Chicago Union Station Needs a New Entrance at Van Buren Street

Amtrak’s plan for accessing the rebuilt mail platform is not enough

It’s not too late for the State of Illinois to engage.

Amtrak is rebuilding the mail platform under the Old Post Office into a passenger platform for Chicago Union Station. The gigantic platform, running from Jackson Blvd. almost all the way to Polk St., has the potential to serve many more trains and travelers.

In the current plan, passengers will be forced to take a time-consuming trip through the concourse, across two live tracks, and through a chokepoint. Emergency exits will be built up to Van Buren and Harrison Streets.

A direct entrance from Van Buren or Harrison is proposed for a later, un-scheduled phase.

The City of Chicago, the Illinois Department of Transportation, or both should partner with Amtrak and the owners of the Old Post Office to add a direct entrance immediately.

It’s hard to exaggerate what a difference this will make — or how much is riding on getting it right.

A huge, but flawed asset

Sitting between two through tracks that skirt the eastern edge of the Chicago Union Station concourse, the former mail platform has long been targeted for passenger use.

The platform is huge–more than 1,500 feet long and 50 feet wide in the middle. Six trains could load and unload simultaneously. And, because it sits four feet above the rail, it will offer level boarding, so getting on and off the train will be easier than at the other platforms.

Another benefit: Amtrak needs new platform space to accommodate work on Union Station’s south platforms. For these reasons and more, Amtrak is rebuilding the platform for passenger use.

But, the platform has a flaw. There is no easy way to get passengers to it and Amtrak has been unable to negotiate a direct entrance through the Old Post Office.

Adding capacity is urgent, so Amtrak is moving ahead with the project.  But, the current plan will make your trip longer.

The City of Chicago and State of Illinois stand to gain from this project.  They should intercede, the same way they would with an airport or highway.

Adding 15 minutes to your trip.

Unfortunately, Amtrak’s plan for accessing the platform ignores the user experience.

The plan will discourage ridership by creating a long, awkward journey to waiting trains.

Passengers will be escorted from the south concourse and across two active tracks, then funneled up a narrow set of stairs. From there, they’ll walk more than two city blocks.

The choke point at the stairs will cause delays. Even worse, the platform is next to the Chicago River at that point, so passengers will be exposed to wind, rain, and snow — and forced to drag their luggage up slick, dangerous steps. Misery.

This convoluted route will add at least 15 minutes to travel times. It’s a ridiculous burden, especially for passengers on short-distance trips.

A better idea: Direct access at Van Buren Street

The sweet spot of the platform — where passengers would board and alight — is south of Van Buren Street. That’s where it is widest and all the action will happen. It needs a direct entrance to the platform from the street above.

The Old Post Office is the obvious solution. The north end of this building is at Van Buren Street, a block south of Union Station. Vertical access can be opened directly to the platform below.

The Annex entrance could be located in the food court of the Old Post Office or the adjoining plaza. From there, waiting trains would be just a few steps and an escalator ride away.

Clearing the hurdles to a first-class entrance

Every bold idea faces pushback. Amtrak’s concerns about activating the mail platform stem from a limited vision—not insurmountable problems. Here’s how we turn each obstacle into a pathway forward.

Additional staff

Amtrak may be concerned about the additional staff needed to support an additional entrance. But the mail platform will require additional staff, with or without a new entrance. And, perhaps, the value far outweighs the cost. A Van Buren St. entrance improves access, flow, and service. Strategic staffing is a small price for a big upgrade.

Gaining easements from building owners

Amtrak says property owners are hesitant to accommodate emergency exits or public access. That’s why public leadership matters. With city and state engagement, design can meet safety needs and bring foot traffic that benefits the building.

Lack of funding

A $43 million federal grant to repurposing the mail platform does not include funding for an entrance, because Amtrak didn’t envision one during the design process. The lack of funding is not a dead end — it’s a symptom of under-ambition. Now that the opportunity has come into focus, the solution is straightforward: The city and state should work with the Federal Railroad Administration to amend the grant. Great projects evolve—this one must.

Of course, this solution will require cooperation with the current ownership of the Old Post Office. Its historic lobby has undergone a beautiful restoration — a sibling to Union Station’s Great Hall.

And, as with the entire Chicago Union Station project, strong and resourceful political support will be required to see it through.

A platform for Chicago’s future

Amtrak is following a plan that is not guided by a vision. We are in this position because Illinois does not have a long-range, integrated rail plan, nor does it have a funding stream to implement such a plan.

Help us build support for an Illinois Integrated Network Plan so that we can make the most of every opportunity.

Help us make it happen