After years of construction, the CTA reopened four newly rebuilt Red Line stations on the North Side on Sunday.
The stations at Argyle, Bryn Mawr, Lawrence and Berwyn have been closed since 2021. They were updated during the first phase of the CTA’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line modernization project that started in 2019.
The stations were made more accessible with new elevators and escalators. The station’s platforms were widened, and each location has new train trackers, benches, overhead canopies, turnstiles and fare machines, according to the CTA.
Temporary stops at Argyle and Bryn Mawr are now closed.
“This is a huge day,” CTA spokesperson Tammy Chase said. “Today, we opened four new Red Line stations that were reconstructed from stations that were more than 100 years old, which is incredible.”
As part of the work, the CTA also rebuilt the entire track structure around the stations, which Chase said is already making trains noticeably quieter.
Among those eager to use the new stations on Sunday was Saroja Reddy, who used to take the Red Line to her job at Truman College. She returned to the Bryn Mawr station Sunday for the first time since the closure.
“It’s really impressive,” Reddy said. “I like that the platforms are bigger. It’s much more comfortable up here.”
Reddy said the temporary loss of the station had made her commute more difficult because she had to rely on buses instead of the train, which is her preferred method of transportation.
“The buses — I find I always have to wait long times for them,” Reddy said. “The train feels more reliable.”
Reddy also praised the new elevators, which make a big difference when she’s carrying groceries.
Julio Velesaca, who uses a wheelchair and works nearby, said the new elevators and easy access will help many neighbors.
“There’s a lot of handicapped people who, like me, take the elevators, and most of us had to go down to Wilson and Broadway for the nearest station that’s accessible,” Velesaca said. “But now we have one right here [at the Bryn Mawr station] and at the other new stations.”
Rony Islam, who lived near the Argyle station during the closures, returned Sunday to visit the new station and reflect on the changes.
“It’s so exciting to see them really open up for the first time,” Islam said. “Transit is the backbone of our city, and it’s why so many people, including myself, choose to live in Chicago.”
Islam said he’s particularly excited for the Argyle Night Market on Thursdays to benefit from easier access.
“It’s always been packed, but I think it’s going to be even more popular now that the station’s reopened,” Islam said.
Beyond the new elevators and platforms, Chase said passengers will notice a full refresh of each station, complete with architectural flourishes and digital displays offering real-time updates on train delays or elevator outrages before riders pay their fares.
Chase said some of the original architecture at the Argyle and Bryn Mawr stations was incorporated into the new designs, and artwork at all the stations was created with input from neighbors.
“The artwork is a big deal at each station,” Chase said. “You’ll see unique, original pieces of art that were informed by the community.”
The CTA has more plans for under the new tracks. The agency plans on redeveloping 10 blocks of space under the Red and Purple Line tracks from Lawrence and Ardmore avenues.
The plans include a walking path, dog park, benches, community plaza space, playground and fitness area. Construction is expected to start next year and be finished in 2027.
The CTA expects to begin another major Red Line project next year. The Red Line will be extended south to 130th Street, and four new stations will be added to the line at 103rd, 111th, 116th and 130th streets. The $5.75 billion project is estimated to be completed in five years.
For now, Chase said the CTA hopes the newly reopened stations will draw foot traffic back to the area, including to local businesses that have weathered both construction and the pandemic.
“We want people to be excited to come to our stations,” Chase said. “Hopefully, this will be a good, good thing for them.”