79-827: The Lake Street Elevated , also known as the Lake branch , is a 8.75 mi (14.08 km) long branch of the Chicago "L" which is located west of the Chicago Loop and serves the Green Line for its entire length, as well as the Pink Line east of Ashland Avenue. As of February 2013, the branch serves an average of 27,217 passengers each weekday. It serves the Near West Side , East Garfield Park , West Garfield Park , and Austin neighborhoods of Chicago , as well as
158-465: A plan for the Commercial Club of Chicago to unify the city's urban design and increase its physical beautification. The improvement of traffic flow in Chicago was a major part of the plan. Among its many recommendations was a double-decked roadway along the river, intended to relieve the congestion at River Street and Rush Street , where 50% of the city's north–south traffic crossed
237-586: A 54% increase in weekday riders since 1992. On the other hand, weekday ridership on the South Side portion of the Green Line, which closed for two years for reconstruction from January 1994 to May 1996, was 50,400 in 1978 but only 13,000 in 2006. Boardings at the 95th/Dan Ryan stop on the Red Line, though still among the system's busiest at 11,100 riders per weekday as of February 2015, are less than half
316-679: A flat fare of $ 2.50 for almost the entire system, the only exception being O'Hare International Airport on the Blue Line, at which passengers entering the station are charged a higher fare of $ 5.00 (passengers leaving the system at this station are not charged this higher fare). The higher fare is being charged for what the CTA considers "premium-level" service to O'Hare. Use of the Midway International Airport Station does not require this higher fare; it only requires
395-724: A new terminus opened at Harlem , replacing the station at Marion and the Forest Park terminus. Prior to the opening of the Loop elevated in 1897, the Lake Street Elevated's eastern terminus was the Market Street Terminal at Madison Street and Market Street. After the opening of the Loop in 1897, service continued to the Market Street stub, which had a stop at Randolph & Market in addition to
474-569: A pivotal role in the development of the London Underground , and who was immortalized by Theodore Dreiser as the ruthless schemer Frank Cowperwood in The Titan (1914) and other novels. Yerkes, who controlled much of the city's streetcar system, obtained the necessary signatures through cash and guile—at one point he secured a franchise to build a mile-long "L" over Van Buren Street from Wabash Avenue to Halsted Street, extracting
553-639: A publisher's editor in New York or some other east coast city; in Chicago the same expression is routinely rendered 'L'." As used by CTA, the name is rendered as the capital letter 'L', in single quotation marks. "L" (with double quotation marks) was often used by CTA predecessors such as the Chicago Rapid Transit Company; however, the CTA uses single quotation marks (') on some printed materials and signs rather than double. In Chicago,
632-447: A secondary purpose of serving as bomb shelters, as evidenced by the close spacing of the support columns (a more extensive plan proposed replacing the entire elevated system with subways). The subways bypassed a number of tight curves and circuitous routings on the original elevated lines (Milwaukee trains, for example, originated on Chicago's northwest side but entered the Loop at the southwest corner), speeding service for many riders. By
711-474: A station reconstruction project to accommodate longer trains. Annual traffic on the Howard branch of the Red Line, which reached 38.7 million in 2010 and 40.9 million in 2011, has exceeded the 1927 prewar peak of 38.5 million. The section of the Blue Line between the Loop and Logan Square , which serves once-neglected but now bustling neighborhoods such as Wicker Park , Bucktown , and Palmer Square , has seen
790-539: A third. By the 1950s, the service was used throughout the system. All lines used the A/B skip-stop service between the 1950s and the 1990s with the exception of the Evanston and Skokie lines, which were suburban-only lines and did not justify skip-stop service. On the lines with branches, skip-stop service sent all "A" trains to one branch and "B" trains to another branch. On what became the Blue Line, "A" trains were routed on
869-477: Is ADA-accessible, with an elevator on either side of the tracks. The station will also have bike storage. The new Morgan station officially opened on May 18, 2012, and grand opening ceremonies were held on May 24. The new $ 60 million Damen station filled a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) distance between the California and Ashland stations. A design for the new station was released on July 9, 2018, groundbreaking of
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#1732772495762948-621: Is a continuation of the Revive Wacker Drive project started in 2001. Wacker is the only street to intersect both State Street (the east–west center line) and Madison Street (the north–south center line), although Lake Shore Drive and LaSalle Street/Drive also each cross both dividing lines. In April 2014, The American Council of Engineering Companies awarded the Wacker Drive and Congress Parkway Reconstruction project its Grand Conceptor Award. The project team
