CTA – Main

This station is a sad example of the decline of transportation infrastructure in the United States. While the exterior of this historic station is novel and appealing, the station itself is dirty, smelly, and extremely outdated. Some positives are the fact that you can easily purchase Ventra cards here and it is very safe and well lit. The crowd is generally upscale and reflective of the neighborhood. However, this station is in desperate need of an upgrade. It is an embarrassment.

It doesn’t have any of those digital train time update monitors, but what it does have are outdoor infrared heaters! That is a four star worthy of an amenity to have especially when it’s ridiculously cold outside!

It does have a digital monitor, not on the platform though. You can see it after passing through the turnstiles before you go upstairs. Once when I was in a rush to get to NU I went down and up the stairs at least twice to see how long I would have to stand on the platform.
My rating is 4 stars, because it is reasonably safe and perfectly satisfies my needs. Not 5 because it could be better, including the monitor thing. ;)