The newly constructed Damen station on the Green Line opened for service Monday morning, marking a significant milestone for Chicago’s public transportation network. The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Johnson, project leaders, and city officials, celebrating the culmination of a project designed to enhance connectivity and serve the community.
Located at the intersection of North Damen Avenue and West Lake Street, the Damen ‘L’ station addresses a 1.5-mile gap in service that previously existed between the California and Ashland stations on the Green Line. This new addition, constructed by F.H. Paschen, will not only benefit the Near West Side of Chicago but also provide convenient access to the United Center, which hosts over 200 events annually.
The site of the new Damen station has a historical significance; it was once home to a station from 1893 until its closure in 1948. The vacant lot has now been transformed into a modern, multimodal transit hub. Designed by the architectural firm Perkins&Will, the station features a double-height main entrance, an artistic mural, a stone-clad elevator core, and an elevated bridge with green trusses and a lit tower, making it a visually striking addition to the area. The project also included over a mile of track reconstruction to seamlessly integrate the station into the existing network.
The opening of the Damen station represents a major improvement in the city’s transit infrastructure, providing enhanced accessibility and connectivity for residents and visitors alike
