Winfield railroad underpass stalls again; some residents oppose idea

A long-sought plan to build a pedestrian underpass near the Winfield Metra train station is on ice yet again.

And some officials are worried the village may lose out on state and federal grants to pay for most of the $3.1 million cost if they wait any longer to begin work on the project.

Trustees were supposed to vote this week on accepting a $300,000 grant from the state that would help finance an underpass near the Metra train depot at Church Street near Winfield Road.

But the village board instead tabled the measure after several residents urged trustees to drop the proposal.

They argued that the underpass, which would be located just a few yards away from the police station, would pose an unacceptable safety risk for commuters.

Some also questioned whether the village would indeed receive the grant money, which officials have said was secured long ago.

The village's share of the project is estimated at between $100,000 and $160,000, village officials said.

Village Manager William Barlow said that local cost is sure to rise if trustees wait too long to capitalize on grant availability.

Village President Rudy Czech said much of the opposition to the underpass project stems from misinformation passed along in the community, particularly from one free monthly mailer which is characterizing the underground crossing as a "subway."

"I'm not sure some of the people who spoke out against this plan were given all the correct information," he said. "We probably need to be more proactive in conveying that to the public."

Among the issues residents should be aware of, Czech said, was a plan by Union Pacific to close the above-grade train crossing near Church Street, forcing Metra commuters either living or parked on the south side of the train tracks to cross at Winfield Road.

Last fall, the village board approved the purchase of the Winfield Place Salon to make room for the underpass as well as provide space for a future parking garage in the town center.

Past officials have argued the project was needed to ensure the safety of schoolchildren crossing the tracks to Winfield Primary and Central schools as well as the elementary school run by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.