South Side main line (CTA)

South Side main line

Overview
Type Rapid transit
System Chicago "L"
Status Operational
Locale Chicago, Illinois, United States
Termini Roosevelt
Garfield
Stations 8
Services
Daily ridership 12,509
(average weekday Feb. 2013)
Operation
Opened June 6, 1892
Operator(s) Chicago Transit Authority (1947present)
Chicago Rapid Transit Company (19241947)
South Side Elevated Railroad (18921924)
Character Elevated
Rolling stock 5000-series
Technical
Line length 6.5 mi (10.5 km)
Track gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification Third rail, 600 V DC
Route map

The South Side main line, also known as the South Side Elevated, is a branch in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as part of the Chicago "L" system. It is an active branch that is only served by the Green Line, with the exception of Roosevelt, which is also served by the Orange Line. It has on average 12,509 passengers, counting branch divisions, boarding each weekday as of February 2013, according to the CTA.[1] The branch is 6.5 miles (10.5 km)[2] long with a total of 8 stations (11 counting the Englewood–Jackson Park branches), and runs from the Loop (Van Buren Street) to the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago. The branch runs from 3:50 a.m. to 1:05 a.m. on weekdays, 4:50 a.m. to 1:05 a.m. on Saturdays and 4:50 a.m. to 1:05 a.m. on Sundays/Holidays.

Route

The South Side Elevated serves the Near South Side, Douglas, Bronzeville, Grand Boulevard, and Washington Park neighborhoods of Chicago and has stops near the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.

The South Side Elevated continues to the Englewood branch (Ashland/63rd) and the Jackson Park branch (Cottage Grove).

History

The South Side elevated started passenger service on June 6, 1892, with service as far south as 39th Street (Pershing Road), making the branch the oldest section of the Chicago 'L'. On January 22, 1893, service on the line was extended as far south as 61st Street. The Jackson Park branch was added later in 1893 to serve the site of the 1893 World's Fair. Several other lines were grafted in over time to serve parts of the city, though most have since been demolished. The Englewood branch was opened in 1905, followed by the Kenwood and Normal Park branches in 1907, and the Stock Yards branch in 1908. Today, only the Englewood and Jackson Park branches remain.

In 1993, the Green Line was created when the CTA color-coded the lines. In 1994, the 58th Street station closed while remaining stations were renovated or rebuilt entirely depending on their condition. In 2012, the platform of the 58th street station was completely demolished. In 2015, a new Cermak–McCormick Place Station was built in the same location as the original Cermak Station, to serve the McCormick Place convention center.[3][4][5]

Station listing

South Side Elevated
Station Location Points of interest and notes
Congress Terminal 550 S. Holden Court Closed October 18, 1897, reopened March 10, 1902. Closed August 1, 1949.
Congress/Wabash 500 S. Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949
Roosevelt 22 E. Roosevelt Road Transfer to Red and Orange Line trains, Museum Campus/11th Street (Metra station), Museum Campus, Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and Soldier Field

Originally called 12th Street

18th 18th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949
Cermak–McCormick Place 12 E. Cermak Road McCormick Place, Motor Row District

Originally called 22nd Street

26th 26th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949
29th 29th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949
31st 31st Street near State Street Closed August 1, 1949
33rd 33rd Street and Wabash Avenue Closed September 25, 1961
35thBronzevilleIIT 16 E. 35th Street Illinois Institute of Technology, Shimer College, De La Salle Institute, Chicago Police Headquarters, Douglas Tomb State Memorial, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Victory Sculpture, Chicago Defender Building, Eighth Regiment Armory (Chicago), Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District, Bronzeville
Pershing Pershing Road and State Street Closed August 1, 1949

Originally called 39th street

Indiana 4003 S. Indiana Avenue Wendell Phillips Academy High School, South Side Community Art Center, Former terminal for Stock Yards and Kenwood Lines
43rd 314 E. 43rd Street
47th 314 E. 47th Street Harold Washington Cultural Center, Robert S. Abbott House
51st 319 E. 51st Street Provident Hospital of Cook County, KAM Isaiah Israel, Kenwood Academy, Barack Obama House
Garfield 320 E. Garfield Boulevard Museum of Science and Industry, Washington Park, University of Chicago, DuSable Museum of African American History, Historic Garfield Station Entrance, Transfer between Ashland and Cottage Grove bound trains

Originally called 55th Street

58th 320/324 E. 58th Street Closed January 9, 1994

See also

References

  1. "Ridership Report: February 2013" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority. transitchicago.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  2. Garfield, Graham. "South Side Elevated". Chicago-L.org. Chicago 'L'. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  3. "Mayor Emanuel Opens Newly-Renovated Grand Avenue Red Line Station" (Press release). City of Chicago. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  4. "Emanuel to announce two new CTA stations". abclocal.go.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  5. Hilkevitch, Jon (February 9, 2015). "Long-awaited Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station opens". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
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