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Pink Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
Encyclopedia
The Pink Line is a rapid transit line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority
(CTA) as part of the Chicago 'L'
system. It began operation for a 180-day trial period on June 25, 2006, running between 54th/Cermak Station in Cicero, Illinois
and the Loop in downtown Chicago. The route to the Loop follows tracks shared with Green Line
trains on Lake Street, connected by the previously non-revenue Paulina Connector. Average weekday ridership on the Pink Line is 29,242 as of October 2009.
, carrying Douglas branch trains to and around the elevated Chicago Loop (clockwise) for the first time since Douglas trains began using the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway in downtown Chicago on June 22, 1958. This would allow a doubling of Blue Line trains to Forest Park on the Congress Line, since service would no longer be divided between the Forest Park and 54th/Cermak destinations. The CTA has also promised that service to/from 54th/Cermak would be increased 100% during rush hour.
At the initial time of proposal, this plan was often referred to as the "Silver Line," as the original idea was to use grey as the line color on printed materials and give it the friendlier route name of "Silver."
On February 15, 2006, the CTA approved the separate plan. Non-rush hour trains would all be routed via the Loop, Green Line, and Paulina Connector. During rush hour, service would be available on this routing as well as the original route via the Dearborn Street Subway every half hour. These changes were implemented beginning June 25, 2006, with the initial trial period scheduled to conclude 180 days later on December 22, 2006.
directly into the Loop by means of the Metropolitan's main line. Construction of the Congress Street Superhighway (known now as the Eisenhower Expressway
, I-290) in the 1950's required the removal of the Metropolitan's main line, resulting in Douglas trains being routed to the Loop via the Paulina Connector and the Lake Street "L" in very similar fashion to the present service. Upon completion of the new Congress branch in the median of the expressway, all trains of the Douglas branch were operated via the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway through to the city's Northwest Side and eventually to O'Hare Airport.
, Gold
and Silver
, Pink had received the most votes in a write-in essay contest for Chicago-area schoolchildren in kindergarten through 8th grade—a $1,000 savings bond was awarded to a selected essay writer who advocated the color pink.
The Pink Line began operation on June 25, 2006, making use of the rebuilt Paulina Connector which had not been used in regular revenue service for nearly 50 years.
The service, which was originally set up as a temporary service to be run for a trial period of 180 days (6 months), doubles service on both the Douglas branch and the Forest Park (or Congress) branch of the Blue Line
. This is accomplished by routing all but 12 trains per day coming from O'Hare
to Forest Park
, and adding entirely new service from the 54th Avenue terminal in Cicero
to the Loop
via the Paulina Connector and the Lake Street branch of the Green Line
. Douglas trains circle downtown Chicago clockwise around the Inner Loop track via Lake-Wabash-Van Buren-Wells before returning west and southbound via Lake-Paulina to Cicero
.
On December 12, 2006 the CTA board approved a six month extension to the trial period before making a decision on whether or not to make the changes permanent, and another 180-day extension was added to the trial in June 2007. On December 4, 2008 CTA announced its decision to make the Pink Line permanent.
in Cicero
(5400 W. - 2200 S.). The line runs east on street level right-of-way just north of and parallel to Cermak Road from the terminal to about a quarter-mile (400 m) east of Cicero Avenue, then diagonals northeast until it reaches a corridor parallel and adjacent to 21st Street at Kostner Avenue. It then continues east between 21st Street and Cullerton Street, climbing up from surface level to elevated structure, through the North Lawndale
, Little Village, and Pilsen neighborhoods of Chicago, with stops at Kostner, Pulaski, Central Park, Kedzie, California, Western and Damen. The line turns north near Paulina Street stopping at 18th and Polk Streets, then crosses over Eisenhower Expressway
(Interstate 290) where the Blue Line Forest Park runs in the median. It continues on the Paulina Connector to share tracks with the Green Line with stops at Ashland and Clinton, before finally terminating at the Loop clockwise.
