The new 5,400-square-foot train station at the 80th Avenue Metra stop will open to commuters on March 22, according to information released by the Village of Tinley Park.

The $11.5 million project was started in November 2010 and the new station will debut with Wi-Fi access, a veranda, a covered drop off area, clock tower, a fully equipped kitchen and bathrooms – a luxury missing from the original station.

To show their appreciation of commuters’ patience during construction, village and Metra officials will hand out refreshments on the station’s opening day.

In addition to the new station building, the train platform is also being raised to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and three warming shelters are also being added for waiting commuters. Phase two of the project won’t be finished until August, however, which includes the construction of a pedestrian underpass where passengers can cross from one side of the tracks to the other, and platform improvements west of the station.

Parking configurations will continue to be disrupted until the entire project is finished, according to the village.

Metra is contributing $6.3 million for construction costs, and the village will cover the remaining expenses with reserve funds and $5.2 million from a bond issue.

A 3D rendering of the completed station is available at the village’s website.