Amtrak seeks developer for Chicago Union Station overhaul

CHICAGO (AP) - Amtrak is seeking a developer for a new phase of its overhaul of Chicago's Union Station.

The railroad announced a request for qualifications Tuesday with a July 1 deadline. Amtrak wants a developer to overhaul the commercial elements of the 91-year-old station and neighboring properties in Chicago's rapidly developing West Loop neighborhood.

That includes 1.3 billion square feet of building space spread over more than 14 acres and air rights to develop another 3 million square feet of office space above it all.

Amtrak Vice President of Infrastructure Development Stephen Gardner says the goal is to turn Union Station into "a world-class transportation facility that is further woven into the fabric" of the city.

Union Station is the country's third busiest rail terminal. About 120,000 passengers pass through it daily.