MEDICAL DISTRICT — The CTA announced plans Tuesday to spend $23 million to renovate a Blue Line station that serves the city's medical district.
The CTA Board approved the project that will rehabilitate the Illinois Medical District Station and improve accessibility to it for those with disabilities, CTA officials said.
Plans include rebuilding the main stationhouse on Ogden Avenue to add an elevator and new stairs. Two station-to-platform ramps also will be built at the Damen Avenue and Paulina Street entrances to bring the station in compliance with guidelines of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since 2008, ridership at the station has increased by 53 percent, according to the CTA. Almost 1.1 million people passed through the station in 2013.
Built in 1958, the station at 430 S. Damen Ave. has not had any major work done aside from renovating the Damen Avenue entrance in 1998.
The plan is subject to the approval of the City Council, which is set to meet Jan. 15.
