Lake Street Metra Station Under Renovation

Construction has already begun on on Lake Street. The renovations are part of the Village's capital improvement project to restore the station to what it looked like in the 1900's.

"The Lake Street station is older and we really see it as an entryway into our town. It's the first thing people see when they ride the train here," said Mayor Rhett Taylor for the need for the renovations.

The $750,000 project includes interior and exterior improvements to the building, new pay boxes for commuters, newly numbered parking lots and removing the overhead numbering system for the parking spots, decorative concrete installed near the pay boxes and decorative light poles around the station.

Taylor said the new look of the station is meant to keep with preserving the historic look of Grayslake, and to help the area increase in value. "We're investing the capital dollars to help drive up property values in that area for our residents," he said.

The funding for the project from the Village's general capital fund which pays for one-time projects in Grayslake. "There were no property taxes used for this. It is mainly sales and income taxes," said Deputy Village Manager Derek Soderholm.

Soderholm said no parking fees for the Lake Street Metra station were used towards this project either. Those fees are strictly used for maintenace of the lot.

The work is expected to be completed by late October.