-built 2600-Series and (effective November 8, 2011) Bombardier
-built 5000-Series
rail cars. However, due to their different electrical systems, the two series cannot be trained together in the same consist. Trains usually consists of only four cars during much of the day, and only two cars during late evenings on weekends. 54th Yard does occasionally send out six-car trains during rush hour, but this only occurs when there are extra cars in the yard. The Pink Line will eventually be completely re-equipped with 5000-Series cars by early 2012, moving the existing 2600-Series cars to other lines in the process.
beyond the Loop to 54th/Cermak via the Green Line and the Paulina Connector, and Orange Line
service from Chicago Midway International Airport to Kimball, as other potential routings using the new infrastructure. This project is currently undergoing a standard federally mandated alternatives analysis.
At Washington/Wells, Pink Line trains head back to Clinton, then make all stops in reverse to 54/Cermak.
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....
(CTA) as part of the Chicago 'L'
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...
system. It began operation for a 180-day trial period on June 25, 2006, running between 54th/Cermak Station in Cicero, Illinois
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
and the Loop in downtown Chicago. The route to the Loop follows tracks shared with Green Line
Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood...
trains on Lake Street, connected by the previously non-revenue Paulina Connector. Average weekday ridership on the Pink Line is 29,242 as of October 2009.
Initial proposal
In January 2005, the CTA held hearings on its proposal to reroute trains from 54th/Cermak via the recently rebuilt Paulina Connector to the Lake Street Green LineGreen Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood...
, carrying Douglas branch trains to and around the elevated Chicago Loop (clockwise) for the first time since Douglas trains began using the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway in downtown Chicago on June 22, 1958. This would allow a doubling of Blue Line trains to Forest Park on the Congress Line, since service would no longer be divided between the Forest Park and 54th/Cermak destinations. The CTA has also promised that service to/from 54th/Cermak would be increased 100% during rush hour.
At the initial time of proposal, this plan was often referred to as the "Silver Line," as the original idea was to use grey as the line color on printed materials and give it the friendlier route name of "Silver."
On February 15, 2006, the CTA approved the separate plan. Non-rush hour trains would all be routed via the Loop, Green Line, and Paulina Connector. During rush hour, service would be available on this routing as well as the original route via the Dearborn Street Subway every half hour. These changes were implemented beginning June 25, 2006, with the initial trial period scheduled to conclude 180 days later on December 22, 2006.
As the Blue Line Douglas Branch
Originally, Douglas trains were operated by the Metropolitan West Side ElevatedMetropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad was the third elevated rapid transit line to be built in Chicago, Illinois and was the first of Chicago’s elevated lines to be electrically powered...
directly into the Loop by means of the Metropolitan's main line. Construction of the Congress Street Superhighway (known now as the Eisenhower Expressway
Interstate 290 (Illinois)
Interstate 290 is a main Interstate freeway that runs westwards from the Chicago Loop. A portion of I-290 is officially called the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway. In short form, it is known as "the Ike" or the Eisenhower...
, I-290) in the 1950's required the removal of the Metropolitan's main line, resulting in Douglas trains being routed to the Loop via the Paulina Connector and the Lake Street "L" in very similar fashion to the present service. Upon completion of the new Congress branch in the median of the expressway, all trains of the Douglas branch were operated via the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway through to the city's Northwest Side and eventually to O'Hare Airport.
Converting to the Pink Line
On March 30, 2006, the Chicago Transit Authority announced that of the top three colors, PinkPink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
, Gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
and Silver
Silver (color)
Silver is the metallic shade resembling gray, closest to that of polished silver.The visual sensation usually associated with the metal silver is its metallic shine. This cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color, because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the...
, Pink had received the most votes in a write-in essay contest for Chicago-area schoolchildren in kindergarten through 8th grade—a $1,000 savings bond was awarded to a selected essay writer who advocated the color pink.
The Pink Line began operation on June 25, 2006, making use of the rebuilt Paulina Connector which had not been used in regular revenue service for nearly 50 years.
The service, which was originally set up as a temporary service to be run for a trial period of 180 days (6 months), doubles service on both the Douglas branch and the Forest Park (or Congress) branch of the Blue Line
Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its...
. This is accomplished by routing all but 12 trains per day coming from O'Hare
O'Hare
O'Hare may refer to:* O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago, Illinois, US* O'Hare , a surname * O'Hare, Chicago, a US community area* USS O'Hare , a US Navy destroyer...
to Forest Park
Forest Park
-Towns and villages:*Forest Park, Ontario, Canada*Forest Park, Georgia, USA*Forest Park, Illinois, USA*Forest Park, Ohio, Hamilton county, Ohio, USA*Forest Park, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA*Forest Park, Oklahoma, USA...
