New elevators, escalators make station newly accessible
CTA President Ron Huberman today toured the newly renovated south entrance to the Howard Red Line station, which opened to customers Monday, June 9. Improvements to the new entrance include the installation of elevators, making the station newly accessible to customers with disabilities. With the opening of the south entrance, 83 of CTA's 144 rail stations are now accessible. Renovations to the south entrance are a part of the overall construction project currently underway at the Howard station which is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
The new south entrance provides a convenient, accessible path between the station platforms and the multi-story parking garage and bus terminal on the west side of the station.
"The Howard station is a vital transportation link between the City of Chicago and several northern suburbs," said CTA President Ron Huberman. "Making this station accessible to customers with disabilities and incorporating modern features such as additional escalators greatly enhances the transit experience for our customers and boosts ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts in the Howard Street area."
The overall rehabilitation project includes building a modern ADA (American with Disabilities Act) accessible station equipped with elevators, escalators, gap fillers and tactile edging; renovating the existing stationhouse and platform areas; and upgrading communications, electrical and lighting systems. The station features customer-friendly amenities such as new benches, signs and bike racks, and new wind breaks and canopies to shelter customers during inclement weather. The construction project also calls for the rehabilitation of the existing Howard Street viaduct and the retail space on the north side of Howard Street.
The Howard station serves as a free transfer point between the CTA Red, Yellow and Purple Lines. The station serves as an entry point for 6,010 rides on an average weekday, 4,006 rides on an average Saturday and 3,027 rides on an average Sunday. In 2007, ridership for the year at the station was 1,903,038. The Red Line is the busiest rail line in the CTA rail system, totaling approximately 64 million rides in 2007.
Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Company is the construction contractor and the Regional Transportation Authority and proceeds from CTA Bonds are providing the funding. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
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