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Oak Forest Sets Metra Station Groundbreaking For July

OAK FOREST, Ill. (STMW) - A new Oak Forest Metra train station that has been talked about for at least five years finally has a date with a groundbreaking shovel.

There's no exact date, but officials in the south suburb expect to break ground on the project in July, according to a city news release.

The new station will have architectural details, elongated canopies with prominent columns, and integrated landscaping. It will include a warming shelter, restrooms, indoor and outdoor seating and an environmentally friendly geothermal heating system.

No estimated completion date was announced, but residents will be able to track construction progress via the city's website, cable programming, weekly e-newsletters, Facebook page and Twitter account.

"Residents are eager to see this come to fruition," community development director Adam Dotson said in the release. "We'll use every communication tool at our disposal so that they can see it become a reality."

The city views the station as a key piece to a plan to revitalize the commercial area at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue.

Oak Forest last year received $1 million from the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and $1.3 million from the Illinois Department of Transportation to help fund the station, which officials have said would cost about $3.4 million.

The station serves about 1,600 weekday commuters, the release said.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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