Two commuter parking lots in Geneva, closed since 2022, reopened Friday, according to the city.
The lots had been closed since 2022 for the construction of a third railroad track on Metra’s Union Pacific West Line from Kress Road in West Chicago through Geneva, according to a news release from the city of Geneva.
The third rail line project was completed on July 15, with the new track able to be used by Union Pacific and Metra trains, a Union Pacific spokesperson told The Beacon-News on Friday. A spokesperson for Metra also confirmed on Friday that the project has been completed.
The news release from the city noted that Union Pacific crews may still be working along the railway on minor items for the project.
The expansion is meant to improve traffic flow and reduce conflicts between commuter and freight trains on the line, according to Geneva’s webpage about the project.
The lots reopened Friday include the Route 31 overflow parking lot south of the railroad overpass and the Geneva train depot parking lot located south of the tracks and west of Third Street, per the city.
The Route 31 overflow lot had been used as a construction staging area, and the Third Street commuter permit lots south of the tracks were closed in 2023 for reconstruction, according to the city’s webpage about the project.
The Route 31 overflow lot is available for daily fee parking at a rate of $1.75 per day, for which customers can make payments using the Passport mobile payment app, the city said. The Geneva train depot parking lot is available for individuals with quarterly commuter parking permits. A three-month permit costs $100 for Geneva residents and $125 for non-residents.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
