rendering courtesy Loyola University, Chicago
Loyola Station Renovation
CTA, the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) and Loyola University, with the help of Senator Dick Durbin, are working together to rebuild the Loyola station on the CTA Red Line.
The project will stabilize existing infrastructure, upgrade the existing station and redirect pedestrian traffic away from the mid-block Sheridan Road crossing in front of the station for improved safety. The main entrance will be relocated slightly north, along the embankment, to allow for a new pedestrian plaza and a more inviting path in and out of the station, with better visibility.
The project will provide customers using the upgraded Loyola station with a bright, new ground-level station house with safer, more convenient access from the new plaza north of the station, as well as from Loyola Avenue on the west side of the station. The project will also rehabilitate the viaduct across Sheridan Road, providing concrete repairs, new trackwork and brighter lighting.
The Loyola renovation project is part of the CTA’s $1 billion Red Ahead capital investment initiative announced in November 2011. Project funding is sourced through a combination of federal funding from the fiscal year 2010 Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill, as well as Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) funds.
Work will be performed by contractor Kiewit Infrastructure, who won the $5.7 million contract for these improvements through a competitive bid process.
The current Loyola station was built in 1980-82, and was among the first CTA stations to be equipped with an elevator.
Work to renovate the station and viaduct began in August 2012 and is expected to be complete by mid-2013.
On this page:
What improvements are being made to the station?
As a result of the project, the Loyola station will receive the following improvements to benefit our customers:
- A renovated, modern station house facing a new plaza on the north side of the embankment. The improved station house will include:
- A new front entranceway
- New windows, flooring and interior finishes
- Additional turnstiles
- New lighting
- New High-Barrier Gate (HBG) turnstiles on Loyola Avenue, providing direct and convenient access to the main station house from the south and west of the station
- New signage, including Braille
- Additional bike parking
- A renovated viaduct over Sheridan Road, including:
- Concrete repairs
- Painting/coating
- New, brighter lighting under the viaduct
- New waterproofing and drainage system
- New track in area of the viaduct
- Improved circulation around the station for pedestrian safety, including redirecting pedestrian traffic away from the current mid-block Sheridan Road crossing in front of the station.
How will this affect my commute?
Importantly, the Loyola station will remain open throughout the project. Construction will be staged in phases to maintain access and minimize impact on regular use of the station.
During the project, portions of the station's interior will be barricaded and passenger flow rerouted around the enclosed active work areas.
To rehabilitate the viaduct and replace the trackwork, trains will need to be temporarily rerouted to adjacent tracks. In some cases, this may result in trains bypassing the station in one direction only without stopping (but continuing to serve the station in the opposite direction of travel). These reroutes will be limited to nights and weekends only.
Every effort will be made to minimize the impact to customers during this rehabilitation project. As with any major changes in service (i.e. work resulting in trains bypassing the station in one direction), notices/flyers will be posted ahead of time.
What is the project timeline?
The construction contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure, was given Notice to Proceed on July 3, 2012. Construction work at the station began on August 1. Work is expected to be complete by mid-2013.
What will the renovated entrance look like?
Here are some renderings of the planned look of the new Loyola station entrance and plaza:
Note: Details in the final design and station construction may differ from this rendering.
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