Chicago: CTA Moves Ahead on Plan to Modernize Red, Purple Lines

The CTA is moving forward with its Red and Purple Modernization (RPM), a transformational, multi-phase program to completely rebuild and add passenger capacity to the northern section of the Red Line, as well as the Purple Line north of Belmont.

As part of the federal environmental review process, the CTA today published the first of two federal documents, called Environmental Assessments (EA), that are associated with Phase 1 of RPM. These documents are an important step in the process of informing the public and gathering feedback about this critical project, all of which contributes to the project’s development and allows the CTA to apply for federal funding for RPM.

The first EA is the analysis of the portion of the project that would completely rebuild four stations and more than a mile of track infrastructure at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr. This modernization project would create brand new state-of-the-art stations with elevators to make them fully accessible to customers, plus new elevated track infrastructure that would increase service reliability and speeds. Improvements also include wider and longer platforms for faster boarding, better lighting and customer security features, more benches and wind screens, real-time information boards and longer canopies. In addition, this project includes replacing old infrastructure with new tracks, support structures, bridges and viaducts for the entire section of the Red Line adjacent to the four stations, approximately between Leland and Ardmore Avenues.

The EA outlines construction plans and impacts related to this project. The CTA anticipates construction for the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project could begin as early as 2017. ....................(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12069397/cta-moves-ahead-on-plan-to-modernize-red-purple-lines