$203 million Wilson Station Reconstruction Project is rebuilding nearly century old station; CTA opens new main Wilson stationhouse today
The Chicago Transit Authority today opened the newly rebuilt main stationhouse at the Wilson station to customers, a major milestone in a $203 million reconstruction project of the entire station and track structure.
Serving as the main entrance to the Wilson Station, this modern, bright stationhouse has opened early to the public as part of Mayor Emanuel’s promise to the Uptown community to open the new Wilson Station as early as possible, including completing one of the new elevators early.
“Mayor Emanuel and I are pleased to provide ahead of schedule this bright, spacious new entrance to Wilson, which will provide our customers with a more pleasant commuting experience and increased accessibility to the CTA system,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “The reconstructed station will also be an economic catalyst for the Uptown neighborhood by providing convenient access to this vibrant, historic neighborhood while attracting new businesses and stimulating job growth.”
The new main stationhouse offers elevator and escalator access for the first time, wider station platforms with large, translucent canopies to provide better weather protection and additional turnstiles. Additional station features include real-time Train Tracker train arrival time displays, new signage (including Braille) and bright lighting.
The new Wilson station also provides a more pleasant street-level environment with a reduction in the number of track columns at street- and sidewalk-level to improve the area under the station for pedestrians and local businesses and increase visibility for vehicular and bicycle traffic.
“We have already seen the positive economic impact made by rebuilding the Wilson Station,” said Alderman James Cappleman. “Our neighborhood has seen many new businesses open, as well as several new residential developments planned, as a direct result of this incredible project.”
Announced by Mayor Emanuel in 2012, the Wilson Station project is part of $8 billion of transit investment since 2011 begun, completed or announced by Mayor Emanuel.
CTA will complete the rest of the Wilson reconstruction project by year’s end. That includes:
- Completing remaining project work at the new main stationhouse and opening a new northbound platform
- Opening new station entrances on Sunnyside Avenue and on the north side of Wilson Avenue
- Unveiling new station artwork created by Cecil Balmond, a world-renowned artist, designer and engineer known for his large-scale public art installations around the world.
- Beginning Purple Line stops and transfers between Red and Purple Line trains at Wilson for the first time
- Complete restoration of the historic 94-year-old Gerber building that is part of the Wilson station at Broadway and Wilson and announcing a new tenant for the building
The Wilson project is part of Mayor Emanuel’s “Red Ahead” program to revitalize the entire Red Line, which is CTA’s busiest and forms the backbone of Chicago’s transit system. Other Red Line projects under way include the Red and Purple Modernization Program, the new 95th Street Terminal, and the proposed extension of the Red Line south to 130th Street.
For more information about the Wilson project, visit transitchicago.com/wilson.
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