advertisement

---

Two transit agencies recently took the wraps off newly renovated stations.

Late last week, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) reopened Southport Station, which has been closed for the past 12 months. Rebuilt as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project, the facility now features longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains and a rebuilt stationhouse with wider stairways, additional turnstiles, a new platform canopy, customer assistance call buttons, an information kiosk and improved signage.  

During the stations’ dedication ceremony, CTA officials previewed a new digital advertising communications initiative that will enable the authority to provide next-train arrival information and notify customers of service changes. The advertising is expected to generate more than $100 million in revenue.

Meanwhile, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority reopened the 46th Street Station yesterday. The West Philadelphia facility had been closed since June 2007 for renovations as part of the Market Street Elevated reconstruction project, which calls for rebuilding and modernizing the agency’s “El” system to feature a streamlined, single-beam support structure.

The fourth of six stations to be reconstructed as part of the project, 46th Street Station now features large roofs covering the platforms, waiting areas on each platform, brightly lit interior and exterior station areas, and a pedestrian underpass.