Edgewater businesses expect less traffic during upcoming Red Line construction
While still facing a pandemic, many Edgewater businesses are expected to see further traffic disruptions in 2021 from a Chicago Transit Authority, or CTA, modernization project, officials said.
The CTA will begin its Red and Purple Modernization Program, or RPM, in January 2021, said Tammy Chase, a CTA spokesperson. The Red Line’s Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations will close first so CTA can rebuild their nearly century-old rails, Chase said.
“Those stations will close early 2021, at which time we will open temporary rail stations at two of the four locations, Bryn Mawr and Argyle,” Chase said.
In June 2019, the four stations saw a combined average of 13,102 riders each weekday, according to the CTA’s newest ridership report from June 2020. That number dropped to 2,163 in June 2020, the report stated. The foot traffic businesses receive from the Red Line will likely further decrease during construction, Chase said.
Chase said the CTA has begun reaching out to businesses on the RPM route as part of its Open for Business project. Businesses affected by the RPM construction can register for free promotional advertisements and a feature on the CTA’s website, Chase said. Over 40 business have applied, she said, and businesses can register any time during the construction process.
“We’re working with all the chambers of commerce as well as all the local aldermen’s offices to reach out to businesses,” Chase said. “It’s our responsibility to do that.”
Kate Zehr, general manager of Edgewater’s Chicago Grind, said the shop is expecting a drop in business because of the construction. Zehr said Chicago Grind is located near Berwyn Station, which will be closed throughout the CTA construction.
“The CTA is trying to do some stuff for different businesses, which is great,” Zehr said. “But I think a lot of businesses are going to be greatly affected by it, so we'll see.”
Since the pandemic, Zehr, 31, said business at Chicago Grind has been the slowest it’s ever seen since opening in 2014. To help increase traffic during the pandemic and upcoming construction, she said Chicago Grind staff have begun working with the CTA to register for its free promotional programs.
Kaitlyn Fletcher, owner of Lincoln Square’s Sacred Art, said she also expects less foot traffic because of the project. Fletcher, 32, said several Edgewater artists rely on Sacred Art for sales. She said she hopes the shop is far enough from construction to keep business steady.
“We do get a lot of tourist customers, and they’ll come up the Red Line,” Fletcher said. “We’re definitely not going to get as much as that.”
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Originally written for Medill coursework on Nov. 02, 2020.
