As work on the Green Line’s new Morgan stop in the West Loop approaches the finish line, two more CTA stops are being planned in and around downtown Chicago.

At a press conference unveiling the Red Line’s remodeled Grand station, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that design work on the new Green Line station planned for Cermak would begin in March.

The new station will fill what’s now a two-mile gap between stops on the Green Line and provide more convenient access to McCormick place. It will cost roughly $50 million to build, and construction on the stop is slated to begin in February 2013, lasting roughly 18 months, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. It will be paid for at least partially with TIF money.

Also unveiled were plans for the long-discussed new station at Washington and Wabash in the Loop, which would replace two separate century-old stations at Randolph and Madison. The new station will cost roughly $75 million and will feature a widened platform and a wavy glass canopy. The press release did not say where funding for the station would come from.

Work is expected to begin on the station in April 2013 and be completed by September 2014, according to the release.

“These are crucial investments that will pay dividends for many years,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool in an emailed statement. “Our public transit requires upgrades so we can compete on a global scale, and these are key investments that we can make quickly and effectively.”

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By ardecila
Posted: 01/20/2012 1:44 AM

These station projects have been high-priority goals for the city for years. The CTA's been on a campaign to rebuild every single crumbling station, with the downtown ones getting much higher priority. I have no inside connections, but if I had money, I would have sank it into Cermak corridor property long ago. Why is it shady that people are investing in these areas after big new infrastructure is planned? That's how it's SUPPOSED to work.

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By TIF Property Purchase Graft from South Loop
Posted: 01/19/2012 1:48 AM

Ironic how many of the owners of the surrounding properties on Cermak, State, and Wabash all were just able to get their purchases completed in the last two years. The same names keep popping up reputed mobster mentioned in Family Secret's trial Tommy DiPiazza, Woodlawn Community Development group (whose officer was on the Chicago Plan Commission), and other shell LLC's and banks. Nothing to see here :)

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By Allen from South Loop
Posted: 01/18/2012 4:35 PM

This is not just about McCormick, but an investment that will create a new Business District for the city. New Hotels, Commercial/Office and Residential will be built along State, Cermak and Wabash. New Restaurants, etc coming to Motor Row along with the great spots like Chef Luciano, Brandi's Pizzeria, new Velvet Lounge opening and Reggies will continue to anchor the area as well as Chinatown 2 blocks to the West.

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By Maggie from South Loop
Posted: 01/18/2012 3:08 PM

YES please, would prefer one at 18th to Red Line, but will take what we can get.