CTA Blue Line Renovations Begin At Belmont, Jefferson Park

CHICAGO, IL — Two of the city's busiest Blue Line stops are about to be revamped. Work began on the Belmont and Jefferson Park stations Tuesday, the city announced. The renovations are part of the $492 million "Your New Blue" project to revamp 14 Blue Line stations, which began in 2014.

The renovations will improve lighting, boarding, platforms, tunnels and cameras at the stations, the city said.

“The modernization of the Belmont and Jefferson Park Transit Centers will not only improve the CTA travel experience for those who live and work on the Northwest Side, but these projects will create architecturally significant and visually appealing stations that enhance the character of their respective neighborhoods,” CTA President Dorval Carter said in a statement.

Carter said there will be no fare hikes for riders as a result of the renovations.

The $17 million renovation of the Belmont station will include a glass and steel gateway canopy at the entrance, LED lighting, new signage to speed up bus boarding and a revamped station platform. Work at Belmont is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The $25 million Jefferson Park station renovation will include new escalators, stairs, lights, public art and a new canopy. Work at the Jefferson Park station is expected to be complete by mid-2019.

So far, the "Your New Blue" program has improved ten North and Northwest Side stations, and the Grand, Chicago, Division and Logan Square stations are set to be renovated in the coming years. Once completed, the program will shave eight to ten minutes off the ride from O'Hare to downtown, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

Top images via CTA: 1 - New steel and glass gateway will be built at the Belmont station entrance. 2 - new canopy/lighting will go up at the Jefferson Park station.