The Chicago "L" is a rapid transit system that serves the city of Chicago and seven of its surrounding suburbs. The system is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). On an average weekday, 759,866 passengers ride the "L", [1] making it the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States, behind the New York City Subway. [2]
The system began as three separate companies, which built lines traveling from Chicago's central business district to the south and the west. The first of these was the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad which opened on June 6, 1892. [3] The Lake Street Elevated Railroad opened the following year and the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad followed in 1895. Initially, the "L" lines operated independently of each other, but in 1897, they were combined into one physically unified system with the completion of the Union Loop and connecting trackage. [4] In 1900, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad entered operation, [5] finalizing the basic structure of the system: a hub and spoke distribution paradigm radiating north, west, and south from downtown Chicago. The system expanded outward from this with new branches or line extensions until 1930.
Due to the ruined financial state of the privately owned Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines, a public agency (the CTA) was created in 1947 to take over and save the rapid transit and streetcar systems. [6] Starting in 1948, the CTA began systematically shutting down many stations and lines that saw little use in order to improve service and reduce costs. Expansion resumed in September 1969 with the opening of a new line in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway and continued until October 31, 1993, with the opening of the Orange Line. [7] The newest line the Pink Line, which opened on June 25, 2006 was created by rerouting the Blue Line's Douglas branch into a separate service. [8]
As of August 2024 [update] , the system has 146 stations on eight lines operating on 224.1 miles (360.7 km) of track. [1] A total of 103 stations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and are accessible to passengers with disabilities. [9] The majority of "L" stations are named for the streets or intersections on which they are located; others are named for neighborhoods, suburbs, destinations, or a combination of these. [10] The newest station is Damen on the Green Line, which opened on August 5, 2024. [11]
Line | Stations | Termini | Weekday ridership (as of July 2022) [12] |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | 33 | O'Hare (north, all other trains) Rosemont (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Jefferson Park (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Forest Park (south, all other trains) UIC-Halsted (south, select weekday rush hour trains) [13] | 66,838 |
Brown | 27 | Kimball (north) The Loop (south, all except nights) Belmont (south, late nights) [14] | 29,531 |
Green | 31 | Harlem/Lake (north) Cottage Grove (south via East 63rd branch) Ashland/63rd (south via Ashland branch) | 20,219 |
Orange | 16 | The Loop [15] Midway (south) | 15,129 |
Pink | 22 | 54th/Cermak (west) The Loop (east) | 9,834 |
Purple | 26 | Linden (north) Howard (south, shuttle service) The Loop (south, weekday rush hour express service) | 4,558 |
Red | 33 | Howard (north) 95th/Dan Ryan (south) | 98,148 |
Yellow | 3 | Dempster–Skokie (west) Howard (east) | 1,212 |
|
Station | Lines | Transfers | Location | Opened | Structure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18th | Pink | — | Pilsen | April 28, 1896 [16] | Elevated |
35th–Bronzeville–IIT | Green | Metra: RI (at Jones/Bronzeville) | Bronzeville | June 6, 1892 [3] | Elevated |
35th/Archer | Orange | — | McKinley Park | October 31, 1993 [7] | Elevated |
43rd | Green | — | Grand Boulevard | August 15, 1892 [17] | Elevated |
47th | Green | — | Legends South | August 15, 1892 [17] | Elevated |
47th | Red | — | Fuller Park | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
51st | Green | — | Grand Boulevard/ Washington Park | August 28, 1892 [19] | Elevated |
54th/Cermak † | Pink | — | Cicero | August 1, 1912 | At-grade |
