Officially Marks the Completion of Renovations to Fullerton and Belmont Stations

1/9/10 -- Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson and Chicago Transit Authority President Richard L. Rodriguez joined federal, state and city officials today at the Fullerton rail station for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of 18 station renovations as part of the CTA’s $530 million Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project.

Belmont and Fullerton – the final two stations to complete construction – were rebuilt in the same locations and now include elevators for customers with disabilities making 91 of the CTA’s 144 rail stations now accessible.  CTA preserved the two historic stationhouses at each station and relocated them across the street to serve as secondary entrances.

“The completion of these two stations and this entire program represents a great enhancement of our transportation system and moves us closer to our goal of bringing accessible, reliable service to riders of the Brown Line and to riders of the CTA system across Chicago,” said Mayor Daley.  “This project is a good example of how essential capital investment projects are to the economic growth and development of our region. I am also happy to report – especially in these difficult economic times – that this project was completed on time and on budget.” 

The Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project was designed to relieve congestion, provide for future growth by increasing capacity, and improve service delivery, safety and customer comfort. The project also made the Brown Line accessible to all CTA customers, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

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Escalators and auxiliary entrances/exits
now available for customers

12/31/09 -- The newly installed elevators at CTA's Belmont and Fullerton stations are now available for customers' use. The elevators at Belmont began service on Tuesday, December 29 and the elevators at Fullerton began operation on Thursday, December 31.

"CTA continues its efforts to make its system easier to navigate for everyone who uses buses and trains to travel throughout the CTA service area," said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez. "Modernizing the system and making it accessible to customers with disabilities makes CTA a viable and convenient travel option for customers now and in the future."

In addition to the new elevators, escalators are available for customer use and new farecard-only auxiliary entrance/exits to Belmont and Fullerton stations are open.

The auxiliary entrances are located on the north side of Belmont Avenue and the north side of Fullerton Avenue, across from the main entrance to each station. Each new auxiliary entrance features: restored historic station house; farecard vending machines; customer assistant call button and new signage

The new auxiliary entrance/exits provide more convenient access for customers transferring to/from westbound buses on Belmont and Fullerton. Customers must have a valid farecard to enter through the auxiliary entrances. Staff assistance is available at the main entrances located across the street from the auxiliary entrances.

With the elevators at Belmont and Fullerton, a total of 91 out of the 144 CTA rail stations are accessible to customers with disabilities. All CTA buses and trains are accessible.

The elevators at Belmont and Fullerton were installed as part of the CTA’s larger $530 million Brown Line capacity expansion project, which is designed to increase capacity and accessibility and bring 18 stations along the line to a state of good repair.

Belmont and Fullerton are the last of 18 stations renovated through the project. The two stations have remained open during construction and they are scheduled to be fully complete by the end of 2009.

Renovations at the Brown Line Belmont and Fullerton stations include brighter lighting, tactile edging, Braille signs and wheelchair accessible turnstiles, an upgraded public address system and expanded platforms.

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Although construction work continues, on September 12, 2009, CTA customers entering and exiting the Fullerton station served by the Red, Brown and Purple lines began using the new permanent station entrance..

The temporary entrance was opened in October 2006 to allow crews to relocate the historic stationhouse to the north side of Fullerton Parkway and build the new station in its place.

Construction work associated with the Brown Line capacity expansion project will continue at Fullerton and in the new stationhouse until later this year. Upon completion of construction work, the Fullerton station will be fully accessible to customers with disabilities. 

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Although construction of the Belmont station continues,on August 29, 2009, CTA customers entering and exiting the Belmont station began using the new permanent station entrance located approximately 75 feet west of the previous temporary entrance.

The temporary entrance was opened in December 2006 to allow crews to relocate the historic stationhouse to the north side of Belmont Avenue and build the new station in its place.

Construction work associated with the Brown Line capacity expansion project will continue at Belmont and in the new stationhouse until later this year. When completed, the Belmont station will be fully accessible to customers with disabilities.  

