CTA to begin final stage of North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction Project as part of REM Phase One Project

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is set to begin the final major stage of the North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction project as part of CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project. This final stage will mark the next major milestone for the RPM project, completing new elevated track structure north of Belmont station and reaching the two-thirds completion point for the section of the project.

The North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction project includes two major components: The new Red-Purple Bypass, which opened in November 2021, and the full reconstruction of the 0.3 miles of southbound track structure north of Belmont station to approximately Newport/Cornelia avenues south of Addison Red Line station. The bypass, along with the new Red and Purple line tracks being finished, allow trains to travel more efficiently with fewer delays and provide CTA with additional capacity to add trains to meet ridership demand.

The RPM Program, which will be done in multiple phases, will rebuild the 9.6-mile stretch of Red and Purple Line track structure and stations on the north side of Chicago that are a century old. RPM will replace aging infrastructure; increase CTA’s capacity to increase train service as needed and improve service for customers with more reliable, comfortable service.

The CTA’s Red Line is CTA’s busiest rail line, historically providing more than 67 million rides a year and serving some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the U.S.

“As CTA ridership returns in record numbers nearing pre-pandemic levels, we are pleased to deliver modern track infrastructure to our customers,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Combined with the new tracks recently opened between Lawrence and Bryn Mawr earlier this year, we have now built nearly two miles of new tracks under the RPM project. We look forward to continuing to deliver on our promises to modernize the Red Line from north to south.”

Final major stage of North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction (Fall 2023 through 2025)

With the completion of the bypass and the new southbound Red and Purple line tracks, CTA can move on to the next phase of work. CTA’s RPM project contractor, Walsh-Fluor, will rebuild 0.3 miles of northbound Red and Purple Line elevated track structures between Belmont station on the south to the stretch of track between Newport and Cornelia avenues on the north:

•  Reconstruction of southbound tracks began in late 2021 and will be completed late 2023.
• Reconstruction of northbound tracks will start late 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Minor rail service impacts expected in fall 2023

Red, Purple and Brown Line service will be maintained through the end of the project in 2025, with minor interruptions at the time of the new tracks being put into service this fall. During the weekends when rail service is interrupted, CTA will provide free shuttle buses between stations for customers. Upcoming scheduled service interruptions:

• Brown Line: Belmont to Southport interrupted Oct. 14-16
• Red and Purple Line: Belmont to Addison interrupted Oct. 27-30 and Nov. 10-13