, and adding entirely new service from the 54th Avenue terminal in Cicero
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
to the Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
via the Paulina Connector and the Lake Street branch of the Green Line
Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood...
. Douglas trains circle downtown Chicago clockwise around the Inner Loop track via Lake-Wabash-Van Buren-Wells before returning west and southbound via Lake-Paulina to Cicero
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
.
On December 12, 2006 the CTA board approved a six month extension to the trial period before making a decision on whether or not to make the changes permanent, and another 180-day extension was added to the trial in June 2007. On December 4, 2008 CTA announced its decision to make the Pink Line permanent.
Douglas Branch Blue Line closing
On April 27, 2008 the CTA began a six-month experimental ceasing of Blue Line operations on the Douglas Branch. All Douglas Branch operations will now be served by the Pink Line. On December 4, 2008, the CTA decided not to reinstate the Douglas Blue Line service and to make the Pink Line permanent.Current routing
On the Pink Line, what was once the Douglas Branch begins at 54th Avenue and Cermak RoadCermak Road
Cermak Road, formerly 22nd Street, is a major east-west artery on Chicago's south side and western suburbs. It is named for assassinated Chicago mayor Anton Cermak.-Points of interest:...
in Cicero
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
(5400 W. - 2200 S.). The line runs east on street level right-of-way just north of and parallel to Cermak Road from the terminal to about a quarter-mile (400 m) east of Cicero Avenue, then diagonals northeast until it reaches a corridor parallel and adjacent to 21st Street at Kostner Avenue. It then continues east between 21st Street and Cullerton Street, climbing up from surface level to elevated structure, through the North Lawndale
North Lawndale, Chicago
North Lawndale located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the well-defined community areas in the city of Chicago.-History:...
, Little Village, and Pilsen neighborhoods of Chicago, with stops at Kostner, Pulaski, Central Park, Kedzie, California, Western and Damen. The line turns north near Paulina Street stopping at 18th and Polk Streets, then crosses over Eisenhower Expressway
Interstate 290 (Illinois)
Interstate 290 is a main Interstate freeway that runs westwards from the Chicago Loop. A portion of I-290 is officially called the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway. In short form, it is known as "the Ike" or the Eisenhower...
(Interstate 290) where the Blue Line Forest Park runs in the median. It continues on the Paulina Connector to share tracks with the Green Line with stops at Ashland and Clinton, before finally terminating at the Loop clockwise.
Operating fleet
Currently, the Pink Line is operated using BuddBudd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
-built 2600-Series and (effective November 8, 2011) Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
-built 5000-Series
5000 series (Chicago 'L')
The 5000 series is a series of Chicago 'L' car built by Bombardier Transportation. An $577 million order for 406 cars was placed in 2006. In July 2011, the CTA ordered 300 more cars for $331 million as an option on the first contract....
rail cars. However, due to their different electrical systems, the two series cannot be trained together in the same consist. Trains usually consists of only four cars during much of the day, and only two cars during late evenings on weekends. 54th Yard does occasionally send out six-car trains during rush hour, but this only occurs when there are extra cars in the yard. The Pink Line will eventually be completely re-equipped with 5000-Series cars by early 2012, moving the existing 2600-Series cars to other lines in the process.
Possible route to Ravenswood
In 2002, the CTA proposed the creation of the "Circle Line", which would utilize segments of existing rail lines to keep new construction to a minimum, in addition to 6.6 miles (10.6 km) of new subway and elevated segments to the 'L' system to complete the circumferential route. Maps additionally suggested a possible extension of the existing Brown LineBrown 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...
beyond the Loop to 54th/Cermak via the Green Line and the Paulina Connector, and Orange Line
Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Orange Line, is a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the 'L' system. It is approximately long, and runs below grade and elevated on existing railroad embankments and new concrete and steel structures from Chicago Midway International...
service from Chicago Midway International Airport to Kimball, as other potential routings using the new infrastructure. This project is currently undergoing a standard federally mandated alternatives analysis.
