New CTA Green Line station opens near United Center ahead of DNC in Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) — The new Damen Green Line station has opened as a brand-new gateway to Chicago's West Side—and just in time for the Democratic National Convention coming up later this month.
The station on the Lake Street branch of the Chicago Transit Authority line opened on Monday, just a couple of blocks from the United Center. It fills a mile-and-a-half-long service gap that has been in place since the original Damen station closed more than 75 years ago.
The community said it means a lot.
Flanked by several other officials, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) cut a big green ribbon Monday for the new Damen station—while an arch of green balloons graced the entrance. According to Chicago-L.org, there were stations at Wood Street, Damen Avenue, Oakley Boulevard, and Campbell Avenue when the Lake Street 'L' opened in 1893, but the Wood Street station only lasted 20 years, and the other three all closed in 1948—leaving no stops along the 1.5-mile-long stretch between Ashland and California avenues.
The 1,000th Divvy bike station was also installed at the new 'L' stop, in an effort to provide sustainable and equitable transportation options for the area.
Mayor Johnson called the new station transformational. He said it would be a vibrant hub for the neighborhood that will support local growth and job creation, while accommodating large crowds at the nearby United Center.
The DNC kicks off on Aug. 19 at the United Center, located just to the south and east at 1901 W. Madison St. The crowds expected for the DNC were the motivation for the push to get the 'L' station project wrapped up quickly.
The CTA further described the new 'L' stop as having a "strikingly modern design," which is accessible to those who use mobility devices.
The city succeeded in making sure the $80 million project was ready in time, but commuters and self-proclaimed transit enthusiasts said it is really the long-term impact that matters.
"This is a part of the city that's probably growing the most rapidly in terms of density, and so to have better transit access—especially given like how congested this part of town is during rush hour, particularly if you go like more towards the West Loop—it's very important that, you know, we have more points of access; that it's better connected to the rest of the city," said regular CTA rider Jordan Kemp.
"What I'm really interested and excited about is like how it's going to catalyze other development—you can see like new housing here—what kinds of new businesses might come in, how that can cater to who lives here already," added regular CTA rider Lydia Collins.
Meanwhile, the Damen Green Line project is the only public works project that has been expedited and wrapped up in time for the DNC.
Other work the city has been expediting ahead of the DNC includes improvements along DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The city has also been making improvements to the CTA Blue Line, which is heavily traveled by those heading to and from O'Hare International Airport.
Also among the fast-tracked projects are a resurfacing of Ogden Avenue, and continued beautification work citywide. The city said sidewalk repairs, light pole painting, new pavement markings, new street signs, and enhanced street lighting have been prioritized across the city—as well as trimming trees and removing debris and graffiti.
"This is, in the long term, I think a really positive thing," Kemp said.
