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Chicago (CTA Brown Line)
Encyclopedia
Chicago is an elevated station
on the Chicago Transit Authority
's 'L' system
, located in the Near North Side
at 300 W Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois (directional coordinates 800 north, 300 west). The station was established in 1900 as part of the original series of stations on the Northwestern Elevated
. There is a high density of art galleries and several schools in the vicinity of the station, including the Moody Bible Institute
.
Chicago primarily serves the Brown Line
but Purple Line Express
trains also stop there during weekday rush hours.
s were staircases which led up to the two long side platforms. The Chicago platforms were unusually long, starting just north of Chicago Avenue and curving along the track before straightening out just south of Chicago Avenue. Early in the station's history, it not only served 'L' trains but North Shore Line
interurban
s as well, requiring longer platforms which could berth more than one train at a time. The number of tracks also decreased from four to two just north of Chicago, meaning the two track, two side platform station had to provide the same capacity as a four track, two island platform station like Belmont
or Fullerton
. In the decades prior to the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project, the northern, curved parts of the platforms were blocked off to passenger use; trains stopped south of Chicago Avenue along the straighter portion of the track which was long enough for eight-car trains. There were exit-only turnstiles to Superior Street on the south end of both platforms, along with an auxiliary exit to the south side of Chicago Avenue on the southbound platform.
The Chicago station received major renovations under the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project. Dual station houses were constructed above street level on the south side of Chicago Avenue alongside each platform. The original, historic station house will be restored and used for support systems. The exits to Superior Street have been rebuilt and reconfigured: each exit now has multiple entrance/exit turnstiles and wider staircases leading down to Superior Street. The canopies were refurbished and moved south, over the operational part of the platform. Additionally, with the installation of elevators at each station house, the station is now ADA compliant.
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
's 'L' system
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
, located in the Near North Side
Near North Side, Chicago
The Near North Side is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located north and east of the Chicago River, just north of the central business district . To its east is Lake Michigan and its northern boundary is the 19th-century city limit of Chicago,...
at 300 W Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois (directional coordinates 800 north, 300 west). The station was established in 1900 as part of the original series of stations on the Northwestern Elevated
Northwestern Elevated Railroad
The Northwestern Elevated Railroad was the last of the privately constructed rapid transit lines to be built in Chicago, Illinois. The line ran from the Loop in downtown Chicago north to Wilson Avenue in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood a with branch to Ravenswood and Albany Park that left the main...
. There is a high density of art galleries and several schools in the vicinity of the station, including the Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
.
Chicago primarily serves the Brown Line
Brown Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Brown Line starts out in northwest Chicago, at the Kimball and Lawrence Avenue terminal in Albany Park, where there is a storage yard and servicing shop for the trains to the east of the passenger station...
but Purple Line Express
Purple Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Purple Line of the Chicago Transit Authority is a branch line on the northernmost section of the Chicago 'L' rapid transit network. Normally, it extends south from the Wilmette terminal at Linden Avenue, passing through Evanston to Howard Street, on Chicago's northern city limits...
trains also stop there during weekday rush hours.
Station layout
The original station house was on the north side of Chicago Avenue. Beyond the turnstileTurnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
s were staircases which led up to the two long side platforms. The Chicago platforms were unusually long, starting just north of Chicago Avenue and curving along the track before straightening out just south of Chicago Avenue. Early in the station's history, it not only served 'L' trains but North Shore Line
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad
The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad line that operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until its abandonment in 1963.- Early history :...
interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
s as well, requiring longer platforms which could berth more than one train at a time. The number of tracks also decreased from four to two just north of Chicago, meaning the two track, two side platform station had to provide the same capacity as a four track, two island platform station like Belmont
Belmont (CTA Brown Line)
Belmont is an 'L' station serving the Chicago Transit Authority's Red and Brown lines, and also the Purple Line Express during weekday rush hours. It is located at 945 West Belmont Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago...
or Fullerton
Fullerton (CTA)
Fullerton is an 'L' station on the Chicago Transit Authority's Brown and Red Lines. Purple Line express trains also stop at the station during weekday rush hours. It is an elevated station with two island platforms, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. Brown and Purple...
. In the decades prior to the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project, the northern, curved parts of the platforms were blocked off to passenger use; trains stopped south of Chicago Avenue along the straighter portion of the track which was long enough for eight-car trains. There were exit-only turnstiles to Superior Street on the south end of both platforms, along with an auxiliary exit to the south side of Chicago Avenue on the southbound platform.
The Chicago station received major renovations under the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project. Dual station houses were constructed above street level on the south side of Chicago Avenue alongside each platform. The original, historic station house will be restored and used for support systems. The exits to Superior Street have been rebuilt and reconfigured: each exit now has multiple entrance/exit turnstiles and wider staircases leading down to Superior Street. The canopies were refurbished and moved south, over the operational part of the platform. Additionally, with the installation of elevators at each station house, the station is now ADA compliant.
Bus connections
CTA-
#11 Lincoln/Sedgwick -
#66 Chicago (Owl Service)