Mayor Rahm Emanuel today broke ground on the second thing this week.
On Tuesday, Emanuel tossed dirt to mark a new beginning for the unused, elevated rail line known as Bloomingdale Trail. On Thursday he grabs a shovel again for a new Cermak Green Line station.
The mayor's office said the $50 million construction is part of $92 million in transportation improvements of Chicago's Near South Side and $4 billion in overall CTA investments.
“We are making a comprehensive investment in the CTA, and this investment includes building a new station to serve McCormick Place and the surrounding area,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “We are improving our infrastructure to brighten our economic future. You cannot have a 21st century economy sitting on a 20th century economic infrastructure.”
The station will be built at Cermak and State, just west of McCormick Place and between existing Roosevelt and 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stations. The city said the station will have enclosed boarding platforms and state-of-the-art security.
“The new Cermak-McCormick Place station will offer a convenient transit option for commuters, residents, employees and visitors," CTA President Forrest Claypool said, "and at the same time help support economic development well under way in the community."
It marks the 146th CTA station and the first station in this spot since 1977.
It should be completed by the end of next year.
