Des Plaines officials are buying land on Oakton Street that could become the site of a new Metra station.

Under a deal approved Monday, the city will spend $190,619 for the vacant property at1380 E. Oakton St.

The roughly 17,000-square-foot, rectangular parcel is on the north side of Oakton and east of Lee Street. Perhaps most importantly, it’s next to the railroad tracks that are part of Metra’sNorth CentralLine between Antioch and Chicago.

Des Plaines doesn’t have a stop on the North Central line, and such a station is a key part of the city’s plans for that part of town.

Des Plaines’ two current train stations both are on theUnion Pacific NorthwestLine that runs between Chicago’sOgilvie Transportation Centerand Harvard and McHenry. One is downtown on Miner Street; the other is the Cumberland stop on Northwest Highway.

An Oakton Street station on the North Central line would give riders a direct trip to O’Hare International Airport andChicago Union Station. It also could alleviate parking issues at the city’s other stations and encourage redevelopment in the Oakton corridor, a2019 studyindicated.

Some Des Plaines officials have envisioned creating a second downtown district near Oakton and Lee, complete with apartment buildings or other high-density housing developments that would attract residents who use public transportation.

A train station there “will be a catalyst for investment and spur transit-oriented development along the Oakton corridor,” City Manager Mike Bartholomew said.

It’s up to Metra to approve a new station. Building one could cost Des Plaines $10 million to $12 million, officials have said.

The city council greenlit the Oakton Street land purchase without discussion at its meeting Monday night.

The seller is local entrepreneur Bob Albrecht, who owns it via a limited liability company. Albrecht, who owns other properties on Oakton, too, said he hopes the train station plan comes to fruition.

“It’s good for Oakton Street,” he said.

Funds for the purchase will come from property tax revenue generated by aspecial taxing districtestablished in 2019.