Lincoln Square Neighbors To Get Update On Western Brown Line Station Plans Next Week (2024)

LINCOLN SQUARE — Chicago Transit Authority officials will join Ald. Matt Martin (47th) next week to provide an update on renovations coming to the Western Brown Linestop.

The virtual meeting begins 6 p.m. Wednesday. To attend, neighbors must register at this website.

The Western Brown Line station provided nearly 700,000 annual rides last year. In December, commuters shared a wish list of improvements for the station with city officials.

During an April community meeting Martin and his chief of staff Josh Mark gave updates on the status of eight different infrastructure projects happening this year in Lincoln Square and North Center, including about $20 million in improvements coming to theWestern Brown Line station.

Wednesday’s meeting will allow CTA officials to share more details on the scope of the renovations based on feedback provided by the community as well as ask neighbors for more feedback based on progress made so far, CTA officials said.

“I am thrilled to have worked with the CTA to make these much-needed improvements possible. Constituents have been calling for years for the Western Station – the busiest in the 47th Ward – to be updated,” Martin said in a statement. “The refreshed look and updated ADA access will complement the concurrent rebuilding of the adjacent plaza and parking lot as we breathe new life into the heart of Lincoln Square.”

As part of the rehabilitation, new ADA doors will be added to the main entrance on Western Avenue.Beginning this summer, crews will begin work on track structure painting, platform rehabilitation and roof replacement, according to CTA plans.

The station will also feature a new bus boarding island and canopy structure for customers to use while waiting for one of the several routes that connect through the station. Sidewalks will be replaced in front of the station and lighting will be upgraded along the walkway between the station and Lincoln Avenue, according to plans.

Upon completion of the project, riders will have smoother access to the station thanks to the replaced sidewalks, according to plans.

The rehabilitated station interior will also feature new accent lighting that highlights a segment of the Berlin Wall on display. The CTA will also be refinishing the floors and interior walls, replacing the elevator cabs, stair treads and risers and constructing a new customer service assistance kiosk, according to plans.

On the platform level, the concrete platform edge will be replaced. Repairs will also be made to the existing concrete platform, handrail and platform canopy, according to plans.

To perform this work, occasional weekend day service cuts between Kimball and Western will be required. There will also be temporary bus stop relocation while the bus turnaround is being rehabbed. Details of any service impacts will be shared with customers once details are finalized, CTA officials said.

Work is anticipated to continue through late 2025, CTA officials said.

“As we continue the work of increasing ridership systemwide, our goal is to make capital improvements that will be appreciated by current bus and rail customers and encourage new riders to utilize the system,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. said in a statement.

In a separate but related project, the Western Brown Line station’splazais being redesigned to be more pedestrian-friendly.

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