4 North Side Red Line stations to reopen with upgrades, more accessibility

Four North Side Red Line stations will reopen Sunday after four years of digital and accessibility upgrades.

CTA trains are set to start running at the Argyle, Bryn Mawr, Lawrence and Berwyn stations Sunday.

The four stations — all originally built more than a century ago — were upgraded as part of the first phase of the $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Project that started in 2019.

Since closing in 2021, they have been expanded and had digital screens added to track trains, in addition to accessibility improvements: benches on each platform, elevators and escalators at main entrances, overhead canopies, and new turnstiles and fare machines.

They will also feature artwork from five local artists aimed at reflecting the neighborhoods each station is in.

“We are proud to bring new, accessible Red Line stations to our customers, which will provide a more comfortable and convenient commuting experience,” Chicago Transit Authority Acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement last month. “By opening these four stations that will be accessible to customers with disabilities, we move closer to our goal of having all of our CTA stations fully accessible.”

A track bypass to smooth out traffic between the Red and Purple lines near Belmont was finished in 2021, as well as the reconstruction of tracks between Belmont and West Cornelia Avenue and the addition of a new signal system between the Howard and Belmont stations.

The city's transit system also plans to redevelop 10 blocks of space under the new Red and Purple line tracks between Lawrence and Ardmore Avenues, including a pedestrian trail, dog park, benches, community plaza space, playground and fitness area. Construction is expected to start next year and wrap up in 2027.

Earlier this year, the CTA said it expects to break ground between 106th Place and 118th Street on the $5.75 billion, 5.5-mile Red Line extension next year.