New stations on CTA Green Line, Metra UP-N line increase transit access for residents, riders

In 2024, CTA and Metra opened two new stations: the Damen station in Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood along CTA’s Green Line and the Peterson/Ridge station in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood on Metra’s UP-North Line. The opening of these stations has increased access to many more destinations, jobs, and opportunities for riders, especially for those who live nearby. Coupled with these major capital projects is increased service, with CTA bringing rail frequencies back to pre-Covid levels and Metra shifting toward a regional rail model with an emphasis on more frequent and predictable off-peak service.

All these improvements indicate success at adapting to the changing needs of riders, one of the goals in the RTA’s regional transit strategic plan Transit is the Answer, and show the many benefits of investing in transit.

CTA’s Damen Green Line station

CTA’s Green Line predominantly serves Chicago’s south and west neighborhoods, connecting them to each other, the Loop, and Oak Park. Within a half mile of the line, approximately 21% residents have low incomes. Sixty-eight percent of residents are people of color, and 37% live in car-free households. More than 607,000 jobs are found around the entire Green Line.

The new fully accessible Damen Geen Line station dramatically improves job access. For residents living within a half-mile radius of the station, an additional 36,000 jobs can be reached in a 60-minute transit trip. The station is also located north of the United Center, which is a large tourist and employment center. With frequent events and a seating capacity of 23,500, the opening of the Damen station can bring more of these visitors to this destination by transit, which allows more people to visit the west side of Chicago as well. The Ashland station had been the closest station to the United Center until Damen opened; an otherwise 14-minute walk from the Ashland station shortens to 9 minutes from the Damen station. As plans for the 1901 Project—a $7 billion redevelopment plan for the United Center campus—continue to pass through approvals, the station is likely to see even greater use.

The Damen Green Line station opened in mid-August 2024, just in time for the Democratic National Convention, and ridership at Damen has already surpassed that of the adjacent California Green Line station, one stop west, demonstrating that transit stations near major attractions and denser housing can show rapid success.

Metra’s Peterson/Ridge UP-N Line station

Metra’s UP-N line services Chicago as well as portions of Cook and Lake counties. Within one mile of the line, approximately 12% of people have low incomes. Forty-one percent are people of color, and 25% of households are car-free. More than 702,000 jobs are found along the UP-N line.

The Peterson/Ridge station expands job access to approximately 11,900 jobs within its 1-mile radius. Additionally, 31% of residents near the station live car-free. An additional 106,000 jobs can be reached in a 60-minute transit trip from the new station, which is around 29 times more jobs than are located in the area.

The Peterson/Ridge station opened in mid-May 2024 on the same date that Metra announced four additional trains to weekday service on the UP-N Line. Ridership in June alone neared 50,000 at the new station.

Future blog posts will cover additional transit improvements in 2024, including ADA-accessible Metra Electric District stations and Pace Pulse Dempster service between Evanston and O’Hare airport.