Chicago’s United Center Redevelopment Needs Train Station

Plans for a new CTA Pink Line station near the United Center are advancing, with key discussions underway between city officials and the backers of a $7 billion redevelopment of the area.

The train station, proposed for Madison Street, would serve as a crucial addition to the neighborhood’s infrastructure, improving access to one of Chicago’s busiest areas and providing much-needed connectivity for residents, commuters and visitors, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The United Center and the surrounding Near West Side neighborhood are undergoing a $7 billion overhaul, and Alderman Walter Burnett sees a Pink Line station as a win for residents and developers, contributing to the area’s revitalization and attracting businesses and residents to the district.

“We need more people moving around the city; not just on game days,” Burnett said.

The 1901 Project, which is already underway around the sports arena, includes plans to build a 6,000-seat music hall, 1,300 hotel rooms and 9,500 apartments. The mixed-use megadevelopment is being spearheaded by Michael Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, and Danny Wirtz, whose family owns the Blackhawks.

One of the main obstacles for the Pink Line extension is funding.

Burnett has raised the possibility of using tax increment financing to help fund the station, but that plan will need to be reviewed and approved by city officials. The process will likely take years, as was the case with other major transit projects in the city, such as the Damen Green Line station.

In addition to financial hurdles, the logistics of adding a station are complex. The Madison Street location had an L station in the early 20th century, but the tracks were closed in 1951. Rebuilding the station would require significant planning, including acquiring nearby properties and ensuring that the station fits within the existing infrastructure of the CTA system.

— Andrew Terrell