The Chicago "L" is a rapid transit system that serves the city of Chicago and seven of its surrounding suburbs. The system is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). On an average weekday, 759,866 passengers ride the "L",[1] making it the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States, behind the New York City Subway.[2]
![Map depicting the geographic layout of the right rapid transit lines of the Chicago "L" system. All lines except the Yellow Line operate from the central business district (the Loop) in the following directions: north, northwest, west, southwest, and south. Lake Michigan is to the east. The Red Line travels north and south and makes connections with all of the other lines and passes through the Loop. The Brown Line follows a crooked path leading from the northwest to the Loop. It shares a portion of its route with the Red Line but terminates in the Loop. The Purple Line begins somewhat north of the Red Line and connects with it at the Red Line's northern terminus. Below this, the Purple line appears as a dashed route, indicating that service over this portion is only in operation during peak travel periods. The Purple Line then follows the Red Line south until it meets with the Brown Line. After that, it follows the Brown Line route to the Loop and terminates. The Blue Line begins in the far northwest section of the map and its route takes it southwest into the Loop before turning and heading due west from the Loop. The Green Line begins in the western portion of the map just above the straight east-west leg of the Blue Line and heads east into the Loop where it turns and heads south. At its southern end it splits into two short branches: one heads east and the other west. The Pink Line is beneath the east-west leg of the Blue Line and also travels east but then turns north, crosses the east-west leg of the Blue Line, and meets up with the east-west leg of the Green Line. It then follows the Green Line route to the Loop where it terminates. The Orange Line takes a crooked path northeast from the southwest portion of the city into the Loop where it terminates. The Yellow Line (the only line to not pass through the Loop) begins at the northern terminus of the Red Line and heads west. It then turns northwest and continues a short distance before terminating. In the lower left hand corner is a detail of the Loop area. The Loop Elevated is a rectangular section of track which the Brown, Purple, Green, Pink, and Orange Lines operate over. The Red and Blue Lines are depicted as passing beneath the other five lines, indicating that these pass through the area underground. The Brown and Purple enter from the northwest corner from the north. The Pink and western segment of the Green enter from the same corner, but from the west. The Orange and southern portion of the Green enter from the south at the southeastern corner. The Purple, Orange and Pink all make a rectangular circuit of the Loop traveling clockwise. The Brown Line makes the circuit traveling counterclockwise. The Green Line is the only line to traverse the loop without making a circuit. It enters from the west on the northern leg then continues south via the eastern leg.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Chicago_L_diagram_sb.svg/250px-Chicago_L_diagram_sb.svg.png)
The system began as three separate companies, which built lines traveling from Chicago's central business district to the south and the west. The first of these was the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad which opened on June 6, 1892.[3] The Lake Street Elevated Railroad opened the following year and the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad followed in 1895. Initially, the "L" lines operated independently of each other, but in 1897, they were combined into one physically unified system with the completion of the Union Loop and connecting trackage.[4] In 1900, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad entered operation,[5] finalizing the basic structure of the system: a hub and spoke distribution paradigm radiating north, west, and south from downtown Chicago. The system expanded outward from this with new branches or line extensions until 1930.
Due to the ruined financial state of the privately owned Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines, a public agency (the CTA) was created in 1947 to take over and save the rapid transit and streetcar systems.[6] Starting in 1948, the CTA began systematically shutting down many stations and lines that saw little use in order to improve service and reduce costs. Expansion resumed in September 1969 with the opening of a new line in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway and continued until October 31, 1993, with the opening of the Orange Line.[7] The newest line the Pink Line, which opened on June 25, 2006 was created by rerouting the Blue Line's Douglas branch into a separate service.[8]
As of August 2024[update], the system has 146 stations on eight lines operating on 224.1 miles (360.7 km) of track.[1] A total of 103 stations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and are accessible to passengers with disabilities.[9] The majority of "L" stations are named for the streets or intersections on which they are located; others are named for neighborhoods, suburbs, destinations, or a combination of these.[10] The newest station is Damen on the Green Line, which opened on August 5, 2024.[11]
Lines
editLine | Stations | Termini | Weekday ridership (as of July 2022)[12] |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | 33 | O'Hare (north, all other trains) Rosemont (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Jefferson Park (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Forest Park (south, all other trains) UIC-Halsted (south, select weekday rush hour trains)[13] |
66,838 |
