Perhaps you have never considered how a train station could be a window into a community’s history. Yet, 99th Street–Beverly Hills station offers just that. It stands as one of five Metra stations gracing Beverly Hills. This station is a vital part of Chicago’s Rock Island District Line.
Let’s step back in time. The 99th Street–Beverly Hills station first opened in 1945. It quickly became an integral part of daily life for Beverly Hills residents. Today, it is still going strong.
The 99th Street–Beverly Hills station sits at 9901 South Walden Parkway near 99th Street. It is about 12.3 miles from the LaSalle Street Station. LaSalle Street Station is the line’s northern terminus. In Metra’s fare system, the station resides in zone 2.
Interestingly, despite its name, parking isn’t directly on 99th Street. Instead, you will find parking lots along the line between 100th and 101st Streets. There are also smaller lots north of 100th Street on Walden Parkway and Wood Street.
As of 2018, 99th Street–Beverly Hills ranked as Metra’s 81st busiest non-downtown station. It served an average of 645 weekday boardings. As of 2022, the 99th Street–Beverly Hills station sees a lot of service. Forty trains stop here on weekdays. There are 21 trains on Saturdays and 16 on Sundays and holidays.
The station boasts a historic Victorian station house. Its small building features a second story. The building is painted brown with wooden signs. These signs display 99th Street in black. Inside, a small waiting room offers a few benches. The ticket office closed in March 2016.
The 99th Street–Beverly Hills station has two tracks. But there is only one platform. It is located along the western outbound track. Passengers heading to Chicago use pedestrian crossings. These crossings go over the outbound track. This setup makes the station a hold-out. Only one train can stop or pass through at a time.
The platform stretches between 99th and 100th Streets. South of the station house, you will see the rear doors of storefronts. A mural declaring “Beverly” adorns these historic storefronts. A brick shelter sits in the platform’s middle. It covers windscreened benches. The parking lots extend along alleys to 103rd Street.
SP+ Parking manages the station’s parking. You can use the Parkmobile App in Zone 209 for daily parking. There are four parking lots with 100 spaces for permit or daily parking. Four ADA parking spaces are available too.
The 99th Street–Beverly Hills station is more than just a stop on the Rock Island District Line. It’s a piece of Beverly Hills. It is a testament to the neighborhood’s enduring spirit and connection to the city.