The Wellington station reopened to customers and resumed rail service Thursday, July 30, 2009 following a 16-month temporary closure for construction as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project. 

A new stationhouse was built in the same location as the previous stationhouse at 945 W. Wellington Avenue and a new auxiliary exit has been built just north of the station on Nelson Street for added customer convenience and passage. 

With the addition of two elevators, the Wellington station now is accessible to customers with disabilities.  With this station reopening, 89 of CTA’s 144 rail stations are accessible. 

Wellington is the sixteenth of 18 stations included in the Brown Line capacity expansion project to be completed. 

With the completion of Wellington, all of the Brown Line stations temporarily closed for renovation will be open.  Although construction remains under way at Belmont and Fullerton, service continues to operate at both stations.

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The Paulina Brown Line station reopened to customers on Friday, April 3, 2009. The station was temporarily closed for construction for one year as part of the capacity expansion project on the Brown Line.

A new stationhouse was built across the street from the site of the old stationhouse. The new stationhouse, located at 3410 N. Lincoln, features two new elevators making the station accessible to customers with disabilities. With the reopening of Paulina, 88 out of 144 CTA rail stations are accessible. An auxiliary entrance/exit is located at the site of the old stationhouse for added customer convenience. 

The platforms at the station were reconfigured to accommodate eight-car trains which allow more customers to board. Other amenities include accessible turnstiles, brighter lighting, new signs - including Braille signs - and a bike rack. 

Paulina is the fifteenth of 18 stations included in the Brown Line capacity expansion project to be completed. To date, work also has been completed at Kimball, Kedzie, Rockwell, Francisco, Western, Sedgwick, Montrose, Addison, Southport, Armitage, Diversey, Chicago, Damen and Irving Park. The only station now closed for construction is Wellington, which will reopen to customers at the end of the summer. Although construction remains underway at Belmont and Fullerton, service continues to operate at both stations.

As a result of the resumption of four-track operations at the Belmont and Fullerton stations, a new rail schedule also will go into effect on December 28, 2008 that will improve travel times along the Red, Brown and Purple Express lines.

With the recent completion of three-track operations at the Belmont and Fullerton stations, Red, Brown and Purple Express trains have resumed normal operation on all four tracks. As a result, customers will have improved rush-hour travel options, faster travel times and more frequent service.

The frequency of Brown Line trains operating during the morning and evening rush periods will increase from every five minutes to four minutes. Brown Line trains will operate seven minutes faster, traveling from the Kimball terminal to Clark/Lake in approximately 40 minutes.

During the morning and evening rush periods, Red Line trains will run every three-and-a-half to four minutes. With Red Line trains operating eight minutes faster, a trip from the Howard terminal to downtown will take approximately 32 minutes compared to an average of 40 minutes during three-track operation.

And the frequency of Purple Express trains to the Loop will increase from every 15 minutes to every eight minutes during the rush periods.  A trip on a Purple Express train from Howard to downtown will be 35 minutes compared to 40 minutes during three-track.

In addition, at the start of service on Monday, December 29, Purple Line Express trains will return to the direction of travel used before the three-track project began – clockwise. Purple Express trains will travel through the Loop with stops at Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Randolph/Wabash, Madison/Wabash, Adams/Wabash, Library, LaSalle/Van Buren, Quincy, Washington/Wells then return to Merchandise Mart and head north to Howard.

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The Damen station reopened on the morning of Friday, December 19, 2008.

Two elevators have been installed at Damen, making the station accessible to customers with disabilities— bringing the total of accessible CTA rail stations to 87 out of 144. 

In addition to new elevators, the platforms accommodate eight-car trains which allow more customers to board.  Other amenities include accessible turnstiles, brighter lighting, new signs - including Braille signs - and a bike rack. 