Brown | 27 | Kimball (north) The Loop (south, all except nights) Belmont (south, late nights)[14] |
29,531 |
Green | 31 | Harlem/Lake (north) Cottage Grove (south via East 63rd branch) Ashland/63rd (south via Ashland branch) |
20,219 |
Orange | 16 | The Loop[15] Midway (south) |
15,129 |
Pink | 22 | 54th/Cermak (west) The Loop (east) |
9,834 |
Purple | 26 | Linden (north) Howard (south, shuttle service) The Loop (south, weekday rush hour express service) |
4,558 |
Red | 33 | Howard (north) 95th/Dan Ryan (south) |
98,148 |
Yellow | 3 | Dempster–Skokie (west) Howard (east) |
1,212 |
Stations
edit
|
Gallery
edit-
North/Clybourn is the only station on the Red Line's subway component with fare controls above ground
-
One of several stations built on ground level, Oakton–Skokie has head houses built at each end
-
The twin head houses of Conservatory–Central Park Drive date back to 1894
-
The Midway terminal features both an island platform and a side platform
-
The island platform at Jackson/Dearborn conforms to the same structure that all the subway platforms in the Loop have
-
Noyes, unlike most stations, has a platform that is only long enough for six cars instead of the usual eight
-
Pedestrian access to 63rd is from the bridge spanning the Dan Ryan expressway. Most stations built in highway medians on the Chicago "L" are reached in this way
-
Like many stations, Ashland/63rd is an elevated station. Accessibility is provided via an elevator to the station's platform
-
Argyle is one of several stations built on a concrete embankment
Planned stations
editStation | Lines | Transfers | Location | Planned opening | Structure | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
103rd | Red | — | Roseland/Washington Heights | 2030[75] | Elevated | Proposed |
111th | Red | — | Roseland | 2030[75] | Elevated | Proposed |
130th † | Red | — | Riverdale | 2030[75] | At-grade | Proposed |
Michigan | Red | — | West Pullman | 2030[75] | Elevated | Proposed |
Notes
edit- a On May 16, 1908, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad's rapid transit service replaced the service of the Milwaukee Road's Evanston branch north of Sheridan Park (Wilson Avenue).[33] Stations noted existed prior to the start of "L" service.[76]
- b Clark/Lake is listed twice because the elevated and subway sections opened as separate stations in 1895[44] and 1951,[36][37] respectively.
- c Forest Park existed as an interurban station on the Aurora Elgin and Chicago Railway prior to the start of "L" service. March 11, 1905, is the day the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad began operating over the tracks of the AE&C and "L" service began.[51]
References
edit- ^ a b "CTA Facts at a Glance". Chicago Transit Authority. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report: Fourth Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Running on the "L."". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 7, 1892. p. 9.
- ^ "Alley L on the Loop". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 18, 1897. p. 10.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Room for All to Ride". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 30, 1900. p. 12.
- ^ "City's Traction Lines Merged for New Eopch". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 1, 1947. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e f Washburn, Gary (October 31, 1993). "Midway 'L' Finally Ready to Roll – 13 Years Later, CTA Set to Open Southwest Side Line". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ "CTA's New Pink Line and Enhanced Blue Line Service to Start June 25" (Press release). Chicago Transit Authority. June 24, 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "Accessible transit". Chicago Transit Authority. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ Douglas, Gordon C. C. "Rail Transit Identification and Neighbourhood Identity: Exploring the Potential for Community Supportive Transit," Journal of Urban Design, 15(2):185.
- ^ a b "New CTA Green Line station opens near United Center ahead of DNC in Chicago". cbsnews.com. August 5, 2024. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ reports/2013-Annual.pdf "Annual Ridership Report: Calendar Year 2013" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority. September 8, 2015. p. 24. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ "Blue Line (Route info, alerts & schedules)". CTA. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Brown Line (Route info, alerts & schedules)". CTA. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Orange Line (Route info, alerts & schedules)". CTA. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "Douglas Park Branch Opened". Chicago Daily Tribune. April 28, 1896. p. 5.
- ^ a b c "More for a Nickel". Chicago Daily Tribune. August 16, 1892. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Buck, Thomas (September 28, 1969). "Ryan Rail Service Starts Today". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 22.
- ^ "Open to Fifty-First Street". Chicago Daily Tribune. August 28, 1892. p. 6.
- ^ "Union Loop Is Now in Use". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 9, 1896. p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f Buck, Thomas (January 31, 1970). "Kennedy Transit Line Dedicated". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g "New 'L' Line Operated". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 19, 1907. p. 11.
- ^ a b c "Boys Meddle with 'L' Track". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 7, 1900. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d e f "Evanston 'L' Line to Open Today". The Evanston Index. Evanston, Illinois. May 16, 1908. p. 1.
- ^ a b c "Crowds on Lake Street "L."". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 7, 1893. p. 8.
- ^ a b "Lake Street L Open". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 5, 1893. p. 14.
- ^ "Ashland Terminal to Open". Chicago Tribune. May 5, 1969. p. 3.
