DeKalb Train Station

Would you take the train to DeKalb? It has happened to every student, local or commuter. You are just in time for class but the parking garage is completely full. NIU accommodates more than 20,000 students, faculty, and staff but there is just not enough parking. Not only does congested traffic cause parking problems but it also creates an environmental concern from excessive pollution simply due to thousands of people looking for a place to park their car. Parking should not disrupt learning process! Do you have any plans in the City or are flying out of O’Hare or Midway? Slow down – Prepare some cash! There are very limited transportation options to Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, O’Hare and Midway International Airports. There are buses that run to the Elburn Train Station, but they ONLY run two days a week. Good luck getting a ticket because they sell out quick. Recently, a Greyhound bus line began making a stop here in DeKalb but it is expensive and ONLY stops once a day!

Extending the Metra CTA line to include the DeKalb Station is a solution! Alternatively, a short term solution would be a shuttle bus service to Elburn on a daily basis!



Students, staff, and faculty will have more options to decide where they want to live. Riding the train instead of driving is safer, cheaper and a much cleaner commute. Going to a conference or traveling on thanksgiving break will getting to the airport much easier. DeKalb is already connected to the Elburn railroad and the cost of construction increases every year. The more we wait, the more expensive it gets!