1027-548: Is currently focused on eliminating slow zones, modernizing the Red, Blue, and Purple lines, and improving "L" stations. In addition, CTA has studied numerous other proposals for expanded rail service and renovations, some of which may be implemented in the future. During the 2000s and 2010s, the CTA has completed several renovation and new construction projects. Pink Line service began on June 25, 2006, though it did not include any new tracks or stations. The Pink Line travels over what
1106-472: Is prefixed with all four cardinal directions, albeit on different parts of its route. The drive is named for early 20th century Chicago businessman and city planner Charles H. Wacker . The upper level is normally known as Upper Wacker Drive and the lower level is Lower Wacker Drive . A short part has a third level, sometimes called Lower Lower Wacker Drive or Sub Lower Wacker Drive . In 1909, architects Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett drew up
1185-618: The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad , Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad , and South Shore interurban lines, and ran the trains of the first two into downtown Chicago via the "L" tracks. This period of relative prosperity ended when Insull's empire collapsed in 1932, but later in the decade the city with the help of the federal government accumulated sufficient funds to begin construction of two subway lines to supplement and, some hoped, permit eventual replacement of
1264-585: The Chicago River . Charles H. Wacker , chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission , pushed the idea. The original double-decker road, replacing South Water and River Streets, was completed in 1926 at a cost of $ 8 million and named after Charles Wacker . The 1926 section stretched from Lake Street to Michigan Avenue , the latter of which was also rebuilt into a two-level road. An extension south to Congress Parkway and Harrison Street
1343-745: The Green Line , the Purple Line and the Douglas branch of the Blue Line (the modern-day Pink Line ) also had 24 hour service. In the years of private ownership, the South Side Elevated Railroad (now the South Side Elevated portion of the Green Line) provided 24 hour service, a major advantage when compared to Chicago's cable railroads which required daily overnight shutdown for cable maintenance. In 2015,
1422-455: The Loop . The vast majority of the street is double-decked ; the upper level is intended for local traffic, and the lower level for through-traffic and trucks serving buildings on the road (and originally a dock ). It is sometimes cited as a precursor to the freeway , though when it was built, the idea was that pleasure vehicles would use the upper level. It is the only street in the city that
1501-529: The Museum of Science and Industry . The first "L", the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad , began revenue service on June 6, 1892, when a steam locomotive pulling four wooden coaches, carrying more than a couple of dozen people, departed the 39th Street station and arrived at the Congress Street Terminal 14 minutes later, over tracks that are still in use by the Green Line. Over
1580-404: The "L" had 1,480 rail cars operating across eight different routes on 224.1 miles of track. CTA trains make about 1,888 trips each day servicing 146 train stations. In 2023, the system had 117,447,000 rides, or about 416,200 per weekday in the third quarter of 2024. The "L" provides 24-hour service on the Red and Blue Lines, making Chicago, New York City, and Copenhagen the only three cities in
1659-421: The "L", the CTA introduced A/B skip-stop service. Under this service, trains were designated as either "A" or "B" trains, and stations were alternately designated as "A" stations or "B" stations, with heavily used stations designated as both – "AB". "A" trains would stop only at "A" and "AB" stations, and "B" trains would stop only at "B" and "AB" stations. Station signage carried the station's skip-stop letter and
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#17327724957621738-611: The $ 2.50 regular fare. The higher charge at O'Hare has been the source of some controversy in recent years, because of the CTA's plan to eliminate the exemption from the premium fare for airport workers, Transportation Security Administration workers, and airline workers. After protests from those groups, the CTA extended the exemptions for six months. Since 1993, "L" lines have been officially identified by color, although older route names survive to some extent in CTA publications and popular usage to distinguish branches of longer lines. Stations are found throughout Chicago, as well as in
1817-551: The 1940s, the financial condition of the "L", and of Chicago mass transit in general, had become too precarious to permit continued operation without subsidies, and the necessary steps were taken to enable a public takeover. In 1947, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) acquired the assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines , operator of the city's streetcars. Over