Station listing
| Pink Line (Cermak "Douglas" Branch) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Location | Points of interest and notes |
| Oak Park | Oak Park Avenue and 22nd Street | Closed February 3, 1952 |
| Ridgeland | Ridgeland Avenue and 21st Street | Closed February 3, 1952 |
| Lombard | Lombard Avenue and 21st Street | Closed February 3, 1952 |
| Austin | Austin Boulevard and 21st Street | Closed February 3, 1952 |
| 58th Avenue | 58th Avenue and 21st Street | Closed February 3, 1952 |
| Central | Central Avenue and Cermak Road Cermak Road Cermak Road, formerly 22nd Street, is a major east-west artery on Chicago's south side and western suburbs. It is named for assassinated Chicago mayor Anton Cermak.-Points of interest:... |
Closed February 3, 1952 |
| 54th/Cermak | 2151 S. 54th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... |
Cicero Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... , Morton College Morton College Morton College is a community college located in Cicero, Illinois. It is the second oldest community college in the state. While the campus itself was constructed in 1975, the College was established in 1924. Currently, the college has an enrollment of approximately 5,000 students, about 25% of... |
| Laramie | 2130 S. Laramie Avenue, Cicero, Illinois Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... |
Closed February 9, 1992; reopened in December 2001 during Douglas Branch renovation and closed on August 16, 2003 |
| 50th Avenue | 2133 S. 50th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... |
Closed 1978; deconstructed, reassmbled, and preserved in Illinois Railway Museum Illinois Railway Museum The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union, Illinois, northwest of Chicago... |
| Cicero | 2134 S. Cicero Avenue., Cicero, Illinois Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... |
Cicero Cicero, Illinois Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator.... , BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... (Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... ) Station Cicero (Metra) Cicero is a station on Metra's BNSF Railway Line, located in Cicero, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Cicero is in zone B... , Hawthorne Works Hawthorne Works The Hawthorne Works, in Cicero, Illinois, was a large factory complex built by Western Electric starting in 1905 and operating until 1983. It had 45,000 employees at the height of its operations. Besides telephone equipment, the factory produced a wide variety of consumer products, including... , Hawthorne Race Course Hawthorne Race Course Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America... , Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Hawthorne Race Course, in Stickney/Cicero, near Chicago, Illinois, honors sports greats associated with the greater Chicago area. It was founded in 1979 as a trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The... |
| Kenton | Cermak Road Cermak Road Cermak Road, formerly 22nd Street, is a major east-west artery on Chicago's south side and western suburbs. It is named for assassinated Chicago mayor Anton Cermak.-Points of interest:... west of Kilbourn Avenue |
Closed December 9, 1951 |
| Kostner | 2019 S. Kostner Avenue | Formerly known as Kildare (one block east of Kostner) until 2002; became Kostner July 17, 2003. |
| Pulaski | 2021 S. Pulaski Road Pulaski Road (Chicago) Pulaski Road is a major north-south thoroughfare in the city of Chicago, at 4000 W., or exactly five miles west of State Street. It is named after revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski... |
|
| Lawndale | Lawndale Avenue and 21st Street | Closed December 9, 1951 |
| Central Park | 1944 S. Central Park Avenue | |
| Drake | Drake Avenue and 21st Street | Closed December 9, 1951 |
| Homan | Homan Avenue and 21st Street | Closed December 9, 1951 |
| Kedzie | 1944 S. Kedzie Avenue | Little Village |
| Douglas Park | 2008 S. Marshall Boulevard | Closed May 3, 1952 |
| California | 2010 S. California Avenue | Cook County Jail Cook County Jail The Cook County Jail, located on in Cook County, Illinois, is the largest jail in the United States of America housing approximately 9,800 men and women. The facility is located at 3015 S California Ave in the city of Chicago... , Little Village, Mount Sinai Medical Center Mount Sinai Medical Center, Chicago Mount Sinai Medical Center is a 590-bed urban major hospital in Chicago, Illinois, with its main campus located adjacent to Douglas Park. The hospital was established in 1912 under the name Maimonides Hospital, with a mission of serving poor immigrants from Europe while providing training to Jewish... , Douglas Park |
Western  |
2010 S. Western Avenue Western Avenue (Chicago) Western Avenue is the longest continuous street within the city of Chicago at in length. Western Avenue extends south as a continuous road to the Dixie Highway at Sibley Boulevard in Dixmoor, giving the road a total length of . However, Western Avenue extends intermittently through the... |
BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... (Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... ) Station Western Avenue (Metra BNSF Railway Line) Western Avenue is a station on Metra's BNSF Railway Line located in Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The station consists of two side platforms for outbound and inbound trains. The station has no station house, though shelters are provided. Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains... |
| Damen | 2010 S. Damen Avenue | Heart of Chicago. Formerly known as Hoyne (one block west of Damen) until 2002; became Damen on July 22, 2004. |
