State/Lake Loop L Station Rebuild

[Busjack]

ABC7: "Work is ramping up on a new CTA train station at State and Lake streets."

[TaylorTank1229]

State/Lake L’ Station will officially close for reconstruction on January 5th, 2026, with work slated to last up to 2029.

https://abc7chicago.com/amp/post/elevated-cta-train-station-state-lake-downtown-chicago-close-3-years-january-reconstruction/18250123/

[strictures]

3 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

State/Lake L’ Station will officially close for reconstruction on January 5th, 2026, with work slated to last up to 2029.

https://abc7chicago.com/amp/post/elevated-cta-train-station-state-lake-downtown-chicago-close-3-years-january-reconstruction/18250123/

How the hell does it take three years or more to rebuild a simple L station with two platforms? I'll bet it could be done in one year if they really tried to do it!

[Sam92]

1 hour ago, strictures said:

How the hell does it take three years or more to rebuild a simple L station with two platforms? I'll bet it could be done in one year if they really tried to do it!

Because it's not just "simple station with 2 platforms". I guess you forgot the weather protection, the new connection to the red line that won't require a card,  the fact that 5 lines are running through the station and above a busy street 🙄😒 Show us your environmental review and survey work 😐

[Busjack]

43 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

Because it's not just "simple station with 2 platforms". I guess you forgot the weather protection, the new connection to the red line that won't require a card,  the fact that 5 lines are running through the station and above a busy street 🙄😒 Show us your environmental review and survey work 😐

IDK about the transfer connection, but there are stuff like the glass dome, ASA accessibilty including elevators and wider platforms, and some modifications.

Apparently, someone went rouge derrier again, and I don't mean you, @Sam92.

[strictures]

9 hours ago, Busjack said:

IDK about the transfer connection, but there are stuff like the glass dome, ASA accessibilty including elevators and wider platforms, and some modifications.

Apparently, someone went rouge derrier again, and I don't mean you, @Sam92.

Much of that could be completed while the station is back in service, especially if they do make a direct connection to the subway below. No reason to do that & delay reopening it. The same for the roof & no reason for that absurdly huge dome, just a roof over the entire station area is all that's needed, the dome is a huge money waster!

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

Much of that could be completed while the station is back in service, especially if they do make a direct connection to the subway below. No reason to do that & delay reopening it. The same for the roof & no reason for that absurdly huge dome, just a roof over the entire station area is all that's needed, the dome is a huge money waster!

I'm not an engineer, but since you asked me you proved aagain you aren't one, either. But if you knew how to do a web searcj, you would have found https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.som.com/projects/state-lake-station/&ved=2ahUKEwiziJuC3KaRAxXt6ckDHffaL8YQFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0EIxUhyW8p6Xytdi9l22qt frpm SOM, who are tghe engineers. The contract documents are also on the City of Chicago website.  But you rather rant in public than do your homework.

Suffice it to say, this isn't a Refresh and Renew project. And, after becpming informed, you have concerns, contact CDOT.

[strictures]

1 hour ago, Busjack said:

I'm not an engineer, but since you asked me you proved aagain you aren't one, either. But if you knew how to do a web searcj, you would have found https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.som.com/projects/state-lake-station/&ved=2ahUKEwiziJuC3KaRAxXt6ckDHffaL8YQFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0EIxUhyW8p6Xytdi9l22qt frpm SOM, who are tghe engineers. The contract documents are also on the City of Chicago website.  But you rather rant in public than do your homework.

Suffice it to say, this isn't a Refresh and Renew project. And, after becpming informed, you have concerns, contact CDOT.

It's called common sense, not engineering.  Much of this project is just a way of feeding millions to politically connected construction companies & architects!  It's a huge overblown station, it doesn't need all of that excess junk on the top of it.

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

It's called common sense, not engineering.  Much of this project is just a way of feeding millions to politically connected construction companies & architects!  It's a huge overblown station, it doesn't need all of that excess junk on the top of it.

