it's back!

i get easily excited about things. i've been looking forward to this day for quite a while now. the montrose brown line station is back up and running! as part of the chicago transit authority's brown line expansion project, the montrose station has been closed for nearly a year.

it's not that i use the train everyday, but when i do hop on the train, it's nice for it to be easily accessible. the 1/2 mile walk to the next train station wasn't my idea of fun - especially in the stifling heat or the frigid cold. now, i can simply turn the corner and walk a couple of short blocks. i don't even have to cross the street anymore since they moved the station entrance!

whenever driving or walking by the construction on the station over the past few months, i was always intrigued at the progress. i honestly didn't think that it would open by their proposed deadline of december 1. but, they beat me to it by almost a week (i'm sure this will be cta's way of saying "hey look! we finished early!").

here are some pictures of the new station. i didn't take many for fear of looking like a complete mass transit nerd.

this picture was taken just inside the turnstiles. the letters are an artsy way to show names of streets near the station. (winchester, belle plaine, leavitt, oakley, montrose, etc.)

this picture is from standing on the new platform. the platforms were extended to allow for 8-car trains. there is new seating, new speakers to hear announcements clearly, elevators, stairs for exits to both sides of the street, and new lighting.



the station is now situated over the street. this picture is a view from the platform, looking west on montrose. notice the balloons marking the opening of the station. my favorite brunch location even had banners outside "hey cta! the fat lady has sang!"

i know it was only the first day for passengers, but it was very nice and clean inside. there was also a great feeling by all the riders waiting to board the train. i'm sure it's a day that many people have been looking forward to!

and sure, this might be new for the cta, but there were so many things that did not change. i still waited 15 minutes for the next train, there were crazy people surrounding me, and the infamous slow zones were still a pain in my ass. welcome aboard the brown line!