December 2019
Better CTA service is coming! We've broken ground on the transformational Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project, with work beginning on a key component of RPM, the Red-Purple Bypass north of Belmont station. The bypass will allow for more trains, less congestion and a less cramped commute to work. We have also begun preparatory work for the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization project, another major part of RPM Phase One.
The modernization project has many steps, and it is important to know when and how you or your business may be affected. Sign up for construction impact alerts in your community here. Click here for Construction Activity Notices related to this project.
Red-Purple Bypass
We broke ground on the Red-Purple Bypass bridge in October 2019. The bypass will be completed in 2021 and will carry Kimball-bound Brown Line trains over Red and Purple Line tracks north of Belmont, easing train congestion and improving service for our customers.
After we finish the bypass, we will begin rebuilding the century-old Red and Purple Line tracks underneath the bypass, between Belmont and between Cornelia and Newport. The new Purple and Red Line tracks will be completed by the end of 2024, providing a smoother and more comfortable ride for our customers. See the latest construction activity notices by clicking here.
Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization
We will begin major reconstruction of Lawrence to Bryn Mawr in late 2020 or early 2021. Ahead of that, there’s plenty of work under way or coming in 2020 to get ready for this historic project.
In 2020, we will:
- Build temporary rail stations at Argyle and Bryn Mawr to serve customers while Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr are closed for reconstruction. We expect to close these four stations at the start of major construction, either in late 2020 or early 2021 – we will provide the community and customers with notice in advance of the closures.
- Perform trackwork that prepares our Red and Purple Line tracks to run service on two train tracks while we’re rebuilding the other two, as part of our promise to continue to provide train service during the entire construction period.
- Hold meetings with the public on what work is coming and when, and get your feedback and answer your questions.
See the latest construction activity notices by clicking
here.
Advance utility relocation work and property demolition
In 2018, we began the pre-construction phase of Red and Purple Line Modernization (RPM) Phase One, which included property demolition and relocation of utility lines and equipment. It was necessary to complete this work before we could begin major construction of RPM Phase One work, which will include rebuilding four Red Line stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr and adjacent track structure as well as constructing a new Red-Purple Bypass (RPB) north of Belmont station. The major construction work for Phase One began October 2019 and will be fully completed in 2025.
We expect to substantially complete advance utility relocation work in 2020. Property demolition work was substantially completed in 2019.
Construction activity notices (CANs)
As we work hard to modernize the system for our riders, we know that our construction can and does affect people who live and work nearby. This is why we provide advanced notice to communities in the RPM project footprint about work that we will be doing. Construction Activity Notices (CANs) that we have issued for RPM Phase One work can be found here (scroll down the page). They are also emailed to affected residents and businesses and physically posted in work site areas.
Note: The above includes only Construction Activity Notices related to the RPM Program as an added courtesy during the program, and does not include those related to regular maintenance to our structure or tracks, even in the area of where RPM work is taking place. Other types of Construction Activity Notices are distributed locally, only.