My common sense says the only POSSIBLE way it would get done in a year is to do a shut down like the Dan Ryan and cut off all access to the site and we know State St subway can't handle rerouted Brown, Orange, and purple line trains nor can shuttle buses do the job. I will say I'd rather they save money and just make it a station with good protection from the elements and wider platforms vs trying to add art to everything. But if you want to still SOME type of access to the area without cutting service and shutting down local business the 3 years is the ONLY option 

[wayfaringrob]

21 hours ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

State/Lake L’ Station will officially close for reconstruction on January 5th, 2026, with work slated to last up to 2029.

https://abc7chicago.com/amp/post/elevated-cta-train-station-state-lake-downtown-chicago-close-3-years-january-reconstruction/18250123/

I was hoping they'd shift the Red Line stop back to Washington, or at least reopen some of the entrances to enable a slightly easier transfer to Washington/Wabash.

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

s called common sense, not engineering.

I regret to say you have neither. I bet (know) you didn't pursue the leads I provided. Beotching here isn't going yo do any good. As I said. read the contract documents and contact CDOT.

I'm .sure your common sense also rebelled against the length of the LBBM closures, the time it took for CDOT Damen-Lake project, making California-Milwaukee station accessible, or the whole ASAP program. But I also guess that you are of an age that if you tide the L, you would use the elevator. If not, walk the 1/8 mile from Clark-Lake.

[Busjack]

11 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

I was hoping they'd shift the Red Line stop back to Washington, or at least reopen some of the entrances to enable a slightly easier transfer to Washington/Wabash

They would have  to undo King Richard Daley II actual waste of money that resulted in severing the platform at Washington.

[Sam92]

46 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

I was hoping they'd shift the Red Line stop back to Washington, or at least reopen some of the entrances to enable a slightly easier transfer to Washington/Wabash.

All pain, no gain....you're trying to get on as close to the exit as possible so State/Lake is better for Harlem-Bound Green/Brown; Jackson is better for Pink unless you want a tour. Red to Orange transfers are covered by Lake and Roosevelt. People usually ride the red to Belmont the transfer to the brown and vice versa since it's the "Express" south of Lakeview. 

[Sam92]

45 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said:

I was hoping they'd shift the Red Line stop back to Washington, or at least reopen some of the entrances to enable a slightly easier transfer to Washington/Wabash.

Loos like a lot of transfers tend to be from the trains to buses going to streeterville or River North at least from what I could see.

[artthouwill]

23 hours ago, Sam92 said:

Loos like a lot of transfers tend to be from the trains to buses going to streeterville or River North at least from what I could see.

Seems like people could ride the Red Line to Grand or Chicago Ave to reach those locations.  I do think opening the Washington Station would ease crowding at the Lake St station   its unfortunate that the underground transfer tunnel at Washington couldn't be used as well for it would alleviate crowding at the Jackson Station.   Most people don't use the pedal to transfer between the Red and Blue Line at Washington/Lake because it requires a card and the Jackson tunnel does not.  Also there's walking through the Block 37 portion of the pedway.   Basically everyone transferring between the two lines does so at Jackson,  but a few minutes can be shaved off from O'Hare branch riders transferring to Howard trains with the Washington State station and tunnel being reopened.   The only question is whether any damage was done attempting to build the O'Hare Express Station?

[Sam92]

3 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Seems like people could ride the Red Line to Grand or Chicago Ave to reach those locations.  I do think opening the Washington Station would ease crowding at the Lake St station   its unfortunate that the underground transfer tunnel at Washington couldn't be used as well for it would alleviate crowding at the Jackson Station.   Most people don't use the pedal to transfer between the Red and Blue Line at Washington/Lake because it requires a card and the Jackson tunnel does not.  Also there's walking through the Block 37 portion of the pedway.   Basically everyone transferring between the two lines does so at Jackson,  but a few minutes can be shaved off from O'Hare branch riders transferring to Howard trains with the Washington State station and tunnel being reopened.   The only question is whether any damage was done attempting to build the O'Hare Express Station?

