CTA will present final plans for under-L area between Lawrence and Ardmore following the RPM Project’s removal of 100-year-old embankment wall
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today announced it will hold community meetings on Feb. 25 and 26 to present final development plans for the space under the new ‘L’ tracks between the Lawrence and Bryn Mawr stations, as part of the historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project.
More than one mile of new, open space under the L tracks has become available to the Edgewater and Uptown communities following the removal of the century-old embankment as part of the RPM project, which has rebuilt Red and Purple line elevated track structure and is also reconstructing the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations. The open space is located underneath Red and Purple Line tracks between W. Lawrence and W. Ardmore avenues.
CTA partnered with Site Design Group, a Chicago-based, nationally award-winning landscape architecture, urban design and architecture firm to guide the development of a block-by-block plan to activate new community space under the CTA tracks. Design plans include a pedestrian trail, dog parks, playground, fitness area, benches, and flexible-use plaza space for community events. The CTA with Site Design held multiple public meetings in 2024 to solicit ideas from the community on the types of activation they would like to see under the elevated tracks.
At the upcoming meetings, CTA will share the new final block-by-block concepts that were inspired by the community’s input and provide a timeline for the construction work.
For residents in the blocks between W Foster and W Ardmore*:
Date and time: Tuesday, February 25, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Saint Ita Catholic Church, 5500 N. Broadway
Register in advance here.
For residents in the blocks between W Lawrence and W Foster*:
Date and time: Wednesday, February 26, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
Register in advance here.
* The same information and presentation for all 10 block designs will be presented at both meetings.
RPM Phase One Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization work: Project status
CTA continues to make significant progress in the final major stage of construction. After rebuilding the northbound Red and Purple elevated track structure in 2023, CTA is nearing completion of the southbound Red Line structure and four new, fully accessible Red Line stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr. The new stations and tracks are expected to open this summer.
For more information about the RPM Phase One project, visit transitchicago.com/RPM or follow @CTARPM on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.
# # #