Brown Line status

Paulina closed for renovation (link)
    ends: Tue 3/31/2009

Paulina will be closed for renovation to bring capability for longer trains, improved passenger facilities, and modern station amenities.

Improvements include new elevators, lighting, platform, security, and communication systems.

This is part of the Brown Line renovation project. The closure of the station will allow for faster and more efficient renovation work.

ADJACENT STATIONS REMAIN OPEN
The nearest stations on the route, Addison and Southport, will remain open throughout the entire closure of Paulina. The Addison stop is about 3 city blocks (3/8 mi) northwest at Addison/Ravenswood (just west of Lincoln), and the Southport stop is about 4 city blocks (1/2 mi) east (on Southport just north of Roscoe).

NEARBY SERVICES
The #9 Ashland bus, #11 Lincoln, #50 Damen, #77 Belmont, and the #152 Addison are all within 1/2 mile of the closed Paulina station. The #11, which connects directly with the closed station, travels downtown most of the time on weekdays.


*** THE END DATE ON THIS ALERT IS ESTIMATED -- The official target for reopening is "Summer 2009" ***

from Sun 3/30/2008 thru Tue 3/31/2009

Wellington closed for renovation (link)
    ends: Mon 8/31/2009

Wellington will be closed for renovation to bring capability for longer trains, improved passenger facilities, and modern station amenities.

Improvements include new elevators, lighting, platform, security, and communication systems.

This is part of the Brown Line renovation project. The closure of the station will allow for faster and more efficient renovation work.

ADJACENT STATIONS REMAIN OPEN
The nearest stations on the route, Belmont and Diversey, will remain open throughout the entire closure of Wellington. Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple) is two blocks north of Wellington, and Diversey (Brown/Purple) is just two blocks south (1/4 mile each).

NEARBY SERVICES
The #8 Halsted bus is just two blocks east of the station under renovation, and the #22 Clark is just slightly further east.


*** THE END DATE ON THIS ALERT IS ESTIMATED -- The official target for reopening is "Summer 2009" ***

from Sun 3/30/2008 thru Mon 8/31/2009

Irving Park station closed for one year renovation (link)
    ends: Wed 12/3/2008 1:00:00 AM

The Irving Park station will be closed for one year for renovation, as part of the project to increase capacity on and modernize the Brown Line.

Adjacent stations at Addison and Montrose (both already renovated) will remain open through the entire project. Each are about four city blocks (1/2 mi) from Irving Park.

The following alternate CTA services are available:

#9 Ashland
#X9 Ashland Express (weekdays only)
#11 Lincoln/Sedgwick
#22 Clark
#50 Damen
#78 Montrose
#80 Irving Park
#X80 Irving Park Express
#152 Addison

from Mon 12/3/2007 1:00:00 AM thru Wed 12/3/2008 1:00:00 AM

Damen station closed for one year renovation (link)
    ends: Wed 11/26/2008 1:00:00 AM

The Damen station will be closed for one year for renovation, as part of the project to increase capacity on and modernize the Brown Line.

Adjacent stations at Western and Montrose will remain open through the entire project.

The following alternate CTA services are available:

#11 Lincoln/Sedgwick
#49 Western
#X49 Western
#49B North Western
#50 Damen
#78 Montrose
#81 Lawrence
#145 Wilson/Michigan Express
#148 Clarendon/Michigan Express (weekdays, peak direction only)

Also nearby is the Metra Union Pacific North Line (UP-N) located a few blocks away from the Damen station at Lawrence/Ravenswood. Separate fares for Metra are required--CTA passes and cards are not valid for use on Metra commuter rail.

from Mon 11/26/2007 1:00:00 AM thru Wed 11/26/2008 1:00:00 AM

Notice regarding 3-track operations (link)
    ends: Thu 12/31/2009 11:59:00 PM

To allow for faster and more efficient construction of the new Belmont and Fullerton stations without closing either stop, CTA is implementing a phased construction schedule with 3-tracks in operation on the 4-track North Side Mainline through these two stations.

To widen the platforms at Belmont and Fullerton, one track (at a time) is being taken out of service for realignment while keeping the stations in-service with the remaining three tracks.


PRESENTLY:
Track 1 (normally used by southbound Brown Line trains) is out of service for station construction, reducing the available number of tracks at Belmont and Fullerton to three.

All southbound trains (Red, Purple Express, and Brown) will operate over Track 2 through the Belmont and Fullerton stations.

As a result of this reduced capacity, fewer trains will operate in the morning rush.

Northbound service has been increased as both northbound tracks are now open.

CTA encourages commuters to leave earlier or later, work schedule permitting, or choose alternate modes of transit, such as CTA buses or Metra commuter rail stations, to alleviate crowding.

Some trains may be crowded, especially as they approach downtown.

CTA has added bus service on routes that serve the same corridor as the affected rail lines. Consider using buses as an alternate service to the 'L'.

For more information, visit CTA's Web site on 3-track.

---

Additional Bus Service between the North Side and downtown
Effective Monday, March 31, 2008

# 11 Lincoln/Sedgwick
# 22 Clark
#134 Stockton/LaSalle Express
#135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express#147 Outer Drive Express
#148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
#156 LaSalle

(end date on this alert is an editorial estimate)

from Mon 4/2/2007 thru Thu 12/31/2009 11:59:00 PM

Single track through Southport, Addison (link)
    from Thu 8/7/2008 8:00:00 PM thru Fri 8/8/2008 4:00:00 AM

Due to track improvement work, trains in both directions will share a single track through the Southport and Addison stations.

Allow extra time on the Brown Line as trains may be delayed at the single track area, and pay added attention to train destination signs and announcements if boarding in the affected area.