New CTA station at Damen (Green Line)

[Passenger]

I get why it's needed, but didn't used to be one there that was taken down?

Why was it taken down? Overenthusiastic cost cutting?

[jonnhrr]

http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/damen-lake.html

"The station was closed in 1948 when the CTA revamped service on the Lake Street Line -- the first of a series of line-by-line service overhauls -- by closing 10 little-used stations and implementing A/B skip-stop service to speed up trains on the route. The station, along with Morgan, Racine, Oakley, Campbell, Sacramento, and Kostner, was demolished in early 1949. Prior to the start of wrecking work, all usable equipment, such as newer lumber, doors, and newer railings were removed for reuse elsewhere. Platform girders from the dismantled stations were reused to lengthen platforms at other "L" stations."

[orangeline]

Times have changed. Back in 1948 that station was apparently almost unused so it made sense to tear it down. Now, nearly 70 years later, CTA has determined there will be enough use to justify building a new station. One source of new riders might be the United Center, which seems to be nearer to Damen/Lake than to Ashland/Lake.

[STrRedWolf]

I would think rebuilding Morgan on the Pink line would be a better (read: shorter walk to the station) option. Hope they build both.

[MisterUptempo]

I would think rebuilding Morgan on the Pink line would be a better (read: shorter walk to the station) option. Hope they build both.

If you're referring to a Pink Line stop at Madison (Morgan is already a Pink Line stop), the day will probably come that a Madison-Pink Line stop gets built.

I have to imagine that the Damen-Green Line stop is getting built to encourage residential/commercial development, such as Westhaven Park, a 760-unit (when complete) development of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units, located at the southeast corner of Damen and Lake. The city has been incentivizing TODs, and with the red hot neighborhoods of West Loop and Fulton Market nearby, anything that can be done to keep the streak alive helps. As has been mentioned elsewhere, if a secondary entrance to the Damen stop is located at Wolcott, the walk to the United Center is nearly the same distance as a walk to the hoped-for Madison-Pink Line stop.

From a connectivity standpoint, a Green Line stop at Western would have made more sense. The 49/49B/349 bus combo can take a commuter from suburban Harvey to the south all the way to Howard to the north. A Western-Green Line stop would also be just a few steps away from the Western Ave. Metra stop, which serves the Milwaukee-West, Milwaukee-North, and North Central Metra lines.

From a prioritization standpoint, a Brown Line station at Division probably should have been built first.