1896-489: The 1990s, use of the A/B skip-stop system was only used during rush hour service. Another problem was that trains skipping stations to save time still could not pass the train that was directly ahead, so skipping stations was not advantageous in all regards. In 1993, the CTA began to eliminate skip-stop service when it switched the southern branches of the West-South and North-South Lines to improve rider efficiency, creating
1975-452: The 3200-series and 5000-series. The design and arrangement of seats were modified to improve ergonomics and increase leg room. Enhanced air conditioning will circulate air more efficiently during hot summer days. Laser sensors above the doors will count the number of passengers, allowing the CTA to track passenger volumes and change its schedules accordingly. State-owned manufacturer CRRC Sifang America (China Rail Rolling Stock Corporation) won
2054-458: The 7000-series cars commenced in June 2019. This is the first time in more than 50 years CTA rail cars are manufactured in Chicago. Ten cars in the 7000-series began testing revenue service on April 21, 2021. The base order is for 400 cars and will be used to replace the 2600-series cars. If the CTA ordered the additional 446 cars, they would also replace the 3200-series cars. In May 2023,
2133-580: The Brown Line in April 2008. The project was completed in December 2009, on time and on budget, with only minor punch list work remaining. The project's total cost was expected to be around $ 530 million. Wacker Drive Wacker Drive is a major multilevel street in Chicago , Illinois, running along the south side of the main branch and the east side of the south branch of the Chicago River in
2212-490: The CTA announced it has received $ 200 million funding from the Federal Transit Authority; this money will go towards the development of the 9000-series rail cars. The plan is to acquire up to 300 new train sets. Chicago's rapid-transit system is officially nicknamed the "L". This name for the CTA rail system applies to the whole system: its elevated, subway, at-grade, and open-cut segments. The use of
2291-464: The CTA introduced a new fare payment system called Ventra . Ventra enables passengers to purchase individual tickets, passes, or transit value online, by smart phone, or at participating retail locations. Ventra also works with CTA buses, Pace (suburban buses), and Metra (commuter rail). Payment by a smartphone app, the Ventra app, or by a contactless bankcard is possible. As of 2018 , the "L" uses
2370-573: The Chicago Edison electric utility (now Commonwealth Edison ), whose interest stemmed initially from the fact that the trains were the city's largest consumer of electricity. Insull instituted many improvements, including free transfers and through routing, although he did not formally combine the original firms into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company until 1924. He also bought three other Chicago electrified railroads,
2449-705: The Congress branch while "B" trains were sent to the Douglas branch. On the North-South Line, "A" trains went to the Englewood branch and "B" trains went to the Jackson Park branch. In both cases, individual stops were not skipped beyond the points where those branches diverged. As time went by, the time periods which employed skip-stop service gradually decreased, as the waits at "A" and "B" stations became increasingly longer during non-peak service. By
Lake Street Elevated - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-638: The Dan Ryan branch, which was instead paired with the North Side Main Line via the State Street subway using a new connection. On January 9, 1994, the Lake Street Elevated and the entire Green Line closed for two years for a rehabilitation project. When the line reopened on May 12, 1996, most stations were rebuilt and equipped with elevators in order to make them ADA compliant, and six stations were permanently closed. On April 26, 1998,
2607-577: The Forest Park branch opened, the Paulina connector saw very little if any revenue service, but was kept as it was the only track connection (albeit largely reduced to one track) between what would later be known as the West-Northwest route (now the Blue line ) and the rest of the system. Chicago %22L%22 The Chicago " L " (short for " elevated ") is the rapid transit system serving
2686-699: The Green, Purple , and Brown lines lost their 24-hour service. In 2006, the CTA introduced the Pink Line routing, which runs trains from the Cermak branch to the Loop via the Paulina Connector and the Lake Street Elevated east of Paulina Street. This routing was previously used from 1954 to 1958 while the Forest Park branch was under construction to replace the Garfield Park branch . Once
