Epstein is providing architectural design as well as civil, MEP and structural engineering services for Phase One of the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Lake Line Austin Station as part of the CTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP). ASAP is a dedicated planning effort to establish the first-ever blueprint for making the 42 remaining non-accessible rail stations vertically accessible over the next 20 years.
The scope of work includes ADA improvements to the station’s accessibility including the installation of a new elevator, sidewalk ramp, interior stationhouse ramp, an accessible customer agent kiosk, and staff toilet room. Additional site work, lighting, signage and communication upgrades are included our scope of work.
A new elevator shaft installed through the existing station house and platform is in close proximity to the existing track embankment. The structural solution provides a new shaft foundation that required micropile support and underpinning of the existing structure that had to be carefully coordinated around existing foundations and underground utilities. At the platform level, a new steel elevator enclosure and canopy was provided and tied into the existing remaining structures. The project also included expansion of the station house with new exterior ramps for accessibility and renovation of deteriorated concrete stairs leading to the platform level.
