FREE
Independent
TAKE ONE
Villa Park
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
Villa Park Metra station to get new platform Work expected to start this week By Paul DelGuidice For The Villa Park Independent
VILLA PARK — Work on replacing the Villa Park Metra Station platform was set to begin this week (April 11) as part of the railroad’s 2016 construction program. “Now that spring is here, we plan to take full advantage of the construction season by making improvements where we can with our limited funding,” said Metra Executive Director and CEO Don Orseno in a release. The platform is one of two which are undergoing work along the Union Pacific (UP) West Line, along with the Riverside Station. The terminus at Chicago’s Union Station will also get renovations to the Madison Street entrance leading to the north platforms, the release said. The crossing at Finley Road in Lombard will also undergo improvements. The work is part of planned improvements to 27 stations, 21 bridges and 24 road crossings over the entire Metra system, which includes the Metra Electric, Heritage Corridor, Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West, North Central Service, Union Pacific, North, UP Northwest, UP West and BNSF Lines. Metra operates 241 total stations. Most work will be take place during off-peak hours and on
weekends, according to Metra. Construction schedules will be issued for trains during some of these projects. These changes are issued when workers need to be on or near the tracks, which requires trains to reduce speed or stop before proceeding in construction zones. Metra estimates that zones requiring the construction schedules may add about 10 to 15 minutes to the length of a trip. When these schedules are in effect, commuters can check the web-based Rail-Time Tracker and Schedule Finder as well as the Venta App’s Transit Tracker feature. The construction schedules will also be posted at metrarail.com. Currently, there is a construction schedule for the UP West Line which began on April 1 and continues through April 29. The expected delays caused by construction are all scheduled between 10:06 a.m. and 4:08 p.m. at the Villa Park station. A $90 million project to add a third set of tracks just east of the Des Plaines River in River Forest to 25th Ave. in Melrose Park as well as 6.1 miles of new track from Kress Road in West Chicago to Peck Road in Geneva is awaiting release of funding by Springfield legislators. “Our goal is to be as efficient as possible with the resources we have and limit the impact of construction activity on our customers,” Orseno said.
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Legals �������������������� 15 Sports.................... 14 Classifieds..........16-17
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Funding the fun
Cub Scouts A.J. Sirmaco, 6, John Scott, 8, and William Scott, 7, sold candy outside Mike’s Meat Market on Sunday, April 10 to help fund summer campout trips.
A
UTO DVANTAGE
TRUST YOUR CAR TO DOMINICK & HIS TEAM OF PROS Synthetic Blend
CAR CARE CENTER
630-543-1397 Mon.-Fri. 8-6 • Sat. 8-3
Includes Lube and New Filter nly wO No
19.95
$
WOW!
Services We Provide:
Across From Dapper’s Restaurant
(1-1/2 mile East of Route 53)
Oil Change Special
Most passenger vehicles. Up to 5 quarts SW30 premium motor oil, lube and new filter.
HERE TO SAVE YOU MONEY!
Addison • 885 W. Lake St.
photo by Paul DelGuidice
VOL. 12 • NO. 16
233091
also serving Oakbrook Terrace
• Brakes • Exhaust
• Front End Work • Radiator • CV Axles • Tires and much much more
24 HOUR TOWING
• Alternators • Convertors 230369
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC