CTA Damen Station reopens

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Chicago Transportation Authority reopened the newly renovated and modernized Damen Blue Line station December 22. 

Damen is among the first three of 13 stations that are receiving station improvement work as part of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s $492-million Your New Blue program.

The Your New Blue project is the largest investment in the Blue Line’s O’Hare branch since it opened 30 years ago and is providing faster commutes, more reliable service and a more welcoming environment for Blue Line riders. In addition to rehabilitating 13 stations, Your New Blue includes repairing track infrastructure and upgrading power and signal systems along the O’Hare branch, which serves about 80,000 passengers each weekday.

The Damen station was modernized throughout to increase comfort for passengers and historic features of the station. Earlier this fall, a major renovation of the California station was completed. Improvements to the Western-O’Hare station, which underwent a major rehabilitation in 2001, are expected to be completed in early January. All three stations were built in 1895.

“Just a year ago this month, the mayor announced the ambitious Your New Blue project to modernize the O’Hare branch. I’m pleased to report that in just one year’s time, we’ve completed major trackwork that is shaving as much as 10 minutes off of Blue Line commutes and have completed three station renovation projects,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.

The more than $13-million of improvements at the Damen station, completed on time and on budget, include new architectural lighting, new roofing, improved signage, additional turnstiles and wider gates, refurbished walls, stairs and platforms, new bike racks and a larger stationhouse footprint.

 

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