4 CTA Red Line stations resume service Sunday morning, starting with a ceremonial ‘first ride’

CHICAGO (WGN) — The long wait is finally over for CTA Red Line riders on Chicago’s North Side.

Four train stations in Uptown and Edgewater — the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stops — will reopen Sunday morning after being closed over the last four years for major renovations.

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The stations, more than 100 years old, were rebuilt as part of the first phase of CTA’s $2 billion Red and Purple Line Modernization Project. The Red Line is CTA’s busiest line, with about 250,000 riders each weekday.

On Sunday morning, Red Line riders will get on a ceremonial “first train” to officially rechristen the four stations. They’ll get on at Bryn Mawr and ride to Berwyn, where the train will break through a special banner, like a runner breaking through the finish-line tape at the end of a race.

WGN-TV spoke with CTA riders and nearby business owners who said they’re excited that their local stations are back in service and in much better condition.

“Two years of construction here — worth every boom, bang,” CTA rider Amy Banis said. “It felt like the earth was vibrating, but yeah, love it. We’re excited.

“I have nowhere to go (Sunday) on the Red Line, and I’m going to do it, anyway. Just to take a ride.”

Crews were seen Saturday afternoon making finishing touches to the platform ahead Sunday’s reopening.

“I live right here, just a couple of blocks away, and this is amazing. I’ve been waiting for about two years now, I think,” CTA rider Ray Rodriguez said.

Each station now has new elevators, wider platforms and modern turnstiles, along with better lighting, signage and security cameras.

“It’ll be nice just to have an overall brighter area and feel safer, as well, especially in some of these unlit areas,” CTA rider Sophia Hubler said.

Riders added that they’re looking forward to getting to their destinations faster and seeing how the influx of people will help businesses.

“What’s cool about it is there’s a lot of the smaller local businesses that closed down because there’s less foot traffic from the train (during renovations), so I’m excited to see if it’s going to bring those businesses back locally,” CTA rider Scott Rakoczy said.

The reopening of the Lawrence station even prompted the owners of Uptown Lounge to extend their business hours.

“When the Red Line closed down, it really affected business. It took a downturn, and then COVID happened,” Julie Clarkson-Stokes of Uptown Lounge said.

For over 20 years, the bar has catered to the late-night crowd. Starting Monday, the business will also be open as a coffee shop in the morning.

“I don’t think we’d be talking about coffee in the morning without this, because this is going to be completely dependent on people commuting to work every morning,” Clarkson-Stokes said.

Ultimately, the CTA plans to begin work on the Red Line extension, from 95th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway all the way to 130th Street. That project remains on track to kick off next year.