Damen is the fourteenth station of 18 stations included in the Brown Line capacity expansion project. To date, work also has been completed at Kimball, Kedzie, Rockwell, Francisco, Western, Montrose, Irving Park, Addison, Southport, Diversey, Armitage, Sedgwick and Chicago.

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The Irving Park station reopened to customer service on
December 6, 2008.

The renovated stationhouse, situated in the same location at
1816-18 W. Irving Park Road, is accessible to customers with disabilities with the addition of elevators—bringing the total of accessible CTA rail stations to 86 out of 144. 

In addition to new elevators, CTA also reconfigured the inbound and outbound platforms to make them longer, wider and able to accommodate eight-car trains at the station.  Other amenities include accessible turnstiles, brighter lighting, new signs - including Braille signs - and a bike rack.

Read complete press release

With three-track operation at the Belmont Brown Line station scheduled to conclude by the end of the year, Purple Express trains in the Loop will resume operation traveling clockwise on Monday, December 29, 2008.

Purple Line Express trains will resume operating clockwise through the Loop with stops at Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Randolph/Wabash, Madison/Wabash, Adams/Wabash, Library, LaSalle/Van Buren, Quincy, Washington/Wells then return to Merchandise Mart and head north to Howard.

In April 2007, when three-track operation began at both the Belmont and Fullerton stations, the CTA moved Purple Express trains to travel in the same direction as Brown Line trains (counter-clockwise around the Loop) to supplement Brown Line service and help ease congestion in the Loop during three-track operation.

As of Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 5 a.m., construction is completed on the southbound track at Fullerton and service is available on both southbound tracks signaling the end of three-track operation during rush hour at Fullerton. Three-track operation is still in place at Belmont.

Since March 30, southbound Brown, Red and Purple Express trains have been limited to one southbound track at Belmont and Fullerton while the platforms are being rebuilt and tracks reconfigured to allow room for the installation of elevators.

The restoration of normal southbound service at Fullerton means trains can operate more freely south allowing for smoother operation for Red, Brown and Purple Line Express trains arriving at the station.

The three-track operation at Belmont is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.

Read complete press release.

The new entrance to the Chicago Avenue station opened September 21, 2008.

The new stationhouse is located at platform level at 301 W. Chicago Avenue, and can be accessed at street level by stairs or a newly-installed elevator.

Two elevators have been installed allowing access to the northbound and southbound platforms, making the station newly accessible to customers with disabilities. With the reopening of the new Chicago stationhouse, a total of 85 out of 144 CTA rail stations are accessible.

Chicago is the twelfth of 18 stations to be completed as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project. To date, work has been completed at Kimball, Kedzie, Rockwell, Francisco, Western, Montrose, Addison, Southport, Diversey, Armitage, Sedgwick and Chicago.

The new Diversey station entrance opened on Monday, August 4, 2008. The new stationhouse, located on the south side of the street, is across the street from the old historic stationhouse.

Elevators at the new stationhouse make Diversey station newly accessible to customers with disabilities. Diversey is the eleventh of 18 stations to be completed as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project. With the reopening of the new Diversey stationhouse, a total of 84 out of 144 CTA rail stations are accessible.

The new stationhouse includes these customer-convenient features:

• Longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains
• Elevators and accessible turnstiles
• Brighter lighting
• Tactile edging on the platform
• Refurbished canopies and new benches
• New signage including Braille signs
• Bike rack

The CTA Arts in Transit program, administered by the Department of Cultural Affairs, will soon begin the selection process for permanent, site-specific artwork to be installed at the Belmont and Fullerton stations, which are currently being renovated.

The Arts in Transit program held public forums on Monday, July 21 and Thursday, July 24, 2008.

Information about the CTA Arts in Transit Program and the Artist Registry application may be found at www.cityofchicago.org/publicart.

Renovations to the Armitage Brown Line station are complete and the newly renovated main station entrance opened to customers on Thursday, June 5. The station is newly accessible to customers with disabilities. The temporary station located on the south side of Armitage will close and be demolished over the next few weeks.

