CTA’s RPM Phase One Project Begins Final Stage of North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced a milestone for the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project’s North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction project: The CTA has put into service two new Red and Purple elevated track structures between Belmont and Addison stations.

The agency will now begin the final major phase of construction in this area, which includes fully rebuilding the remaining two, century-old Red and Purple elevated tracks.

Combined with other project improvements -- including the completion of the Red-Purple Bypass in November 2021 and the new Red and Purple line track between Lawrence and Bryn Mawr avenues in July 2023 – the CTA’s RPM Phase One Project has now delivered nearly 1.4 miles of new track structure. 

The remaining project work, including four new Red Line stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr, will be completed in 2025.

“We are bringing better transit to our customers by modernizing the CTA Red Line, which is the transportation backbone of our city and provides critical transportation to thousands of Chicagoans every day,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “With a new track and four new, fully accessible Red Line stations to open in two years, I am pleased that the RPM project is delivering on its promise to provide world-class transportation to Chicago.”

Red and Purple line service will continue throughout the project through its completion in 2025.

RPM Phase One Overview

RPM Phase One Project includes three components:

1. Reconstruction of the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations into larger, 100% accessible stations; and replacement of track structure totaling six track miles (ongoing)
2. New Red-Purple Bypass construction (completed in 2021) and the reconstruction of the Red and Purple Line track structure between Belmont and Newport/Cornelia (ongoing)
3. Installation of a new signal system on 23 track miles between Howard and Belmont that, similar to roadway traffic signals, will improve train flow and service reliability (ongoing)