| Wood | Wood Street and 21st Street | Closed May 19, 1957 |
| 18th | 1710 W. 18th Street | Pilsen, St. Adalbert's St. Adalbert's in Chicago St. Adalbert Church is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois.It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. The church is located on 17th Street between Paulina Street and... , Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum The National Museum of Mexican Art is a museum which features Mexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture. The museum was founded in 1982 by Carlos Tortolero. Located in the neighborhood of Pilsen in Chicago, Illinois, the current building in Harrison Park opened on March 27, 1987... |
| 14th Place | 14th Place and Paulina Street | Closed December 9, 1951 |
| Roosevelt | Roosevelt Road Roosevelt Road Roosevelt Road is a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Chicago, Illinois, and its western suburbs. It is 1200 South in the city's street numbering system, but only one mile south of Madison Street... and Paulina Street |
Closed May 3, 1952 |
| Polk | 1713 W. Polk Street | Illinois Medical District Illinois Medical District The Illinois Medical District is a special-use zoning district on the Near West Side of Chicago. It was designated as such by an act of the Illinois General Assembly in 1941. The District is bounded on the north by Congress Parkway, on the east by Ashland Avenue, on the west by Oakley Boulevard... University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Chicago The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop... |
| Pink Line (Paulina Connector) | ||
| Station | Location | Points of interest and notes |
| Madison | 1720 W. Madison Street Madison Street (Chicago) Madison Street is a major east-west street in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to human intervention, the Chicago River emptied into Lake Michigan at the present day intersection of Madison Street and Michigan Avenue.... |
Closed February 25, 1951 |
| Pink Line (Lake Street Elevated) | ||
| Station | Location | Points of interest and notes |
| Ashland | 1601 W. Lake Street Lake Street (Chicago) Lake Street is an east-west arterial road in Chicago and its suburbs. Part of Lake Street is designated as U.S. Route 20. Lake Street begins in the city of Chicago and travels west and slightly north to the Chicago suburbs. It ends at the eastern terminus of the Elgin Bypass around Elgin, where... |
United Center United Center The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League... , Union Park Pitchfork Music Festival The Pitchfork Music Festival is an annual summer music festival organized by Pitchfork Media and held in Union Park in Chicago, IL. The festival, which is normally held over three days in July, focuses primarily on artists and bands from alternative rock, rap & hip-hop, electronica, and dance... Transfer to Green Line Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood... trains |
| Morgan | Morgan Street and Lake Street Lake Street (Chicago) Lake Street is an east-west arterial road in Chicago and its suburbs. Part of Lake Street is designated as U.S. Route 20. Lake Street begins in the city of Chicago and travels west and slightly north to the Chicago suburbs. It ends at the eastern terminus of the Elgin Bypass around Elgin, where... |
Closed 1948, scheduled to reopen in 2012 |
| Clinton |
540 W. Lake Street Lake Street (Chicago) Lake Street is an east-west arterial road in Chicago and its suburbs. Part of Lake Street is designated as U.S. Route 20. Lake Street begins in the city of Chicago and travels west and slightly north to the Chicago suburbs. It ends at the eastern terminus of the Elgin Bypass around Elgin, where... |
Ogilvie Transportation Center Ogilvie Transportation Center The Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center is a passenger terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA, serving the three commuter rail lines of Metra's Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. It occupies the lower floors of the Citigroup Center... 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.... Headquarters |
| Pink Line (Loop) | ||
| Station | Location | Points of interest and notes |
| Clark/Lake | 100 W. Lake Street Lake Street (Chicago) Lake Street is an east-west arterial road in Chicago and its suburbs. Part of Lake Street is designated as U.S. Route 20. Lake Street begins in the city of Chicago and travels west and slightly north to the Chicago suburbs. It ends at the eastern terminus of the Elgin Bypass around Elgin, where... |
James R. Thompson Center James R. Thompson Center The James R. Thompson Center is located at 100 W. Randolph Street in the Loop, Chicago, Illinois and houses offices of the State of Illinois. The building opened in May 1985 as the State of Illinois Center. It was renamed in 1993 to honor former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson... , Richard J. Daley Center Richard J. Daley Center The Richard J. Daley Center, also known by its courtyard Daley Plaza and named after longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, is the premier civic center of the City of Chicago in Illinois. Situated on Randolph and Washington Streets between Dearborn and Clark Streets, the Richard J. Daley Center is... Transfer to Blue Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its... , Brown 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... , Green Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood... , Orange Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Orange Line, is a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the 'L' system. It is approximately long, and runs below grade and elevated on existing railroad embankments and new concrete and steel structures from Chicago Midway International... , and Purple Line 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 |
