Wednesday, December 26, 2012

North Side of Roosevelt CTA Stop Entrance Gets New Sign and Something Else


While many people like to complain about the Roosevelt CTA stop, we don't think it's all that bad.  And the new entrance on the South side for the Green/Orange line platform has been a big improvement (we don't see nearly as much jaywalking anymore).

With these improvements also came a quick face-lift to the North entrance as well.  As you can see by the picture above, the new sign looks more modern.  Beyond that it's not very exciting.

However, what struck us was the new "drive-thru" window that mysteriously showed up just to the left of the entrance.  The renderings that we've seen (below) didn't have anything like that.  
Image from CTA

So we wonder, what gives?  Is this going to be a retail and/or newsstand spot?  Maybe a way to give people coffee, flowers, magazines, candy, etc without having to go inside?  Or maybe it will serve as a spot for CTA employees to work/sell tickets during crowded times (like Bears games).

Does anyone have any clue about this?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder if that lot I'd owned by the owners of the Roosevelt hotel, and they built it. Looks very similar to some other work they did like the Duncan Donuts on 16th and Michigan...

Anonymous said...

Duncan Donuts no doubt.

TonyG said...

Anon @ 9:03am, That's not what Sloopin is talking about. He's referring to the small window that was cut into the wall of the station. (Maybe Sloopin could add an arrow to point it out?) It almost looks like a "Information" type window...

Brianbobcat said...

Isn't there an empty retail shop right behind that new "drive-up" window? This could be good news that another CTA retail space is being leased. Of course if this became a DD, imagine all the trash strewn about under the L and along Roosevelt from the riffraff.

Anonymous said...

Not to mention that there are already two other DD within short walking distance of this eL stop. Maybe it's an express parole office for people waiting for the 12 bus to check-in with their officers before hopping on through the back door of the 12 bus without paying?

Michael said...

It's going to be one of those little L station newsstand and sundry stores. It's called A&B.

Anonymous said...

I rarely use this stop, but everytime I have drive down Roosevelt, I still notice people jaywalking and actually stopped my car right in front of someone just to cause him some stress. Maybe we can build up the median a little higher to make someone re-think about the effort it will take to cross the street. Good idea?

Brianbobcat said...

A wrought iron fence like we see in front of seemingly every surface parking lot would also stop the jaywalkers. I'm guessing, and hoping, that the reason people still cross there is to get to the fare card vending machines in the station house. How come at auxiliary entrances there's never a vending machine there? Is the CTA afraid that someone will pry the thing open to get the money?

Anonymous said...

People jaywalk to get to the red line.

Anonymous said...

If jaywalking is such an issue then you should ask the police officers that are always at that stop why they do not ticket them.

Anonymous said...

Wait.. people still jaywalk to get to the red line? What was the point of the new entrance on the south side? Again, I have not taken this new entrance, so maybe I am missing something here?

Brianbobcat said...

Anon 7:32, the entrance is for the Green and Orange lines. Previously it was an exit only, now it's both an exit and entrance.

Anonymous said...

seriously what is wrong with you idiots? are you really discussing entrance/exit about a L stop online?

Get.A.Life

Mr Downtown said...

I believe what's under construction is a small retail building, owned by the same group that owns the Roosevelt Hotel. CTA has nothing to do with it.

Anonymous said...

My window looks down on the Roosevelt El stop, and if anything, jaywalking has increased since the opening of the new entrance across the road. Sadly, it's only a matter of time before there's an accident. I hope that's not what it takes before the problem is addressed with a fence.