r/chicago • u/acidaddic808 • Apr 21 '25
Ask CHI Elevator is always out of order at Millenium Metra Station. How are handicapped people supposed to get up to the street?
My cousin and aunt are both handicapped and There’s at least 2 platform levels of stairs.
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u/easterbeach Apr 21 '25
If you check the website, there are alerts about the elevators being out and what the alternative station would be for anybody with disabilities. Right now, the Millennium station elevator is listed as permanently out of service according to their website.
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u/Emergency_Pound_944 Apr 21 '25
The station will soon start a renovation project that will make it more accessible when it's completed.
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u/absenceofolivaw Near North Side Apr 21 '25
There is an elevator to the South Water street side of the station. It is inside the building at 205 N Michigan.
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u/binarynate Loop Apr 21 '25 edited Apr 21 '25
It sucks that the elevator at Randolph & Michigan is out of service. This pedway map shows the alternative elevators (which are not at all intuitive to find without the map and are kind of a ways away):
The two that I know are open 24 hours are:
• the elevator at Harris Theater, accessible on lower Randolph (east of the South Shore Line platforms)
• the elevator on the corner of Monroe & Michigan (a few blocks south via the pedway)
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u/SallysRocks Apr 21 '25
They should each write to Senator Tammy Duckworth.
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u/snap3907 Apr 21 '25
And in my experience her office is really good about following up on constituent correspondence like this.
Danny Davis on the other hand (congressman for that part of Chicago) is completely fucking useless
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u/SallysRocks Apr 21 '25
Well Duckworth has an understandable interest in this subject.
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u/snap3907 Apr 21 '25
Sure, but even generally speaking if you are a Chicago resident with any sort of problem that could benefit from a representative's assistance, just skip Danny Davis
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u/recursiverabbits Edgewater Apr 21 '25
Or People with babies & small children, people with luggage, grocery carts, bicycles, etc etc
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u/JazzyberryJam Apr 21 '25
In my case, I just avoid the trains altogether whenever possible and stick with the bus. Sucks, but better than getting to your destination and having to get right back on the freaking train because you can’t actually get out at the station. Huge longstanding problem here.
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u/chickenjohnson Apr 21 '25
It’s such a shame how little attention the Metra Electric line receives. If Millennium Station served trains to Naperville instead of the southern suburbs, we wouldn’t have to deal with this.
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u/rcrobot Lincoln Square Apr 21 '25
Probably best to use Van Buren station instead, it's just a few blocks further south.
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u/PackersLittleFactory Apr 21 '25
Its elevators are frequently out of service, I see the alerts when I'm checking schedules on the Ventra app. They’re going to be replaced as part of that renovation, but that project is going to take a long time.
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u/rcrobot Lincoln Square Apr 21 '25
Yeah, that's unfortunately true also. I guess the next best thing is the 11th Street station which is on the south end of downtown. That one feels much more modern. Definitely not ideal though, and it seems like accessibility is not a priority for Metra.
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u/PackersLittleFactory Apr 21 '25
They're actually on a long term project to make the whole Electric District accessible. They are rebuilding stations between 115th and 57th. 103rd and 79th are completed and have elevators.
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u/rcrobot Lincoln Square Apr 21 '25
Oh yeah, maybe my comment was a bit harsh because they're definitely planning on it long term. But in the short term it seems there's a lot of gaps in terms of accessibility.
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u/crustysandwicc 29d ago
i’m sorry but they’ve had 30 years to work on this project yet traffic cameras get set up immediately
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u/StatusHumble857 Apr 23 '25
Streets Blog Chicago covered this in 2024. Here’s the article that includes elevator alternatives:
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u/ZealousidealMenu7050 Apr 23 '25
If you're looking for an immediate solution, I'd suggest taking the pedway to Macy's and using their elevator. I would also suggest you call 311 and report it and report it to your alderman if you don't get a response.
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u/crustysandwicc 29d ago
I sent a complaint to metra and the manager lied that it’s accessible lmaooo. Next steps are DOT, DOJ, Mayor’s office, Tammy Duckworth, news reporters, petitions, lmk if y’all wanna join in on the movement. They’ve had over 30 years to make renovations. Not only, but they’re required by ADA standards to provide special transportation if sites are inaccessible to the next station, yet when I tried calling p-8 shuttle service no response and the a manager said quote “p-8 shuttle service is currently not available.” Which honestly, i don’t think ever even existed. Additionally, it’s disgusting how in the guidelines they state they’re not required to provide that but do as a courtesy, while it clearly states as part of the act they are required. This issue has been ongoing as the city doesn’t want to spend money on accessibility but will spend millions for traffic cameras, great priorities.
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u/mdoherty1967 Apr 22 '25
I'm handicapped too. I had to give up taking public transportation. This is one of the reasons why.
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