What looks like it could be an uber-modern single-family home you see rising on the corner of Kimball and Barry Avenues in Avondale is a CTA substation for the Blue Line trains. Addressed by the city as 3501 West Barry Avenue, the substation is just one block south of the Belmont Blue Line subway station.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
This is not your ordinary CTA substation. This one is designed by Ross Barney Architects to look less like a piece of infrastructure, and more like part of the Avondale neighborhood. John Burns Construction Company is the general contractor. They were issued a pair of new permits back on April 27 of 2023; one for caissons, and one for the full build, delivering more power to the people and the trains.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Substations power CTA trains by converting alternating-current (AC) electricity from ComEd into the direct-current (DC) power they need to run. Each train requires 600 volts of electrical power, known as traction power, to operate. The Blue Line needs a new substation at Barry and Kimball to handle the added energy demands of the new 7000-series rail cars. It will also support higher levels of service needed for the O’Hare Branch, which has seen ridership surge in recent years, especially during morning rush hours.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Caisson permit issued 04/27/2023, via Chicago Data Portal
There is no official word yet as to when exactly the station will be operational.
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Have been wondering what they were building for months. Thanks for posting!
I like this a lot. This is how public works projects should be.
For these kinds of projects, I personally prefer structures that try to blend in with the surronding architecture. But I will take this statement-making building over a dull brick box any day of the week. Bravo!
Very nice. Crazy how a substation is so much nicer than most of the modern spec-built housing going up in this city lol.
Fiscal cliff? What fiscal cliff? Let’s make a substation that might land in Dwell!
If you live by this new substation you wouldn’t want an ugly cinder block box. The neighborhood is very happy with this addition, I live nearby. It also sounds like necessary infrastructure. Could the CTA add an elevator to the Belmont blue station similar to Logan Square?
Still cannot believe all of the construction around the Belmont Blue Line stop without an elevator down to track level
Duckworth and Durbin got funding for the remaining non-ADA compliant Blue Line stations, an elevator and second entrance for Belmont are long overdue.