| State/Lake | 200 N. State Street State Street (Chicago) State Street is a large south-north street in Chicago, Illinois, USA and its south suburbs. It begins on the Near North Side at North Avenue. For much of its course, it lies between Wabash Avenue on the east and Dearborn Street/Lafayette Avenue on the west... |
Chicago Theatre Chicago Theatre The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban and Katz group of theaters run by A. J. Balaban, his brother... , Gene Siskel Film Center Gene Siskel Film Center "The Film Center" redirects here. Not to be confused with the Film Center Building in New York CityThe Gene Siskel Film Center, formerly The Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and commonly referred to as The Film Center or The Gene Siskel, is the cinematheque attached to The... Transfer station for Red Line Red Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The northern terminus of the Red Line is Howard Street in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago , on the City Limits farthest north. The Red Line extends southeasterly on an elevated embankment structure about a half-mile west of the lakefront to Touhy Avenue then turns south along Glenwood... via Lake Lake/State (CTA) Lake is an 'L' station on the CTA's Red Line. Lake is a transfer station between the Red Line and the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines at the State/Lake station... |
| Randolph/Wabash |
151 N. Wabash Avenue | Chicago Cultural Center Chicago Cultural Center The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago Landmark building that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is located in the Loop, across Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park... , Millennium Park Millennium Park Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, USA and originally intended to celebrate the millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously... Transfer station for Millennium Station (Metra Electric Metra Electric Line The Metra Electric District is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra which connects Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, with the city's southern suburbs... and South Shore Line South Shore Line (NICTD) The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana... trains) |
| Madison/Wabash | 2 N. Wabash Avenue | Jewelers Row |
| Adams/Wabash | 201-23 S. Wabash Avenue | Grant Park Grant Park (Chicago) Grant Park, with between the downtown Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan, offers many different attractions in its large open space. The park is generally flat. It is also crossed by large boulevards and even a bed of sunken railroad tracks... , Petrillo Music Shell Petrillo Music Shell James C. Petrillo Music Shell or simply Petrillo Music Shell or Petrillo Bandshell as it is more commonly known, is an outdoor amphitheater/bandstand in Grant Park in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States... , Buckingham Fountain Buckingham Fountain Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago landmark in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world. Built in a rococo wedding cake style and inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles, it is meant to allegorically represent Lake Michigan... , Art Institute of Chicago Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either... , Orchestra Hall, DePaul University DePaul University DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul... Transfer to Green Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood... and Orange Line Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Orange Line, is a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the 'L' system. It is approximately long, and runs below grade and elevated on existing railroad embankments and new concrete and steel structures from Chicago Midway International... trains |
| Library-State/Van Buren | 1 W. Van Buren Street | Harold Washington Library Center Harold Washington Library The Harold Washington Library Center is the central library for the Chicago Public Library System. It is named for former Mayor Harold Washington. It is located just south of the Loop 'L', at 400 S. State Street in Chicago. It is a full service library and ADA compliant. As with all libraries in... , DePaul University DePaul University DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul... , Robert Morris University Robert Morris University Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris... , John Marshall Law School John Marshall Law School (Chicago) The John Marshall Law School is a law school in Chicago, Illinois, that was founded in 1899 and accredited by the American Bar Association in 1941. The school was named for the influential nineteenth century U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall.... , Chicago Bar Association Chicago Bar Association Founded in 1874, the Chicago Bar Association is a voluntary bar association with over 20,000 members. Like other bar associations, it concerns itself with professional ethics, networking among members, and continuing legal education. It is located adjacent to the John Marshall Law School in the... and The Auditorium Building of Roosevelt University Roosevelt University Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on... Transfer station for Purple 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... , Brown 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... , and Orange