2765-638: The Loop elevated; as early as the 1920s some city leaders wanted to replace the "ugly" elevated tracks and these plans advanced in the 1970s under mayors Richard J. Daley and Michael Bilandic until a public outcry against tearing down the popular "L" began, led by Chicago Tribune columnist Paul Gapp , and architect Harry Weese . Instead, then new Mayor Jane Byrne protected the elevated lines and directed their rehabilitation. The State Street subway opened on October 17, 1943. The Dearborn Subway, on which work had been suspended during World War II , opened on February 25, 1951. The subways were constructed with
2844-607: The Milwaukee elevated into the Kennedy Expressway in 1970. As of 2014, Chicago "L" trains run over a total of 224.1 miles (360.7 km) of track. Ridership has been growing steadily after the CTA takeover despite declining mass transit usage nationwide, with an average of 594,000 riders boarding each weekday in 1960 and 759,866 in 2016 (or 47% of all CTA rides). Due to the Loop Flood in April 1992, ridership
2923-505: The Red Line Dan Ryan branch reconstruction. The Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project enabled CTA to run eight-car trains on the Brown Line, and rebuilt stations to modern standards, including accessibility. Before the project, Brown Line platforms could only accommodate six-car trains, and increasing ridership led to uncomfortably crowded trains. After several years of construction, eight-car trains began to run at rush hour on
3002-596: The West-South Route, via the north and east legs of the Loop , the South Side Elevated , and the connection along 18th Street. This operation lasted for 24 years. On February 21, 1993, as part of the opening of the Orange Line , the CTA began to differentiate the "L" lines by colors, and the present day Green Line routing was introduced, effectively swapping the full South Side Elevated with
3081-716: The city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs in the U.S. state of Illinois . Operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), it is the fourth-largest rapid transit system in the United States in terms of total route length, at 102.8 miles (165.4 km) long as of 2014, and the third-busiest rapid transit system in the United States after the New York City Subway and the Washington Metro . As of January 2024,
3160-466: The completion of the order of the 2600-series cars, Budd changed its name to Transit America and ceased production of railcars. With 509 cars in operation, the 2600-series is the largest of the three series of "L" cars in operation. The cars were rebuilt by Alstom of Hornell, New York , from 1999 until 2002. The 3200-series , was built from 1992 until 1994 by Morrison-Knudsen of Hornell, New York. These cars have fluted, stainless steel sides similar to
3239-543: The contract, besting the other major competitor, Bombardier from Canada by $ 226 million. Concerns have been raised over possible malware, cyber attacks, and mass surveillance by the Chinese government. The computer and software components and the automatic train control system will be made by U.S. and Canadian firms. The cars are being built at a new CRRC Sifang America rail car manufacturing plant at 13535 South Torrence Avenue in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. Production of
Lake Street Elevated - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-413: The conversion of the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line and the Howard branch of the Red Line to all-stop service. The removal of skip-stop service resulted in some increases in travel times, and greatly increased ridership at former "A" and "B" stations due to increased train frequencies. Station signage highlighting the former skip-stop patterns would remain into the 2000s, when it was gradually replaced across
3397-402: The current Red and Green Lines. From this point, Green Line trains made all stops along the entire route, while Red Line trains stopped at all stations south of Harrison . The elimination of A/B skip-stop service continued with the opening of the all-stop Orange Line and the conversion of the Brown Line to all-stop service. In April 1995, the last of the A/B skip-stop system was eliminated with
3476-404: The drive more pedestrian-friendly, while restoration of historic limestone elements and reproduction lighting evoked the drive's original 1926 appearance. The 20-month, $ 200-million project was completed on time and within budget. In spring of 2010, work commenced on rebuilding the north–south section of Wacker, from Randolph Street to Congress Parkway, including the upper and lower levels. This
3555-415: The growth of Chicago's dense city core that is one of the city's distinguishing features. And according to urban engineer Christof Speiler, the system stands out in the United States because it continued to invest in services even through the post-World-War era growth of the expressway ; its general use of alleyways instead of streets throughout its history, and expressway mediums after the war, better knit
3634-628: The highest level since the station opened in 1969. The 2003 Chicago Central Area Plan proposed construction of a Green Line station at Cermak , between Chinatown and the McCormick Place convention center, in expectation of continued density growth in the vicinity. This station opened in 2015. Currently, the Red Line and the Blue Line provide 24-hour service, while all other lines operate from early morning to late night. Prior to 1998,
