Chicago's urban landscape witnessed a significant boost in its public transportation network with the grand opening of the new CTA Green Line station at Damen Avenue and Lake Street, a mere two weeks before the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Commuters and residents can now fully utilize the newly constructed Damen Green Line stop, which is expected to significantly ease the resultant traffic from the impending DNC festivities starting on Aug. 19, as reported by CBS News Chicago.

The completion of this transport hub, which cost approximately $80 million, aims to seamlessly intervene and fill a one-and-a-half-mile void that has long persisted between the Ashland and California stops on the Green Line. According to the Chicago Transit Authority, the stop that commenced operations at 4 a.m. boasts a "strikingly modern design" that promises full accessibility for people using mobility devices.

This urban transit milestone is the result of a long-winded journey of planning and execution stretching back seven years to the administration of former mayor Rahm Emanuel, with resolute perseverance seen through continuous delays caused by the pandemic and supply chain issues. "I am proud of our new Damen Station, as an equity center, infrastructure project that will ensure better transit service for those in this community who need us the most," CTA President Dorval Carter proudly mentioned, as per ABC7 Chicago.

Enthusiasm for the new station is palpable within the community, which eagerly awaited this infrastructural revitalization. "It's been a long time coming and it's exciting," said local resident Alan Vaughters, who conveyed to ABC7 Chicago the profound impact the station will to have on his daily commutes. The new station not only stands as a crucial mobility hub to support the influx of DNC participants but also acts as a stunning landmark that synthesizes functionality with aesthetic appeal, according to CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney.

The station, at its core, signals a resolute step toward bridging the accessibility divide within Chicago, re-invigorating a part of the city whose previous station had been shuttered 76 years ago. Mayor Brandon Johnson heralded the moment, expressing readiness to showcase Chicago's resolve to the world. "The DNC is just 12 days away," he announced, as stated by ABC7 Chicago. "We are ready to host the world in the greatest freaking city in the world, the city of Chicago."