Lines Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Orange Line, is a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the 'L' system. It is approximately long, and runs below grade and elevated on existing railroad embankments and new concrete and steel structures from Chicago Midway International... and Red Line Red Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The northern terminus of the Red Line is Howard Street in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago , on the City Limits farthest north. The Red Line extends southeasterly on an elevated embankment structure about a half-mile west of the lakefront to Touhy Avenue then turns south along Glenwood... via Jackson/State and Blue Line Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority) The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its... via Jackson/Dearborn. |
| LaSalle/Van Buren |
121 W. Van Buren Street | Chicago Board of Trade Chicago Board of Trade The Chicago Board of Trade , established in 1848, is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 CBOT members through open outcry and eTrading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million... , Chicago Board Options Exchange Chicago Board Options Exchange The Chicago Board Options Exchange , located at 400 South LaSalle Street in Chicago, is the largest U.S. options exchange with annual trading volume that hovered around one billion contracts at the end of 2007... Transfer station for LaSalle Street Station LaSalle Street Station LaSalle Street Station is a commuter rail terminal at 414 S. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, serving Metra's Rock Island District. It was a major intercity rail terminal for the New York Central Railroad until 1968 and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad until 1978. The... Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... Rock Island District Rock Island District The Rock Island District is a commuter rail line operated by Metra from Chicago, Illinois, United States, southwest to Joliet. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are printed in "Rocket Red"... trains |
| Quincy |
220 S. Wells Street Wells Street (Chicago) Wells Street is a main North–South road in downtown Chicago. It is officially designated as 200 West, and is named in honor of William Wells, a United States Army Captain who died in the Battle of Fort Dearborn.... |
Willis Tower Transfer station for Union Station Union Station (Chicago) Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams... Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... (BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... , Heritage Corridor Heritage Corridor The Heritage Corridor Line is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Heritage Corridor line are printed in dark "Alton... , Milwaukee District/North Line Milwaukee District/North Line The Milwaukee District/North is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , Milwaukee District/West Line Milwaukee District/West Line The Milwaukee District/West is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , North Central Service North Central Service The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo... , SouthWest Service SouthWest Service The SouthWest Service is an American commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois, to Manhattan, Illinois... ) and Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... trains |
| Washington/Wells | 100 N. Wells Street Wells Street (Chicago) Wells Street is a main North–South road in downtown Chicago. It is officially designated as 200 West, and is named in honor of William Wells, a United States Army Captain who died in the Battle of Fort Dearborn.... |
Chicago City Hall Chicago City Hall Chicago City Hall is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. Adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center and the James R... , Civic Opera House, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Chicago Mercantile Exchange The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is an American financial and commodity derivative exchange based in Chicago. The CME was founded in 1898 as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board. Originally, the exchange was a non-profit organization... Transfer station for Brown 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... and Purple Line trains and Ogilvie Transportation Center Ogilvie Transportation Center The Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center is a passenger terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA, serving the three commuter rail lines of Metra's Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. It occupies the lower floors of the Citigroup Center... (Union Pacific/North Union Pacific/North Line The Union Pacific/North is a commuter rail line in the Chicago metropolitan area that runs between Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, with some trains continuing to Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is part of the Metra system, but it is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad... , Northwest Union Pacific/Northwest Line The Union Pacific/Northwest is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , and West Union Pacific/West Line The Union Pacific/West is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... Line Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... trains) |
At Washington/Wells, Pink Line trains head back to Clinton, then make all stops in reverse to 54/Cermak.
External links
- Pink Line at Chicago-'L'.org
- CTA Selects Winning Essay of Name the Line Contest - CTA Press Release on the Pink line