The Armitage station is the 10th station out of 18 to be renovated as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project. Major improvements include longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains, elevators and accessible turnstiles, wider stairways to improve platform access, more turnstiles to ease congestion, and additional exits and entrances to improve the flow of customer traffic.

Read press release.

The construction work to realign the tracks at the Belmont and Fullerton Brown Line stations will be accelerated, allowing the CTA to restore the southbound track to service by the end of 2008, six months earlier than previously announced.

Southbound Brown, Red and Purple Express trains have been limited to one southbound track at Belmont and Fullerton since March 30 while the platforms are being rebuilt and tracks reconfigured to allow room for the installation of elevators at both stations. As a result of three-track operation, CTA has supplemented bus service near the stations and added personnel and signage in an effort to assist affected customers.

In addition, the CTA announced that it will add escalators to the Belmont and Fullerton stations. The original plans provided space for future installation of escalators but because the project remains within its budget and on schedule the CTA has determined that there are sufficient funds to install two escalators at each station. The escalator installation is scheduled to be completed by December 2009.

Read press release.

The next phase of three-track operation at the Belmont and Fullerton stations has started.

Effective March 30, 2008, southbound trains are limited to one track at the Belmont and Fullerton stations due to construction for the Brown Line capacity expansion project.  To help ease the impact, the CTA is operating eight-car trains on the Brown Line during morning and evening rush hours.  The introduction of eight-car service has occurred nearly 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Paulina and Wellington stations closed for renovation on March 30.  While the stations are under construction, Brown Line trains will bypass both stations.

Also on March 30, the CTA reopened the Southport station and opened a temporary station at Diversey. Both stations had been closed for construction and are now able to accommodate eight-car trains.  Using a temporary station at Diversey makes it possible to reopen for service nearly three months earlier than originally planned.  Work to install elevators and complete the stationhouse at Diversey will continue throughout the spring.

Read more about three-track operation.

The Addison Brown Line station reopened December 3, 2007 following work to lengthen platforms, rebuild the stationhouse and make the station accessible.

Two newly installed elevators are now in operation making the station accessible to all CTA customers. With the completion of the renovations at Addison, 80 of CTA’s 144 rail stations are now accessible. In addition to the new elevators, accessible features also include: an accessible turnstile, tactile platform edging, gap fillers, TTY telephones and Braille signs.

Also new to the station are two auxiliary exits, one serving the northbound platform and one serving the southbound platform. Other upgrades include wider stairways, additional turnstiles, a new platform canopy, customer assistant call buttons, an information kiosk, heaters, benches, brighter lighting, windbreaks and improved station and directional signs.  

Irving Park station closed temporarily on December 3, 2007. While the Irving Park station is closed, customers may board the Brown Line at the adjacent, newly-renovated Montrose or Addison stations.

The Damen station was temporarily closed on November 27, 2007 for up to 12 months. When the Damen and Irving Park stations reopen they will both be newly accessible to customers.

The Montrose Brown Line station reopened on November 26, 2007 following work to lengthen platforms, rebuild the stationhouse and make the station accessible. The station closed to customers last December for renovation and re-opened six days ahead of schedule.

Two newly installed elevators are now in operation making the station accessible to all CTA customers. With the completion of the renovations at Montrose, 79 of CTA’s 144 rail stations are now accessible. In addition to the new elevators, accessible features also include: an accessible turnstile, tactile platform edging, gap fillers, TTY telephones and Braille signs.

Other improvements to Montrose include a newly rebuilt stationhouse, wider stairways, additional turnstiles, a new platform canopy, customer assistant call buttons, an information kiosk, heaters, benches, brighter lighting, windbreaks and improved station and directional signs. 

Damen is the next Brown Line station scheduled to undergo renovation and that station closed on November 26 for up to 12 months. While the Damen station is closed, customers may board the Brown Line at the adjacent, newly renovated Western or Montrose stations.