63rd | Red | — | Englewood | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
69th | Red | — | Greater Grand Crossing | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
79th | Red | — | Chatham | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
87th | Red | — | Garden Homes | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
95th/Dan Ryan † | Red | — | Roseland | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
Adams/Wabash Ⓣ | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Metra: ME (at Van Buren Street) NICTD: (at Van Buren Street) | The Loop | November 8, 1896 [20] | Elevated |
Addison | Blue | — | Avondale/Irving Park | February 1, 1970 [21] | Expressway median |
Addison | Brown | — | North Center | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Addison | Red | — | Wrigleyville | June 6, 1900 [23] | Elevated |
Argyle | Red | — | Little Vietnam | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
Armitage | Brown Purple | — | Lincoln Park | June 9, 1900 [23] | Elevated |
Ashland | Green Pink | — | Near West Side | November 6, 1893 [25] [26] | Elevated |
Ashland/63rd † | Green | — | West Englewood | May 6, 1969 [27] | Elevated |
Ashland | Orange | — | McKinley Park/Lower West Side | October 31, 1993 [28] | Elevated |
Austin | Blue | — | Oak Park | March 20, 1960 [29] [30] | Expressway median |
Austin | Green | — | Austin | April 15, 1899 [31] | Elevated |
Belmont | Blue | — | Avondale | February 1, 1970 [21] | Underground |
Belmont Ⓣ† | Brown Purple Red | — | Lake View | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
Berwyn | Red | — | Summerdale | 1916 | Elevated |
Bryn Mawr | Red | — | Edgewater | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
California | Blue | — | Palmer Square | May 25, 1895 | Elevated |
California | Green | — | Smith Park | November 6, 1893 [25] | Elevated |
California | Pink | — | Little Village | March 10, 1902 [32] | Elevated |
Central | Green | — | Austin | April 15, 1899 [31] | Elevated |
Central | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 [a] [33] [34] | Elevated |
Central Park | Pink | — | North Lawndale | December 9, 1951 [35] | Elevated |
Cermak–Chinatown | Red | — | Chinatown | September 28, 1969 [18] | Elevated |
Cermak–McCormick Place | Green | — | McCormick Place | June 6, 1892 | Elevated |
Chicago | Blue | — | Ukrainian Village | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Chicago | Brown Purple | — | Cabrini Green | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
Chicago | Red | — | Magnificent Mile | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Cicero | Blue | — | Austin | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Cicero | Green | — | Austin | March 3, 1894 [41] | Elevated |
Cicero | Pink | — | Cicero | December 16, 1907 [42] | At-grade |
Clark/Division | Red | — | Gold Coast | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Clark/Lake Ⓣ | Blue Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | — | City Hall | September 22, 1895 [43] [44] / | Elevated/underground |
Clinton | Blue | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) | Union Station | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Underground |
Clinton Ⓣ | Green Pink | Metra: UP-N UP-W UP-NW (at Ogilvie) | West Loop | October 16, 1909 [45] | Elevated |
Conservatory–Central Park Drive | Green | — | East Garfield Park | June 30, 2001 [46] | Elevated |
Cottage Grove † | Green | — | Woodlawn | April 23, 1893 [47] | Elevated |
Cumberland | Blue | — | Schorsch Forest View | February 27, 1983 [48] | Expressway median |
Damen | Blue | — | Wicker Park | May 6, 1895 [49] | Elevated |
Damen | Brown | Metra: UP-N (at Ravenswood) | Ravenswood | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Damen | Green | – | Near West Side | August 5, 2024 [11] | Elevated |
Damen | Pink | — | Heart of Chicago | September 7, 1896 | Elevated |
Davis | Purple | Metra: UP-N (at Evanston Davis Street) | Evanston | May 16, 1908 [a] [33] [34] | Elevated |
Dempster | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 [a] [33] [34] | Elevated |
Dempster–Skokie † | Yellow | — | Skokie | March 28, 1925 [50] | At-grade |
