Union Station. This investment will deliver a fully ADA-compliant, level boarding platform that makes travel easier and more convenient for all Amtrak passengers, while launching a new chapter of improvements at the station,” said Warren LeBeau, vice president of infrastructure project delivery. “Together, these investments are creating a more welcoming, modern, and customer-focused station for the millions of travelers who pass through it each year.”
“Chicago is a national epicenter of passenger and commuter rail, and these new level boarding platforms will make getting around easier for parents with strollers, wheelchair users and people of all ages,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. “Modernizing infrastructure at Union Station is key to improving rail service and reliability across Illinois and making trips safer for the more than 30 million riders who pass through each year. Projects like this are transforming our transportation system one station at a time, ensuring it works for all riders. That’s a win for Chicago and our entire country.”
“Since I arrived in Congress, I’ve worked to make our transportation system more accessible for everyone,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García of Illinois. “A Chicago Union Station with level boarding platforms will facilitate the process for all passengers, ensuring a smoother ride. I am proud to have helped deliver these funds that will benefit the millions of people who travel through Chicago Union Station every year.”
“For the people we serve, Amtrak is a vital connection, especially for trips to Springfield,” said Laura Saltzman, senior policy analyst at Access Living, Chicago’s Center for Independent Living. “It helps us bring disabled people’s voices to statewide advocacy and work alongside other Centers for Independent Living across Illinois. Access Living could not be as involved in that work without Amtrak. This is universal design in action: building access into the journey from the beginning, so people with mobility disabilities can board alongside other passengers. That is the kind of welcome we want at every station.”
Related reading on American-Rails.com
- Chicago Union Station: Photos, History, Current Use
- Canal Street Yard Assessment Stays Open Through December 7
- Rail News
Sources
- Amtrak Media, “Amtrak To Start Construction of New Boarding Platforms at Chicago Union Station,” Chicago, November 9, 2026, media.amtrak.com/2026/11/amtrak-to-start-construction-of-new-boarding-platforms-at-chicago-union-station/. Subhead: easier access with level boarding. Construction is underway soon. The project is $112 million and 30 months. Major construction work will begin by the end of this year. Warren LeBeau says construction begins on Platforms 30 through 38. Design-bid-build. Clark Construction is general contractor. WSP USA is Designer of Record. HNTB is Project Manager/Construction Manager, embedded in Capital Delivery. Funding: $49.6 million FY22–23 Federal State Partnership Grant administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, $40 million in FY25 Federal Appropriations, and $22.4 million in local match from Amtrak, the City of Chicago, and Cook County. Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joint applicants. Internal name: Platform 30-38 Project. First Chicago Hub Improvement Program project to advance to construction. Program page: amtraknewera.com/chip/. Dr. David Handera, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, and Laura Saltzman of Access Living are quoted in the body. The release also includes a reaction from Sen. Dick Durbin that restates the project. Media contact Marc Magliari, Media@Amtrak.com, 800 562.1904.
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