On December 3, CTA will reopen the Addison station to customers and temporarily close the Irving Park station for up to 12 months. When the Damen and Irving Park stations reopen they will both be newly accessible to customers.

On November 26, 2007, CTA will reopen the Montrose station to customers and temporarily close the Damen station for up to 12 months.

On December 3, 2007, the CTA will reopen the Addison station and temporarily close the Irving Park station for up to 12 months.

Both Montrose and Addison have been closed to service since December 2006. When the stations reopen they will both be newly accessible to customers.

While the Damen station is closed, customers may use the adjacent Brown Line stations at Western and Montrose. While the Irving Park station is closed, customers may use the Montrose and Addison stations.

The Sedgwick station entrance reopened on Monday, November 12, 2007.

The newly renovated station entrance is accessible to customers with disabilities and includes these customer-friendly features:

• New elevators
• Brighter lighting
• Refurbished canopies
• Renovated and expanded historic station entrance
• Benches
• Bike racks
• Longer platforms

The station has remained open to customers throughout construction. The temporary entrance located on Hudson is no longer in use.

The entrance to the Chicago Avenue Brown Line station temporarily relocated one block south of the existing entrance to Superior and Franklin at 5 a.m. Monday, October 15, 2007 as CTA continues work to rebuild the Chicago Avenue station and extend platforms as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project.

Customers use new stairways to the elevated platforms at the temporary entrance to access Purple Line Express and Brown Line trains. The temporary entrance provides the same amenities as the existing entrance, including farecard vending machines. The temporary entrance is expected to be in place through spring 2008.

Crews placed the newly constructed northbound platform and tracks into service at the Belmont Brown/Red/Purple Express station at 10 p.m. Thursday, August 9, 2007. The new platform and tracks are located east of the current platform and tracks. Customers will board northbound Red, Brown and Purple Line Express trains on the east side of the new northbound platform.

On Monday, July 23, 2007 at 5 a.m., the Chicago Transit Authority temporarily relocated the entrance to the Armitage station on the Brown Line. The new temporary entrance is on the south side of Armitage - across the street from the existing entrance. The turnstiles, farecard vending machines and temporary customer assistant kiosk are available in the new temporary station entrance as well.

The temporary entrance is expected to be in place until early 2008 while CTA continues work to rebuild the Armitage station and extend platforms.

CTA’s #73 Armitage bus, which provides direct service to the Armitage station, is not affected.

On Monday, June 25, 2007, the Diversey station on the Brown Line temporarily closed for 12 months while construction crews work to upgrade and extend platforms, rebuild the station house and make the station accessible to customers with disabilities. The adjacent stations – Wellington and Fullerton – remain open during the temporary closure of the Diversey station so customers may continue to use them to access Brown Line service.

Improvements to the Diversey station will include a new stationhouse, elevator access to each platform, a wheelchair accessible turnstile, longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains instead of the current six-car trains, security cameras, brighter lighting, tactile edging on the platforms and an upgraded public address system.

The Diversey station is located in an area where existing CTA service is plentiful. In addition to nearby rail stations, there are six existing CTA bus routes that provide service near Diversey station on weekdays and weekends, the #8 Halsted, #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick, #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #74 Fullerton and the #76 Diversey. (Read more)

After evaluating travel patterns, ridership and service over the past six weeks of three-track operation, CTA President Ron Huberman said today that both bus and rail ridership have increased compared to pre-three track levels. Rail service has performed well through the construction zone and the signaling systems have been accommodating trains as planned, with capacity for additional trains to be added back into operation. As a result, a total of seven Brown Line trains—three in the morning and four in the evening--have been added back to the schedule and adjustments will be made to bus service beginning tomorrow to support routes that have experienced the most ridership growth.

