New and Improved Red Line Stops Reopen After Years of Renovations

The CTA reopened four major Red Line stops including Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr in July. The renovations focused on providing full accessibility to people with disabilities along with modernizing old stations.

The rebuild began in 2019 as part of a two million dollar Red and Purple Modernization Project to rebuild and upgrade the northern parts of the century-old railways, according to the CTA website. Lawrence and Berwyn shut down for renovations in 2021 while Bryn Mawr and Argyle maintained temporary set ups during the construction period. 

The renovated stops are fully ADA-accessible for people with disabilities now including escalators, elevators and wider platforms, according to the CTA website. Other additions include travel information displays and large overhead canopies for better weather protection paired with enhanced lighting. 

Nursing major, Ania Appleton, sophomore, said she was excited for the conclusion of renovations while she waited for the northbound train.

“The city deserves stuff like that,” she said, “as public transportation is so used here.”

She is a frequent user of most of the new stops and has noticed a significant change with the redevelopments, especially in their cleanliness. 

While one of the main focuses of these upgrades was the improved accessibility of the stations, customers of the CTA also expressed contentment with the new maintenance standards and the sanitation of the stations. 

“The first thing you notice is how clean they are”, Appleton said. 

Mitchel Wilson, a 22-year-old exchange engineer who recently moved to Chicago, started using the Bryn Mawr station.

He said, “the new stations look nice and clean”

The project included the installation of art murals at the entrance and exit of each station. Though there is no set theme for the murals, they are all colorful and vibrant, and are usually made of glass, tile or metal. 

Dorval R. Carter, Jr., president of the CTA, said the new additions will improve the stations and their surroundings overall.

“Public art has always been an important part of the CTA and the communities we serve,” Carter said. 

These designs are meant to reflect each of the neighborhoods they belong to and were completed by a variety of Chicago artists, according to the CTA website.

One of these new murals is located at the Bryn MAwr Red Line station. The artwork, titled ‘Today’ and completed by artist William Conger, is a glass mosaic filled with geometric shapes and bold colors reflecting architectural structure, prairie skies and Lake Michigan.

Conger said the meaning of the mural is to make passersby feel welcomed and supported, almost like a “pat on the back.” He hopes his artwork will gradually have an effect on CTA passengers by bringing an optimistic intrusion of energy.

Appleton said she can feel the effect Conger was going for. 

“I really appreciated stuff like that,” Appleton said. “Art in stations is really cool for everyone.”

Some passengers, such as 29-year-old barista Ashley Townslee – a frequent user of the Bryn Mawr station – said the renovations were a hassle.

She said, “I like it- I like that it’s more accessible and easier to use now. It was a hassle when it was under construction.”

Julie Urgilez, a first-year commuter at Loyola, said the trains can run late at times with the added stations, but she thinks the improvements are overall beneficial for most people.

“At first I was unsure about the Red Line as a commuter student,” she said, “ but so far I feel great- I feel safe.”

Both Appleton and Urgliez said they felt much safer with the renovation overall, as its cleanliness and added security features ease their commute. 

With increased crime since 2020 on public transportation, the CTA has increased their budget for security. Within these stops they have added more cameras and additional security personnel, according to the CTA website. 

Appleton said she thinks a cleaner and safer station may improve how students view the Red Line and make them feel more comfortable taking it.

The CTA is continuing their renovations on the Red Line and the Loyola stop may soon see similar changes. Currently, the CTA has plans to develop 10 blocks of open community space such as trails and playgrounds, which is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027, the Phoenix previously reported. 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is a strong supporter of the renovations on the Red Line and the impact they have on the surrounding communities.
“The Red Line is the backbone of our City and is critical to our economic vibrancy,” Johnson said in a July 20 CTA press release. “Which is why I am proud to support investments like RPM and the future Red Line Extension Project on the Far South Side.”