Green means Go: Green Line Commuters React to Red Line’s South Branch Closures

photo by Juan Latapi. Commuters patiently wait for the next north bound train at the green line´s Bronzeville 35th/ IIT station. With the upcoming CTA closures of the red line´s south branch, ridership in trains like this is expected to rise from 15,000 to 50,000 on a daily basis.

CHICAGO–With the Red Line South Branch closing May 19th through at least October, the CTA plans to divert much of its commuter traffic to the Green Line — creating mixed opinions among several commuters interviewed who take both trains regularly.

The CTA plan calls for Red Line trains to run on the elevated Green Line tracks between the Ashland/63rd and Roosevelt stations.

The agency has already started the process of renovating and adding new features to Green Line stations, such as cameras, and bus shelters for shuttles coming from the Red Line’s most southern stations.

According to the CTA, the expected ridership in the Green Line is expected to go up from 15,000 to 50,000 during the Red Line construction.