- ^ a b Washburn, Gary (October 5, 1993). "Midway 'L' Opens Oct. 31". Chicago Tribune. p. 2.
- ^ a b c "CTA to Open New Congress Right of Way". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 20, 1960. p. W3.
- ^ a b c "Congress CTA on Permanent Right of Way". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 20, 1960. p. 25.
- ^ a b "Austin Hails Five-Cent Fares". Chicago Daily Tribune. April 15, 1899. p. 5.
- ^ a b "More Trains on Alley 'L': Use Old Congress Station". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 9, 1902. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f "Loop Trains to Evanston Will Start on Saturday". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 12, 1908. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e "Evanston 'L' Trains Running". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 17, 1908. p. 20.
- ^ "Revise Douglas and Garfield 'L' Service Dec. 9". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 1, 1951. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Buck, Thomas (February 18, 1951). "1st Trains Run in New Subway Saturday Night". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Buck, Thomas (February 25, 1951). "New Subway to Northwest Side Opened". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shinnick, William (October 17, 1943). "Chicago Underground—A Subway at Last!". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. C1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "12,000 Ride CTA Congress Line on First Day". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 23, 1958. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Thompson, John H. (June 21, 1958). "Hail New Era of Transit in Congress Way". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Patronage of the 'L' Is Growing". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 7, 1894. p. 8.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 157. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ a b "Service on Lake Street 'L' Extension". Chicago Daily Tribune. September 20, 1895. p. 12.
- ^ a b c "Put in New Rails". Chicago Daily Tribune. September 23, 1895. p. 11.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 113. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ Hamill, Sean D. (June 28, 2001). "CTA gives its newest 'L' stop bit of past". Chicago Tribune. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Runs Trains to Madison Avenue". Chicago Daily Tribune. April 23, 1893. p. 2.
- ^ a b c Young, David; John C White (February 27, 1983). "First Link of O'Hare Line Opens". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ "New 'L' Road Opens". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 7, 1895. p. 12.
- ^ "15,000 Witness Official Opening of Niles Center 'L'". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 29, 1925. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Elgin to Fifth Avenue Trains Start Tomorrow". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 10, 1905. p. 8.
- ^ a b Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 214. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ "Buy Walking Shoes". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 11, 1892. p. 2.
- ^ "South Side Alley Elevated Road". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 13, 1892. p. 9.
- ^ "Alley 'L' Service Restored". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 24, 1906. p. 10.
- ^ Buck, Thomas (February 27, 1962). "'63 Is Lake St. 'L' Target Date". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ "CTA Says 'L' Relocation is a Big Success". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 30, 1962. p. 22.
- ^ Hilkevitch, Jon (June 18, 1997). "Library Going on CTA Line – New Rail Station to Bring Riders Right Next to Books". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Lawrence Avenue Transit-Oriented Development Study". Chicago Transit Authority. May 2018. pp. 5–6. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- ^ "Alley 'L' Trains Enter the Grounds". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 1, 1893. p. 2.
- ^ Poor, H.V.; Poor, H.W. (1898). Poor's Manual of the Railroads of the United States. p. 963.
- ^ a b "Union Loop Finally Opened to the Public". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 4, 1897. p. 1.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 235. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ "Night Raid Puts 'L' in Wilmette". Chicago Daily Tribune. April 3, 1912. p. 9.
- ^ "New 'L' Station Opened at Merchandise Mart". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 6, 1930. p. 26.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 63. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ Papajohn, George (September 4, 1984). "O'Hare's 'L' Service Gets Inaugural Cheer". Chicago Tribune. p. A1.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 264. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ "Increase in 'L' Traffic". Chicago Daily Tribune. April 5, 1903. p. 63.
- ^ "South Boulevard Station to Be Opened Today". The Evanston Review. July 1, 1931. p. 24.
- ^ "New 'L' Station Opened". Chicago Daily Tribune. February 15, 1915. p. 15.
- ^ "Futuristic Washington-Wabash 'L' Station Opens: 'This is the Gold Standard' – Downtown – Chicago – DNAinfo". Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ "Washington/Wells Elevated Loop Station: Environmental Assessment (EA)" (PDF). Chicago Department of Transportation and United States Department of Transportation. February 2014. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 130. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
- ^ a b c d "Promised More Than 50 Years Ago, the Red Line Extension (RLE) Project Moves Closer to Groundbreaking with Award of Construction Contract to Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners". CTA. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Moffat, Bruce (1995). The "L". Chicago, Illinois: Central Electric Railfans' Association. p. 210. ISBN 0-915348-30-6.
External links
edit- Media related to Chicago 'L' stations at Wikimedia Commons