3713-624: The line opened. In discussing various stylings of "Loop" and "L" in Destination Loop: The Story of Rapid Transit Railroading in and around Chicago (1982), author Brian J. Cudahy quotes a passage from The Neon Wilderness (1947) by Chicago author Nelson Algren : "beneath the curved steel of the El, beneath the endless ties." Cudahy then comments, "Note that in the quotation above ... it says 'El' to mean 'elevated rapid transit railroad.' We trust that this usage can be ascribed to
3792-431: The line was extended to Homan Avenue . In March 1894, service on the line was extended to 48th Avenue (now known as Cicero Avenue ) and on April 29, 1894, service was extended to 52nd Avenue (now known as Laramie Avenue), which at the time was the city limits of Chicago. When the completed Loop opened October 3, 1897, the Lake Street Elevated became the first line to utilize the entire quadrangle. In 1898, an agreement
3871-708: The new station began in August 2022, and was completed and opened on August 5, 2024. Until 1969, the Lake Branch was an independent branch line providing service in one direction only, like the Ravenswood and Evanston Express Lines: from the Loop to the West Side, Oak Park, and Forest Park. On September 28, 1969, it was paired with the newly opened Dan Ryan branch to form the Lake–Dan Ryan Line, also called
3950-583: The next few years CTA modernized the "L", replacing wooden cars with new steel ones and closing lightly used branch lines and stations , many of which had been spaced only a quarter-mile apart. The CTA introduced fare cards for the first time in 1997. Rail service to the O'Hare International Airport first opened in 1984 and to the Midway International Airport in 1993. That same year, the CTA renamed all of its rail lines; they are now identified by color. Later, after assuming control of
4029-783: The next year, service was extended to 63rd Street and Stony Island Avenue , then the Transportation Building of the World's Columbian Exposition in Jackson Park . In 1893, trains began running on the Lake Street Elevated Railroad and in 1895 on the Metropolitan West Side Elevated , which had lines to Douglas Park, Garfield Park (since replaced), Humboldt Park (since demolished), and Logan Square. The Metropolitan
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#17327724957624108-404: The nickname dates from the earliest days of the elevated railroads. Newspapers of the late 1880s referred to proposed elevated railroads in Chicago as " 'L' roads." The first route to be constructed, the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad gained the nickname "Alley Elevated", or "Alley L" during its planning and construction, a term that was widely used by 1893, less than a year after
4187-551: The now-retired 2200-series . The 5000-series train cars are equipped with AC propulsion; interior security cameras; aisle-facing seating, which allow for greater passenger capacity; LED destination signs, interior readouts, and interior maps; GPS; glow-in-the-dark evacuation signs; operator-controlled ventilation systems; among other features. AC propulsion allows for smoother acceleration, lower operational costs, less wear and tear, and greater energy efficiency. The AC propulsion can take advantage of regenerative braking , meaning
4266-505: The peak volume in the 1980s. In 1976, three North Side "L" branches – what were then known as the Howard, Milwaukee, and Ravenswood lines − accounted for 42% of non-downtown boardings. Today (with the help of the Blue Line extension to O'Hare), they account for 58%. The North Side, which has historically been the highest density area of the city, reflects the Chicago building boom between 2000 and 2010, which has focused primarily on North Side neighborhoods and downtown. It may ease somewhat in
4345-559: The rapid transit system's convenience. Operation on the Yerkes-owned Northwestern Elevated , which built the North Side "L" lines, began three years later, essentially completing the elevated infrastructure in the urban core although extensions and branches continued to be constructed in outlying areas through the 1920s. After 1911, the "L" lines came under the control of Samuel Insull , president of
4424-407: The requisite majority from the pliable owners on the western half of the route, then building tracks chiefly over the eastern half, where property owners had opposed him. Designed by noted bridge builder John Alexander Low Waddell , the elevated tracks used a multiple close-rivet system to withstand the forces of the passing trains' kinetic energy. The Union Loop opened in 1897 and greatly increased
4503-456: The suburbs Oak Park and Forest Park . It owes its name to Lake Street , the street that the branch overlooks for 6.25 mi (10.06 km) before continuing its route straight west, adjacent to South Boulevard, towards the terminus at Harlem/Lake . The Lake Street Elevated began regular passenger service on November 6, 1893, from its eastern terminal at Madison Street and Market Street to California Avenue . On November 24, 1893, service on
