Chicagoans Weigh In on State/Lake L Station Rebuild Plans
The city's plan to close the State/Lake L station for three years starting in 2029 to renovate it has sparked a mixed bag of reactions from readers. The $444 million upgrade aims to bring the 19th-century station into the modern era, but many are questioning its necessity.
While some view the renovation as a worthwhile investment, saying "Money well spent" and that it's essential for attracting people to modern transit systems, others are more skeptical. Gordon Wojdyla thinks the focus should be on increasing train frequencies rather than building nicer waiting areas.
Pam Angeloni expresses concern about the prolonged closure, stating that it will be a hardship for many commuters. Jaime Duque, however, believes the new station will be worth it, comparing it to the soon-to-be- renovated Washington/Wabash station in the Loop.
Steven Zwick acknowledges the need for upgrades but argues that high infrastructure costs are a broader issue in the US. Alex Scheppke thinks the project should be completed more quickly, suggesting a timeline of just one year or less.
Some readers have expressed doubts about the scope and price tag of the renovation, with David Davy calling it "a bit ambitious." Brian McDonough suggests that Clark/Lake station, which is only a block away, could suffice as an alternative. Jean Waller agrees that the new station should be updated but criticizes its excessive cost.
Others have pointed out that other countries, such as Japan, tend to prioritize public transportation, making it seem less necessary for Chicago to invest so heavily in this project. Scott Hume simply hopes that the new escalators will function properly.
Overall, opinions on the State/Lake L station rebuild are divided, reflecting a range of perspectives on its necessity and value.
The city's plan to close the State/Lake L station for three years starting in 2029 to renovate it has sparked a mixed bag of reactions from readers. The $444 million upgrade aims to bring the 19th-century station into the modern era, but many are questioning its necessity.
While some view the renovation as a worthwhile investment, saying "Money well spent" and that it's essential for attracting people to modern transit systems, others are more skeptical. Gordon Wojdyla thinks the focus should be on increasing train frequencies rather than building nicer waiting areas.
Pam Angeloni expresses concern about the prolonged closure, stating that it will be a hardship for many commuters. Jaime Duque, however, believes the new station will be worth it, comparing it to the soon-to-be- renovated Washington/Wabash station in the Loop.
Steven Zwick acknowledges the need for upgrades but argues that high infrastructure costs are a broader issue in the US. Alex Scheppke thinks the project should be completed more quickly, suggesting a timeline of just one year or less.
Some readers have expressed doubts about the scope and price tag of the renovation, with David Davy calling it "a bit ambitious." Brian McDonough suggests that Clark/Lake station, which is only a block away, could suffice as an alternative. Jean Waller agrees that the new station should be updated but criticizes its excessive cost.
Others have pointed out that other countries, such as Japan, tend to prioritize public transportation, making it seem less necessary for Chicago to invest so heavily in this project. Scott Hume simply hopes that the new escalators will function properly.
Overall, opinions on the State/Lake L station rebuild are divided, reflecting a range of perspectives on its necessity and value.
I'm not sure if $444 million is too much for a modern upgrade, but I do think it's a bit ambitious. Can't we just get the basics right first? And what's up with the three-year closure? That's gonna be a real pain for commuters 
. I mean, I'd love to see some improvements, but I'm not sure if this is the best use of our tax dollars... 
i get it wanna upgrade but cant they just do some repairs on the side or something? 
$444 million is wild, esp when u got ppl who r struggling to pay their rent. what's next, closing down wicker park? 
. and david davy is lowkey right about the scope being ambitious 
but still 3 years?! thats forever! 
i think they should just give it a year or less like alex scheppke said 
. Just saying, let's not get too carried away with the "modern era" hype 
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I mean, can you blame people for questioning the plan? $444 million is a crazy amount of money, especially when some folks are worried about train frequencies being more important than fancy waiting areas 
. And Japan's public transportation system is actually pretty legendary, so maybe we should take a page out of their book 
. I think what's really bothering people is the prolonged closure - how are they supposed to get around for three years? 
It's understandable that some people see it as an investment for the future, but it feels like there are more pressing issues to tackle first 
. Maybe they should speed up the timeline or revisit the budget 
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. I mean, have they considered the engineering complexity involved? Not to mention the logistics of keeping commuters moving while the station is being rebuilt 
. But at the same time, if it's gonna be worth $444 million then we gotta make sure it's done right 
. Maybe instead of just building nicer waiting areas we could look into integrating more sustainable features like green roofs or solar panels? 
That way, it's not just about aesthetics but also about reducing our carbon footprint 
... I mean, who doesn't love people-watching while waiting for their train? But seriously, $444 million is like, a lot of clams 
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I mean, I get that it needs some work but $444 million is a pretty big price tag... did they even compare prices with Japan like Jaime said? 
It'll make our transit system more efficient and attractive to visitors. Plus, have you seen that old station? It's like something out of a movie from like 50 years ago 
. We deserve an upgrade! 
. And what's up with the price tag? $444 million is crazy expensive 
my old one is so slow rn anyway back to this chicago station thing... isn't it weird that they're closing it for three years? like what if i need to take the train during that time? 