Yesterday marked the final day of operations for the CTA State and Lake station in The Loop. Serving all but two of the system’s lines, the popular downtown station has been in operation for 130 years, since 1895. The closure marks the start of a three-year demolition and construction process led by the CTA and contractor F.H. Paschen.
Site context map of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
Diagram of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
The elevated station is the fifth busiest in the system, yet it has some of the narrowest platforms, supported by aging infrastructure. The $444 million project has worked to secure funding over the years, seeing a sharp increase in cost from its original 2017 estimate of $75 million. The new station is being designed by SOM.
Aerial View of Rebuilt State/Lake CTA L Station. Rendering by SOM
Rebuilt State/Lake CTA L Station. Rendering by SOM
The central feature of the new structure will be a large glass and metal canopy covering the entirety of the double-width platform and station areas. This will be complemented by turnstile entrance areas that incorporate some of the station’s original metal structures, a flyover connection between the two sides, two escalators, and four new elevators at each street corner.
Rendering of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
Rendering of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
The elevators will also connect to the underground Red Line station, with the new station structure requiring fewer columns and greater vertical clearance at street level. The work will also include additional improvements such as enhanced lighting, updated signage, and widened sidewalks in the surrounding area.
Rendering of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
Rendering of CTA State/Lake station by SOM
Preparatory work began last fall, and surrounding streets will remain narrowed to a single lane throughout construction. During the closure, trains will bypass the station while maintaining existing routes, and riders will need to use nearby stations, which will remain open. The new station is expected to open to riders in 2029.
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I wonder what the heck is driving the price on this. Perhaps difficulty with underground utilities and the State Street Subway? Either Way the current station was/is an absolute dump so I will personally not miss it lol. Shame they couldn’t find a way to connect it directly the the Red Line State Platform. There has to be some way, especially for the price.
Let’s hope they incorporate some of the noise attenuation elements that work so well in the new red line stops on the north side
Half a billion dollars for one CTA station. Is it a shame or a crime at this point?
From $75 to $444 million in 8/9 years? Seems a little higher than the inflation rate, or the increased cost for anything else in the galaxy. But it would be nice if the new turnstile design is “hop-proofed”. Can’t count how many times I’ve seen people boost over or duck under the current State Street turnstiles.
One criticism I’ve heard on the cost front for US transit is that we favor one-off designs over repetition, which increases costs. Other transit systems repeat stations like a kit of parts with some customization with art or colors for different stops, but we try to make every station some sort of architectural masterwork, which balloons costs. We could have many more stations and better service if we didn’t do that.
Those situations also apply to new construction, with pretty similar design constraints, warranting a repeatable approach.
Just from an observer’s perspective, does the CTA have repating stations other than the highway median ones? So many areas have different track heights, street widths, access to stations, sites to occupy… The Loop, especially, is a cluster of unique conditions at each station.
That’s a really good point Drew, it’s easy to criticize CTA engineering designs without any of us knowing the detailed realities they are working with. I do hope they are working more towards standardization, but if this new station lasts 130 years into the future, that’s still not a bad investment at $444 million.
The only stations that are repeating have already been modernized. Most of the Green Line on the South and West sides is fortunate to follow the same two streets. Brown and Yellow… Blue and Red? lol Orange and Pink? Ohhhh boy.
For what Rome was able to accomplish, though, their new line and stations run laps around this station. The cost is absolutely bloated. Love the design, but this is not sustainable work.
You can have nicely designed stations with some repetition. Yes, every site is going to have some unique features, but my point is that we could be thinking about these renovations in a more efficient way. I like the overall design of this station, but if every station is some unique one-off design, it’s not helpful for any of us who care about creating a transit system that maximizes access and service times. I don’t know the details of this station, but things like elevators, escalators, platform construction, etc. could be standardized across the system to get some cost efficiencies out of station updates. It would also be cheaper to maintain.
Initial cost $75 million. Much more reasonable.
As more funding sources were found (all Government sources, of course), the snakes all came out to get their share of the pie.
Lets not kid ourselves: 75% of this project is a golden handout meant to enrich connected groups, the remaining 25% would be the ACTUAL cost of the project. This is why so many people distrust Government spending
Let’s be honest: your assertions are pure conjecture and fabrication. #justthefacts
And do you support the cutting of federal projects that are vital to this country’s endurance because someone hurt the current federal government’s feelings?
Budgets are budgets, but I very much prefer a better train station than a failed audit of the Pentagon after the xth time.
Red Line extension budget? Ludicrious. But beats…
Your argument against wasteful spending cannot be “well, they waste spending elsewhere, so why not waste it here?”
If anything, spending $444 million to rebuilt one train station in one city is exactly what will threaten future investments like this, which we don’t want. We want to make the case to the public that investing in transit is worthwhile; but there is no bigger deterrent to achieving that than when everybody is looking at the cost of this project wide eyed and wondering how it could possibly cost so much.
If they are going to waste money, I am happy it’s on something to support millions for the common good.
Threaten future projects… Good one. We waste hundreds of millions on the Secret Service so a golf resort can steal national leaders. This country is not serious about being fiscally responsible. Look at the commander-in-chief backpedaling on the NYC tunnel project because the guy with more charisma won an election. Wasted time and energy on a responsible project. So again, there is no precedent on what’s responsible. Check out that vital pipeline blocked in Colorado that’s also been started and cut because… who tf knows? People’s lives are being toyed with like a game of ping-pong, with bankruptcy as a participation prize.
This is a travesty. A beautiful travesty, but a travesty nonetheless. And you can bet that $400m figure is provisional – it’ll rise from here, guaranteed. Willing to bet they’ll delay completion lang enough to run costs up to $500m.
CTA (and most of local government) needs to be completely upended, and cozy, profitable arrangements need to be ended. The taxpayers are getting screwed good and hard.
I’ve read a few articles about this and I’m not 100% clear on the improved connection between the new State/Lake and underground red line station. Is it one elevator that could take you directly from the State/Lake platform into the Red Line station. Or is it an elevator from State/Lake to the sidewalk and then a second (existing?) elevator from the sidwalk to the red line? I admit I don’t remember the current red line access in this area.
I really like this design. So much natural light 🙂
So much BO in the sweatbox under the canopy during summer rush hour.
It’ll be cool and refreshing in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter. This is the power of modern HVAC systems.
This is my station and it’s about time this project starts. It’s great that we have all these know it alls that don’t know anything. Blah, blah blah. How much has steel and copper gone up in price since ten years ago? Also, think tariffs. The original budget was an estimate. The CTA will continue to run and streets and sidewalks open to traffic and pedestrians. I imagine the CTA and city has many safeguards to keep everyone safe at a very dense location in the loop. Wake up, this project is incredibly complex. The construction was an open public bid contract. I am very excited about this project that will bring architecture to the loop. Thanks SOM and CTA.
World class design giving Chicago an iconic infrastructure project for a critical and high profile location.
The complaints about the construction cost indicate a lack of understanding and familiarity with current construction costs, let alone the complex logistics and scheduling for a three year project. The 2017 budget estimate was for an entirely different design and scope. The current cost is based on completion in 2029, with different scope and design.
As for repetitive or prototype station design, that could make sense for many workaday stations and stops. However, such a high-profile, central loop location, servicing a very high volume of users, rightfully deserves a signature one-off design.
Hopefully they put this thing on a regular cleaning schedule. The renderings show it as shiny and sleek but after a few winters it’s gonna look pretty crusty if they’re not on top of it.