Diversey | Brown Purple | — | Lincoln Park | June 9, 1900 [23] | Elevated |
Division | Blue | — | Pulaski Park | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Forest Park † | Blue | — | Forest Park | March 11, 1905 [51] [c] | Elevated |
Foster | Purple | — | Evanston | January 6, 1909 [52] | Elevated |
Francisco | Brown | — | Albany Park | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
Fullerton Ⓣ | Brown Purple Red | — | Lincoln Park | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
Garfield Ⓣ | Green | — | Washington Park | October 12, 1892 [53] [54] | Elevated |
Garfield | Red | — | Canaryville | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
Grand | Blue | — | West Town | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Grand | Red | — | River North | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Granville | Red | — | Granville Homes | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
Halsted | Green | — | Englewood | December 24, 1906 [55] | Elevated |
Halsted | Orange | — | Bridgeport | October 31, 1993 [7] | Elevated |
Harlem | Blue | — | Forest Park | March 20, 1960 [29] [30] | Expressway median |
Harlem | Blue | — | Norwood Park | February 27, 1983 [48] | Expressway median |
Harlem/Lake † | Green | Metra: UP-W (at Oak Park) | Oak Park | October 28, 1962 [56] [57] | Elevated |
Harold Washington Library State/Van Buren Ⓣ | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Blue (at Jackson) Red (at Jackson) Metra: ME (at Van Buren Street) NICTD: (at Van Buren Street) | Harold Washington Library Center | June 22, 1997 [58] | Elevated |
Harrison | Red | — | South Loop | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Howard Ⓣ† | Red Purple Yellow | — | Dubkin Park | May 16, 1908 [52] | Elevated |
Illinois Medical District | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Indiana | Green | — | Grand Boulevard | August 15, 1892 [17] | Elevated |
Irving Park | Blue | Metra: UP-NW (at Irving Park) | Irving Park | February 1, 1970 [21] | Expressway median |
Irving Park | Brown | — | North Center | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Jackson Ⓣ | Blue | Red (at Jackson) Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Library) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Jackson Ⓣ | Red | Blue (at Jackson) Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Library) | Printers Row | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Jarvis | Red | — | Rogers Park | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
Jefferson Park | Blue | Metra: UP-NW | Jefferson Park | February 1, 1970 [21] | Expressway median |
Kedzie | Brown | — | Albany Park | December 14, 1907 [59] | At-grade |
Kedzie | Green | Metra: UP-W (at Kedzie) | East Garfield Park | November 6, 1893 [25] [26] | Elevated |
Kedzie | Orange | — | Brighton Park | October 31, 1993 [28] | Elevated |
Kedzie | Pink | — | North Lawndale | March 10, 1902 [32] | Elevated |
Kedzie–Homan | Blue | — | East Garfield Park | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Kimball † | Brown | — | Budlong Woods | December 14, 1907 [59] | At-grade |
King Drive | Green | — | Woodlawn | May 1, 1893 [47] [60] | Elevated |
Kostner | Pink | — | North Lawndale | May 22, 1907 | At-grade |
Lake Ⓣ | Red | Blue (at Washington) Brown Green Orange Pink Purple (at State/Lake) | The Loop | November 18, 1997 | Underground |
Laramie | Green | — | Austin | April 23, 1894 [61] | Elevated |
LaSalle | Blue | Metra: RI (at LaSalle Street) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
LaSalle/Van Buren | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: RI (at LaSalle Street) | The Loop | October 3, 1897 [62] | Elevated |
Lawrence | Red | — | Uptown | February 27, 1923 [63] | Elevated |
Linden † | Purple | — | Wilmette | April 2, 1912 [64] | At-grade |
Logan Square | Blue | — | Logan Square | February 1, 1970 [21] | Underground |
Loyola | Red | — | Loyola University | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
Main | Purple | Metra: UP-N (at Evanston Main Street) | Evanston | May 16, 1908 [a] [33] [34] | Elevated |
Merchandise Mart Ⓣ | Brown Purple | — | Near North Side | December 5, 1930 [65] | Elevated |