4582-502: The suburbs of Forest Park , Oak Park , Evanston , Wilmette , Cicero , Rosemont , and Skokie . The CTA operates over 1,350 "L" cars, divided among four series, all of which are semi-permanently coupled into married pairs. All cars on the system utilize 600- volt direct current power delivered through a third rail . The 2600-series was built from 1981 until 1987 by the Budd Company of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania. After
4661-560: The system due to deteriorated track, structure, and other problems. By October 2008, system-wide slow zones had been reduced to 9.1% and by January 2010, total slow zones were reduced to 6.3%. CTA's Slow Zone Elimination Project is an ongoing effort to restore track work to conditions where trains no longer have to reduce speeds through deteriorating areas. The Loop received track work in 2012–2013. The Purple Line in Evanston received track work and viaduct replacement in 2011–2013. The Green Line Ashland branch received track work in 2013, prior to
4740-600: The system into the city, and in pioneering ways. It consists of eight rapid transit lines laid out in a spoke–hub distribution paradigm focusing transit towards the Loop . In a 2005 poll, Chicago Tribune readers voted it one of the "seven wonders of Chicago", behind the lakefront and Wrigley Field , and ahead of Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), the Water Tower , the University of Chicago , and
4819-481: The system. The first air-conditioned cars were introduced in 1964. The last pre–World War II cars were retired in 1973. New lines were built in expressway medians, a technique implemented in Chicago and followed by other cities worldwide. The Congress branch, built in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway, replaced the Garfield Park "L" in 1958. The Dan Ryan branch, built in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway, opened on September 28, 1969, followed by an extension of
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#17327724957624898-419: The term "subway" only applies to the State Street and Milwaukee–Dearborn subways and is not applied to the entire system as a whole, as in New York City where both the elevated and underground portions make up the New York City Subway . Like other large and aging rapid transit systems, the Chicago "L" faces problems of delays, breakdowns, and a multi-billion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance. The CTA
4977-457: The terminal at Madison & Market. Service to the Market Street stub ended on April 4, 1948, as the CTA implemented its new A/B skip-stop service. The Market Street stub was demolished soon after to make way for construction of Wacker Drive . Construction of the new Morgan station began in Summer 2010. TranSystems led the design team, in conjunction with Ross Barney Architects. Like most currently active Green Line and Pink Line stations, Morgan
5056-402: The train returns excess energy to the third rail as it slows down. With the DC propulsion of the previous series, they utilize dynamic braking which converts the excess kinetic energy into heat within a resistor bank. Next-generation train cars, the 7000-series , have been ordered and are beginning to enter service. Each 7000-series rail car will feature LEDs, 37 to 38 seats, and is a hybrid of
5135-402: The wake of the current high level of residential construction along the south lakefront. For example, ridership at the linked Roosevelt stops on the Green, Orange, and Red Lines, which serve the burgeoning South Loop neighborhood, has tripled since 1992, with an average of 8,000 boardings per weekday. Patronage at the Cermak- Chinatown stop on the Red Line, with 4,000 weekday boardings, is at
5214-496: The world to offer 24-hour train service on some of their lines throughout their respective city limits. The oldest sections of the Chicago "L" started operations in 1892, making it the second-oldest rapid transit system in the Americas, after New York City's elevated lines . The "L" gained its name from "el" because large parts of the system run on elevated track. Portions of the network are in subway tunnels, at grade level, or in open cuts. The "L" has been credited for fostering
5293-468: The world's rapid transit systems. A drawback of early "L" service was that none of the lines entered the central business district. Instead trains dropped passengers at stub terminals on the periphery due to a state law at the time requiring approval by neighboring property owners for tracks built over public streets, something not easily obtained downtown. This obstacle was overcome by the legendary traction magnate Charles Tyson Yerkes , who went on to play
5372-417: Was also color-coded by skip-stop type; "A" stations had red signage, "B" stations had green signage, and "AB" stations had blue signage. The system was designed to speed up lines by having trains skip stations while still allowing for frequent service at the heavily used "AB" stations. A/B skip-stop service debuted on the Lake Street Elevated in 1948, and the service proved effective as travel times were cut by