Read more here

Effective Monday, April 2, 2007, Red, Brown and Purple Express trains are operating on three tracks instead of four at the Belmont and Fullerton stations on the City’s North Side.

Although trains will continue to stop at the stations during three-track operation, one of the four tracks along the platforms at each station must be taken out of service while the platform is rebuilt and tracks are reconfigured to allow room for elevators to be installed. The specific track to be taken out of service will vary during the course of the project.

The construction is a phase of the Brown Line capacity expansion project which, when completed at end of 2009, will allow the CTA to accommodate more customers in this busy and growing corridor and will make all Brown Line stations accessible to people with disabilities.

Three-track operation web page

On Monday, April 2, 2007 the Southport station on the Brown Line temporarily closed for renovation. The Southport station is temporarily closed for 12 months while construction crews work to upgrade and extend platforms, rebuild the station house and make the station accessible to customers with disabilities. The adjacent stations – Paulina and Belmont – are open during the temporary closure of the Southport station so customers may continue to use them to access Brown Line service.

Improvements to the Southport station will include a new station house, an elevator, a wheelchair accessible turnstile, a longer platform to accommodate eight-car trains instead of the current six-car trains, security cameras, brighter lighting, tactile edging on the platform and an upgraded public address system.

The Southport station is located in an area where existing CTA service is plentiful. In addition to nearby rail stations, there are five existing CTA bus routes that provide service near Southport station on weekdays and weekends, the #9 Ashland, #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick, #22 Clark, #77 Belmont, #152 Addison and the #X9 Ashland Express (weekdays until 7 p.m.). (Read more)

The Francisco station reopened on Friday, March 9, 2007.

A major portion of the reconstruction has been completed at Francisco including the complete rebuild of the historic station house and installation of a ramp which now makes the station accessible.  Along with a wheelchair accessible turnstile and tactile edging on the platform, additional customer amenities include brighter lighting, windbreaks, security cameras, benches and a new public address system.

A new northbound platform and tracks have been built at the Fullerton station. The new platform and tracks are located east of the current platform and tracks. As a result, customers will board northbound trains slightly differently.

Brown and Purple Express trains will use the new track and customers will board from the newly constructed platform.  Customers should board trains on the east side of the new northbound platform.

The existing northbound platform will continue to be used for boarding northbound Red Line trains only. Customers should board trains on the west side of the platform.

Boarding for southbound trains will not be affected.

The new platform connects to the old platform so customers will continue to have an accessible transfer between Red, Brown and Purple Express trains. (read more)

The Kimball station on the Brown Line reopened to rail service at 4 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2007.

A major portion of the reconstruction has been completed at Kimball including brighter lighting, installation of heaters and windbreaks, new benches and an information kiosk.

On Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 3 a.m. the Montrose and Addison stations on the Brown Line temporarily closed for renovation. Both the Montrose and Addison stations will temporarily close for 12 months while construction crews work to upgrade and extend platforms, rebuild the station house and make the station accessible to customers with disabilities. The adjacent stations – Paulina, Irving Park and Damen – will remain open during the temporary closure of the Montrose and Addison stations so customers may continue to use them to access Brown Line service.

Improvements at both the Montrose and Addison stations will include new station houses, new elevators and wheelchair accessible turnstiles, longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains instead of the current six-car trains, security cameras, brighter lighting, tactile edging on the platforms and upgraded public address systems.

Both Montrose and Addison are located in areas where existing CTA service is plentiful. In addition to nearby rail stations, there are seven existing CTA bus routes that provide service near Montrose station on weekdays and weekends, the #78 Montrose, #50 Damen, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #80 Irving Park, #X80 Irving Park Express, #81 Lawrence and the #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express (weekdays, peak direction only).

Eight existing CTA bus routes provide service near Addison station, the #152 Addison, #9 Ashland, #X9 Ashland Express (weekdays only), #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick, #50 Damen, #77 Belmont, #80 Irving Park and the #X80 Irving Park Express. (read more)