Prairie View Metra Station

The Prairie View Metra Train Station is the only station owned and maintained by a township. Other stations in the area are owned and operated by the villages in which they reside. The Prairie View Station parking lot currently has over 400 parking spaces available on a daily basis between both the West and East Parking lots.

Daily Parking

We ask that the West parking lot (entrance off of Main Street) PLEASE be reserved for Commuter Daily and Permit parking use ONLY. 

Any Stevenson students looking to park on a daily basis, please use ONLY the East parking lot (entrance off of Port Clinton/Prairie Rd), both for the safety of students and to ensure that commuters have spaces available for their use. 

The current Daily Parking rate is $1.75 per day.

Paying for Daily Parking

Pay by Cash or Credit/Debit at a kiosk. Commuters can use a credit/debit card or cash to pay for their daily parking. The automated pay stations are located near the main train building or at the corner of Port Clinton/Rt 22.

Pay by phone. Just call 877-727-5004 and reference Zone Number 831 and your parking space number for payment.

Parkmobile smartphone app. This app is available via the App Store or Google Play. Search for Zone 831, Vernon Township IL, then provide your car information and space information. Paying via the smartphone app will include a processing fee of $0.37 per transaction, which is paid by the user. 

***Please note that if you enter an incorrect parking space number when paying for daily parking via kiosk, phone call, or Parkmobile app, you may be ticketed as enforcement systems are tracked via paid parking space, not plate information. Please confirm your parking space number before paying to avoid this situation. 

Overnight Parking

If you wish to park overnight at the Prairie View Metra Station, please park in spaces 117 through 124 in the West Parking lot.

You will need to pay the daily rate each day of parking either by calling the above phone number or by purchasing through the Parkmobile app. Please make sure to pay the daily rate by 10:00 AM Central each day.

Stevenson Student Parking Permits

Stevenson High School Students with a parking pass can park at the Prairie View Metra Station. Daily parking for students is also available. (See above regarding Daily Parking.) 

The Stevenson parking permit spaces are located in the East parking lot ONLY, located off of Port Clinton/Prairie Road and closest to Stevenson High School, so that students are not required to cross the train tracks. Stevenson students will NOT be assigned a specific parking space. 

Students found parking in the Metra Commuter West Parking Lot, even if they have purchased a parking permit, will receive warnings and may result in towing. 

Prices

• Monthly parking permits are $40.00 per month (max 3 consecutive months at once)
• Half Year parking permits are $154.00 for Aug-Dec and $156.00 for Jan-May (includes one month free) - Please note that the Jan-May Permits are not being sold until December.
• School Year parking permits are $310.00 (includes two months free)

Application

Stevenson Parking Permits for the 2026/2027 School Year will be available starting Monday July 13. (We will be selling ONLY School Year, Aug-Dec, and Monthly permits at that time. Jan-May permits will be available in December.)

To obtain a pass, complete and submit the online application. If you are unable to complete the online application, paper copies will be available at the township office. 

Once your form is submitted, a permit will be held under the student's name for five business days. If the permit has not been picked up and paid for by end of the five business days, nor has the township been contacted regarding arranging a later pickup date, the permit will be released.

Payment can be made in cash, debit/credit card (with 3% convenience fee), or checks made payable to Vernon Township. All transactions must be made at the Township office as we are unable to take payment over the phone.

It is not guaranteed that there will always be permits available for purchase if they are not picked up promptly as, depending on demand, we may sell out. If you would like to confirm permit availability, please contact us at 847-634-4600 before applying.

Please note that a submitted permit application does not mean a valid permit given to a student. Permits are not considered valid until payment has been received by the township and do not auto-renew. Neglecting to provide payment for a parking permit, renew an expired permit, or pay the daily rate when parking when you have not yet paid for the applied permit may result in ticketing. 

Commuter Parking Permits

The township offers annual, semi annual and quarterly parking permits. Permits are not required but offer commuters the convenience of not having to pay daily. Permit prices vary per time period. Permit spaces for Commuters are located in the parking lot located off of Main Street.

To apply for a permit, you can submit the 2026 permit application online.

Prices

• Annual (January 2026 - December 2026) parking permits are $437.00
• Semi-Annual parking permits are $220.00 for January 2026 - June 2026 and $217.00 for July 2026 - December 2026
• Quarterly parking permits are $109.00 for January 2026 - March 2026, $111.00 for April 2026 - June 2026, $112.00 for July 2026 - September 2026, and $105.00 for October 2026 - December 2026
• Monthly parking permits are $40.00 per month.  

Payment for and receipt of your parking permit will be arranged with the Township by email. Payment may be made in cash, check (made payable to Vernon Township), or credit/debit. Payment must be received at the the Township Administrative Office (3050 N Main Street, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089).

Please note, this application is solely for commuters using the Prairie View Metra Station. See above for the application for Stevenson students looking to park at the Prairie View Metra Station.

Refund Policy

Any refunds in regards to parking at the Prairie View Metra Station are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Refunds must be requested within three business days of issues or changes in situation. Persons found to be abusing the refund policy may have further refund requests denied.