Chicago Mayor, CTA officials celebrate completion of CTA station renovations

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson, CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez and 25th Ward Alderman Daniel Solis, along with community representatives gathered on April 25, 2011, to celebrate the completion of renovations on the north entrance at the CTA Red Line Cermak-Chinatown station. The rehabbed entrance, located at 138 W. Cermak Road, once again will serve as the main stationhouse. Last June, CTA opened a new auxiliary entrance two blocks north of Cermak that allowed the station to remain open while renovations were under way. The Archer entrance will remain in use as a secondary entrance/exit to the station. "I am pleased with the CTA's commitment and efforts in making public transit more accessible and attractive to Chicago residents over the years," said Daley. "The renovation of Cermak is just one of the many investments in CTA's system that improves reliability and provides quality service to the millions of people who depend on public transportation in their daily lives." In addition to installing a new elevator and replacing the stairs and escalator, CTA built a new stationhouse at street level on Cermak and installed planters and posts that add to the ambience outside the station. Other amenities include enhanced lighting, new customer assistance and information kiosks and bike racks. Total cost of the project was $12.5 million using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. CTA received a total of $241 million in stimulus funds. In 2010, the average ridership at the Cermak station was 3,561 on weekdays; 3738 in Saturdays and the 2,942 on Sundays, making it the seventh busiest station on the Dan Ryan Red Line branch and 24th busiest on the Red Line.