For areas no further east that Michigan yes but when you're going to the pier it's better to transfer between the Loop and the 29 which I've seen a lot of when I worked there. And yes @Busjacksaid the platform was cut for the project. For a crossover I think 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

For areas no further east that Michigan yes but when you're going to the pier it's better to transfer between the Loop and the 29 which I've seen a lot of when I worked there. And yes @Busjacksaid the platform was cut for the project. For a crossover I think 

But why transfer to the 29 at State/Lake ( on the Red Lune) and not Grand/State?   Blue Line Riders from the O'HARE branch cab transfer to the 66 at Chicago/Milwaukee or the 65 at Grand/Milwaukee.  The 66 and 157 cover the same area along Fairbanks and the 66 operates daily with a higher frequency.   The only reason to transfer from subway to bus would be to get front door service to the Tribube Tower or something like Water Tower Place 

[Sam92]

9 hours ago, artthouwill said:

But why transfer to the 29 at State/Lake ( on the Red Lune) and not Grand/State?   Blue Line Riders from the O'HARE branch cab transfer to the 66 at Chicago/Milwaukee or the 65 at Grand/Milwaukee.  The 66 and 157 cover the same area along Fairbanks and the 66 operates daily with a higher frequency.   The only reason to transfer from subway to bus would be to get front door service to the Tribube Tower or something like Water Tower Place 

It's one less transfer. It's easier to get off the Orange Line at State/Lake and transfer to 29 for the rest of the trip than get off at Roosevelt, switch to Red, get off and Grand and make another switch. Same with Pink. Why do that when you're likely to end up on a 29 anyway once you get to Grand? Brown Line riders would do what you suggested though. 

[artthouwill]

5 hours ago, Sam92 said:

It's one less transfer. It's easier to get off the Orange Line at State/Lake and transfer to 29 for the rest of the trip than get off at Roosevelt, switch to Red, get off and Grand and make another switch. Same with Pink. Why do that when you're likely to end up on a 29 anyway once you get to Grand? Brown Line riders would do what you suggested though. 

I get that but the original context was from the subway lines,  not the Loop Elevated lines.  From the L, it makes sense to transfer at Washington/Wabash  but we were talking about reopening the Washington Red Line subway station  so my response was based on the subway, not the Loop L.

[Sam92]

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

I get that but the original context was from the subway lines,  not the Loop Elevated lines.  From the L, it makes sense to transfer at Washington/Wabash  but we were talking about reopening the Washington Red Line subway station  so my response was based on the subway, not the Loop L.

Ahh gotcha. I do agree on reopening Washington for capacity since Lake is very high up in terms of boardings but idk if whatever was done to the platform could be undone 

[strictures]

If you read the Tribune on Monday, they have an editorial questioning exactly how has this gone from the $180 million Lightfoot said it would cost to $440 million!

 

"Editorial: A snazzy new State Street station. But, seriously, $444M and 3 more years?

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

PUBLISHED: December 8, 2025

State Street is a great street. So it certainly deserves a splashy station, especially one promising room to move, natural light shining through a glass canopy and elevated vistas allowing Chicagoans to check whether or not there are people there doing things they don’t do on Broadway.

But $444 million? And a construction time of three years, beginning Jan. 5? That’s not a concept-to-opening time, but simple demo and construction. To build a design that was unveiled four years ago.

When this new station, designed by TranSystems and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was announced in 2021 by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the cost was announced as $180 million. Now, we’re told, it’s a mind-blowing $444 million. For one previously existing station. Stunning. We doubt your paycheck increased at that rate.

We like the pizzazz of the new State and Lake, at least on paper, and perhaps all of that highly visible glass will improve safety. Still, it’s a very contemporary style arguably at odds with the historic nature of many of the other Loop stations.

