Project Overview

LaSalle/Congress Intermodal Transfer Center

The scope of this project consists of design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of a transit passenger intermodal center on a parking lot located on the south side of Congress Street, immediately west of the Metra LaSalle Street Station (terminal for the Rock Island District trains).

Construction also includes a bus turn-around/boarding area near the intersection of West Congress Parkway and Financial Place. This new facility will serve the transfer of CTA Blue Line and Metra LaSalle Station patrons from the CTA bus turn-around/boarding area and vice-versa. The intermodal center will also provide a canopy for waiting passengers and space for four buses.

The estimated total project cost is $6.25M, funded by FTA with local match from the City’s Transportation Improvement Funds (TIF). To improve safety concerns around the four entrances/exits around CTA’s LaSalle Blue Line Station adjacent to Congress Parkway, the City provided additional funding to replace the original entrances with fully-enclosed stair kiosks.

The project was substantially complete on April 15, 2011. Construction is 95% complete.

During May 2011, construction activities included:

• Backfilled planters,
• Installed cameras, guardrail closure panel, landscaping, glass elevator panels, and the irrigation system,
• Applied touch up painting and anti-graffiti coating,
• Relocated CTA sign, and
• Worked on final cleaning and punchlist

On June 19, 2011, the CTA bus routes 36 and 145 will begin stopping at the southeast corner of Congress and Financial.