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California Blue Line Station Reopens

By Josh McGhee | October 16, 2014 9:22am | Updated on October 16, 2014 10:11am
 Customers said having the station back after weeks of construction was much more convenient.
California Blue Line Station Reopens
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LOGAN SQUARE — After weeks of biking, walking, busing and even driving to work, Logan Square residents returned to their more convenient mode of transportation Thursday when the California Blue Station reopened.

The station was shut down Sept. 9 as part of the CTA's four-year, $492 Million "Your New Blue Program." Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Sen. Dick Durbin and CTA President Forrest Claypool were all in attendance Thursday morning to cut the ribbon and welcome commuters back to the station.

“In just nine months since we announced the historic Your New Blue project, we’ve already improved train speeds and reliability and have begun to update our aging stations as promised,” Emanuel said.

“It is important that we invest in transit system, including the critical link to O’Hare, the world’s busiest airport. We will continue our investment in the entire CTA bus and rail system, a common-sense investment in creating a world-class transit system.”

The California and Damen stations opened for service in 1895, and the recent work gave the old elevated station a modern overhaul. Improvements include new lights and signs, refurbished walls, new stairs and platforms, more bike racks and a larger station house.

Miles Jackson, 21, commutes almost every weekday from Palmer Square to the Loop, where he attends class at the Art Institute. While the station was out of service he took the No. 56 bus or headed to the Western Station. Returning to the station Thursday morning was a lot more convenient, he said.

"It feels like a luxury after walking to Western and taking the bus. I got used to taking the bus but it's nice to not have to walk as much," Jackson said.

"It was doable. There wasn't anything bad with it. It was really just a time thing, but I guess that depends on the person you're asking," said Jackson, adding the extra commute "wasn't too bad."

While most commuters headed to the closest station during the construction, Meg Zandi, 28, of Logan Square hopped into her car to head to work in the Loop.

"I just drove. I'm one of those people," Zandi said adding her commute became "more expensive and less convenient.

Returning to the station Thursday, Zandi didn't see much difference in the station though she was happy to have it back.

"I think it's the same, just much nicer," she said.

Jason Halverson, 31, was also expecting a bit more when he arrived at the station.

"They could've added another staircase or even made it wider," Halverson said adding that the construction didn't really effect his commute.

"It wasn't that bad I was able to just go to another station," the Avondale resident said.

Elise Tanner, 27, of Palmer Square, was excited for the reopening until she got to the station, she said.

"Then I've been standing here for like 20 minutes but I'm sure there's still construction," she said perturbed as she waited for her train to work. "It was running better when there was construction than it is now."

Starting Oct. 20, similar construction will begin at the Damen Station. The Western Station also is undergoing upgrades after a significant renovation in 2001.

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