Quincy, a lovely historic station in the Loop, was renovated in classic style in 2016 for, wait for it, a very reasonable $18 million, which is less than 5% of what is being spent on State and Lake. “The improvements will preserve the original appearance of the Loop ‘L’ station while upgrading the station with the addition of two elevators to make the station accessible to customers with disabilities,” the CTA said at the time, noting that the renovation would also feature “stair replacement, painting, lighting improvements and more.” We use Quincy often as it is by our office. It’s a real charmer with elevators that are easy to use, if need be.

When it was pushing the new Quincy the CTA was touting its history. Explaining State and Lake, we’re now told a 130-year-old station just can’t do the job. Not a problem a few blocks away.

Obviously time has gone on and no two stations are identical, but there is one heck of a difference between $18 million and $444 million, even allowing for the romance of State Street, which we fully embrace. Pretty much the same trains, after all, stop at both Quincy and State and Lake, although the busier latter also has the Green Line trundling through.

We wonder if, with hindsight, this plan was just a tad too luxe for a financially strapped city. And, yes, we know the bulk of the money behind the new station is coming from the feds; that does not change our view.

For CTA riders who use State and Lake, alternates are not far away, but drivers, bus passengers, cyclists and pedestrians also are likely to see closures and tie-ups around the busy area of the station for, yes, three years. How about some new project czar, reassigned but not hired by the city, knocks a few heads together and suggests that two years is all a city exhausted from the Kennedy reconstruction can handle? And maybe knocks off another million from the construction costs while doing so.

We’re not surprised this start-of-construction announcement came after the so-called fiscal cliff crisis, when numbers like $444 million in construction costs might well have raised some eyebrows in Springfield, given that the RTA was eventually saying its budget deficit for 2026 was $250 million, little more than half the cost of this one station. And, yes, we know these are different pots of money, but most of our readers will see our point.

Smart political timing is not what matters; it’s quick, efficient and cost-effective construction we care about here."

[Busjack]

15 hours ago, strictures said:

If you read the Tribune on Monday, they have an editorial questioning exactly how has this gone from the $180 million Lightfoot said it would cost to $440 million!

 

Trump era inflatuin (like RLE going up to $5.3 B) and the usual negativity of what's left of the editorial board. Also, they're about 4 yers too late.a

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, Busjack said:

Trump era inflatuin (like RLE going up to $5.3 B) and the usual negativity of what's left of the editorial board. Also, they're about 4 yers too late.a

I'm not going to quote @strictures post,, but other than Costco's $1.50 hot dog and soda, name something that costs the same thing today as it did 4 years ago.   Not even the O'Hare experience project has the same costs as it did when it was first announced.  That was actually started under Emmanuel.  

[strictures]

18 hours ago, artthouwill said:

I'm not going to quote @strictures post,, but other than Costco's $1.50 hot dog and soda, name something that costs the same thing today as it did 4 years ago.   Not even the O'Hare experience project has the same costs as it did when it was first announced.  That was actually started under Emmanuel.  

The price for the station has more than doubled.  Almost nothing else has had the price more than doubled.  There is zero need for that insanely fancy & expensive roof on it.  All that's needed are two separate roofs over each of the platforms that extend a couple of feet over the actual train cars so people can get on & off the trains without getting rained on!

[artthouwill]

7 minutes ago, strictures said:

The price for the station has more than doubled.  Almost nothing else has had the price more than doubled.  There is zero need for that insanely fancy & expensive roof on it.  All that's needed are two separate roofs over each of the platforms that extend a couple of feet over the actual train cars so people can get on & off the trains without getting rained on!

You know the Tribune editorial waa heading down the wrong track comparing the Quincy station to the State/Lake station.   Quincy is NOT  in the heart of the Loop.  Quincy is NOT a major transfer point between the Looo L and the busiest rail line.   The ultimate defining picture of the Loop is the Chicago Theater with the State/Lake station in the backdrop.   This station will also include a  pedestrian bridge that will allow transfers between platforms,  something it never had before.  This city is known for its architecture and this station is an extension of that. 

But you just stay on that 22 Clark bus.   Speaking of Clark,  you do know that part of station is practically covered across both platforms.