Auburn Park station

Auburn Park
Construction site at the future Auburn Park station (July 2024)
General information
Location	79th Street Chicago, Illinois United States
Coordinates	41°45′01″N87°38′25″W / 41.7502°N 87.6402°W / 41.7502; -87.6402 [1]
Owned by	Metra
Line	Rock Island District
Tracks	2
Construction
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	Under construction [2]
Fare zone	2
History
Opened	1879 [3] (Rock Island)
Opening	2026 (Metra)
Closed	1978 [4] (Rock Island)
Rebuilt	September 30, 2019 [2]
Future services
Preceding station Metra Following station Gresham toward Joliet Rock Island 35th Street toward LaSalle
Former services Preceding station Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Following station Gresham toward Joliet Suburban Service Hamilton Park toward Chicago
Location

Auburn Park is an under-construction railroad station on the South Side of Chicago serving Metra's Rock Island District. It will be located on the southeast corner of 79th Street and South Lowe Avenue. ^{[5] [6]}

History

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operated an Auburn Park station at 78th Street ^[4] from 1879 ^[3] to 1978. ^[4] After ridership dropped to 21 daily riders, the station was dropped from most train schedules in favor of increased service to the Oak Forest and Midlothian stations in the suburbs. ^[7]

The Metra station was expected to begin construction after two state bonds were approved in 2009; ^[8] however, budgeting issues delayed the release of funds. ^{[5] [2]} The ceremonial groundbreaking of the station was held on September 30, 2019. ^{[2] [9] [10]} As of June 2022, construction is estimated to be completed by 2026. ^{[11] [12]}

Bus Connections

CTA

• 79 79th (Owl Service)

References

1. "79th Street & South Lowe Avenue" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved May 26, 2021.
2. "Auburn-Gresham neighborhood breaks ground on new Metra station at Auburn Park". ABC 7 Chicago. September 30, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
3. Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 11.
4. Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 9.
5. "Metra joins local leaders to celebrate new Auburn Park Station project" (Press release). Metra. September 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
6. Golden, Jamie Nesbitt (December 8, 2020). "Construction Starts Soon On Auburn Park Metra Station Along Rock Island Line". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
7. "South Side stops cut: SW suburbs win increased train service". Chicago Tribune . March 31, 1977. p. B6.
8. Thomas, Patrick (December 16, 2009). "Local historic Metra stations in line for renovation project". The Beverly Review. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
9. Wisniewski, Mary (September 30, 2019). "New Metra station coming to Auburn Gresham neighborhood". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
10. Zegeye, David (October 1, 2019). "Auburn Gresham Metra stop, which broke ground yesterday, could spur South Side retail - Streetsblog Chicago". Streetsblog Chicago. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
11. Reed, Atavia (June 22, 2022). "Auburn Park, A $35 Million Metra Station, Is Moving Forward: 'Auburn Gresham Is On The Move'". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
12. Reed, Atavia (November 30, 2023). "As Auburn Park Metra Station Gears Up For 2025 Debut, Neighbors Share Concerns". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved September 9, 2025.