CTA Red, Purple Line riders should plan for longer morning commute

CHICAGO (WLS) -- CTA Red and Purple Line riders should plan to leave a few minutes early Monday morning. Southbound trips are expected to be between two and six minutes longer as Wilson station renovation work continues.

Riders who take Red Line trains to 95th should expect to add between two and four minutes to their trip. Commuters who take the Purple Line express to the Loop should expect to add between four and six minutes to their ride. These trains will share a single track between Wilson and Belmont during construction.

Work to renovate the hundred-year-old rails and Wilson station house began over the weekend.

Service won't speed up again for at least a year.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel reassured CTA passengers on Friday that the work is necessary to modernize the Red Line and revitalize neighborhoods whose El stops have become run down.

"To all the riders, I want to apologize upfront for all the inconvenience it will create. But know in the long term it will also speed their commute to work, to neighborhood and for their family," Emanuel said.

CTA riders said although the delays will be an inconvenience, the work is necessary.

"I think it needs improvement because there's a lot of people with disabilities and a lot of seniors. Sometimes they find it difficult to climb the stairs. So, it would be nice if they renovate it and make it convenient for people with disabilities and people with children with strollers," Yemi Akintinehin said.

"You see the Target come in. You see bits of this area try and pick itself up. We were sorry to see Borders go, for example. You know, there's a lot of resurgence that needs to happen in this community. I think this will help immensely," Tony Micheletti said.

The CTA Wilson station renovation will create a new transfer point for Red and Purple line express trains.

"I think in the long run, the benefits will be good for the station. It really needs the change. Since they're going to have a Purple Line station, I think that will be really beneficial," said Daniel Ramos, another CTA rider.

The Wilson stop will remain open throughout construction, which is expected to be finished in 2017.