5451-448: Was at 418,000 that year because CTA was forced to suspend operation for several weeks in both the State and Dearborn subways, used by the most heavily traveled lines. Growing ridership has not been uniformly distributed. Use of North Side lines is heavy and continues to grow, while that of West Side and South Side lines tend to remain stable. Ridership on the North Side Brown Line, for instance, has increased 83% since 1979, necessitating
5530-435: Was built between 1948 and 1954, replacing Market Street (after the Market Street stub of the Lake Street Elevated was removed). Extensions east were built in 1963 and 1975, with the latter taking it to Lake Shore Drive , and a new lower level starting at Stetson Avenue. At the time, Lake Shore Drive had an S-curve at the river, running where Wacker now goes between Field Boulevard and current Lake Shore Drive. This S-curve
5609-410: Was demolished to make way for the Eisenhower Expressway. The new route, which serves 22 stations, offered more frequent service for riders on both the Congress and Douglas branches. Pink Line trains could be scheduled independently of Blue Line trains, and ran more frequently than the Douglas branch of the Blue Line did. In late 2007, trains were forced to operate at reduced speed over more than 22% of
5688-549: Was extended to Wisconsin Avenue (later called Marion), and C&GW service was abandoned. On May 20, 1910, service was extended to its terminal approximately two blocks west of Harlem Avenue in Forest Park . In April 1948, the Lake Street Elevated was the first line of the 'L' system to use the Skip-Stop A/B service. Upon the implementation of Skip-Stop A/B service ten stations on the Lake Street Elevated were closed, as
5767-634: Was formerly a branch of the Blue Line from the 54th/Cermak terminal in Cicero to the Polk station in Chicago. Pink Line trains then proceed via the Paulina Connector to the Lake Street branch of the Green Line and then clockwise around the Loop elevated via Lake-Wabash-Van Buren-Wells. Douglas trains used the same route between April 4, 1954, and June 22, 1958, after the old Garfield Park "L" line
5846-425: Was led by TranSystems and included roadway, bridge and tunnel improvement work. The project involved complex staging to keep 135,000 vehicles and 150,000 pedestrians moving through the construction zone each day. The following streets intersect Upper Wacker Drive, from south to north and west to east. Most upper-level streets that end at Wacker Drive, with only right turns allowed, are not included. The entire route
5925-529: Was on a viaduct over the Illinois Central Railroad 's rail yard , and was at the level of Upper Wacker; the middle and lower levels dead-ended at that point. The current alignment of Lake Shore Drive was finished in 1986, and in 1987 Middle Wacker was extended to meet the new alignment. The ramps to bring upper traffic down had already been built; upper has been dead-ended where it used to end at Lake Shore Drive. In 2001–2002, Wacker Drive
6004-589: Was reached with Cicero Township to extend the Lake Street Elevated beyond the Chicago city limits into what at the time was Cicero Township. This agreement allowed for the extension of the Lake Street Elevated along South Boulevard, as well as the creation of the Randolph Street Branch and Cuyler Avenue Shuttle . The Randolph and Cuyler branches were part of trackage rights given by the Chicago, Harlem & Batavia Railway , its trains continued east to Grand Central Station . On January 25, 1901, service
6083-419: Was redesigned and reconstructed between Michigan Avenue and Lake Street. The original upper deck was crumbling, and the entire roadway did not meet modern standards for road widths and clearances. Using a specially-developed post-tensioned , reinforced , high-performance concrete cast-in-place system, the new road deck was expected to have a lifespan of 75–100 years. Walkways along the river were meant to make
6162-577: Was the Market Street Stub, and all trains were routed through the Loop . This new system decreased the travel time of 24–35 minutes, which was considered by the CTA and its users to be a great success. In 1962, 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of ground level tracks in Chicago's Austin neighborhood and Oak Park, Illinois were replaced by elevated tracks which run on Chicago & North Western Railroad 's track embankment. New stations were built at Central , Austin , Ridgeland and Oak Park . and
6241-534: Was the United States' first non-exhibition rapid transit system powered by electric traction motors , a technology whose practicality had been demonstrated in 1890 on the "intramural railway" at the World Fair that had been held in Chicago. Two years later the South Side "L" introduced multiple-unit control , in which the operator can control all the motorized cars in a train, not just the lead unit. Electrification and MU control remain standard features of most of
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