Midway † | Orange | — | Garfield Ridge | October 31, 1993 [7] | At-grade |
Monroe | Blue | — | The Loop | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Monroe | Red | — | The Loop | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Montrose | Blue | Metra: MD-N (at Mayfair) | Irving Park/Portage Park | February 1, 1970 [21] | Expressway median |
Montrose | Brown | — | Ravenswood | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Morgan | Green Pink | — | Near West Side | November 6, 1893 [66] | Elevated |
Morse | Red | — | Touhy Park | May 16, 1908 [a] [24] | Elevated |
North/Clybourn | Red | — | Goose Island | October 17, 1943 [38] | Underground |
Noyes | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 [a] [33] [34] | Elevated |
O'Hare † | Blue | O'Hare: ATS Airport Transit System | O'Hare | September 3, 1984 [67] | Underground |
Oak Park | Blue | — | Oak Park | March 20, 1960 [29] [30] | Expressway median |
Oak Park | Green | — | Oak Park | January 25, 1901 | Elevated |
Oakton–Skokie | Yellow | — | Skokie | March 28, 1925 [68] | At-grade |
Paulina | Brown | — | Roscoe Village | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Polk | Pink | — | Illinois Medical District | April 28, 1896 [16] | Elevated |
Pulaski | Blue | — | West Garfield Park | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Pulaski | Green | — | West Garfield Park | March 1894 | Elevated |
Pulaski | Orange | — | Archer Heights/ West Elsdon | October 31, 1993 [7] | Elevated |
Pulaski | Pink | — | North Lawndale | June 16, 1902 [69] | Elevated |
Quincy | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) | The Loop | October 3, 1897 [62] | Elevated |
Racine | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Ridgeland | Green | — | Oak Park | January 25, 1901 | Elevated |
Rockwell | Brown | — | Lincoln Square | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
Roosevelt Ⓣ | Green Orange Red | — | Near South Side | June 6, 1892 [3] / | Elevated/underground |
Rosemont | Blue | — | Rosemont | February 27, 1983 [48] | Expressway median |
Sedgwick | Brown Purple | — | Old Town | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
Sheridan | Red | — | Buena Park | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
South Boulevard | Purple | — | Evanston | July 1, 1931 [70] | Elevated |
Southport | Brown | — | Lake View | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Sox–35th | Red | Metra: RI (at Jones/Bronzeville) | Armour Square | September 28, 1969 [18] | Expressway median |
State/Lake Ⓣ | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Red (at Lake) | The Loop | September 22, 1895 [43] [44] | Elevated |
Thorndale | Red | — | Winchester Hood | February 14, 1915 [71] | Elevated |
UIC–Halsted | Blue | — | Greektown | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Washington Ⓣ | Blue | Red (at Lake) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 [36] [37] | Underground |
Washington/Wabash | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Metra: ME (at Millennium Station) NICTD: (at Millennium Station) | The Loop | August 31, 2017 [72] | Elevated |
Washington/Wells Ⓣ | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) Metra: UP-N UP-W UP-NW (at Ogilvie) | The Loop | July 17, 1995 [73] | Elevated |
Wellington | Brown Purple | — | Lake View | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
Western | Blue | — | Bucktown | May 25, 1895 | Elevated |
Western | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 [39] [40] | Expressway median |
Western | Brown | — | Lincoln Square | May 18, 1907 [22] | Elevated |
Western | Orange | — | Brighton Park/ Gage Park/New City | October 31, 1993 [7] | Elevated |
Western | Pink | — | Lower West Side | September 7, 1896 [74] | Elevated |
Wilson Ⓣ | Purple Red | — | Montrose Beach | May 31, 1900 [5] | Elevated |
Station | Lines | Transfers | Location | Planned opening | Structure | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
103rd | Red | — | Roseland/Washington Heights | 2030 [75] | Elevated | Proposed |
111th | Red | — | Roseland | 2030 [75] | Elevated | Proposed |
130th † | Red | — | Riverdale | 2030 [75] | At-grade | Proposed |
Michigan | Red | — | West Pullman | 2030 [75] | Elevated | Proposed |
The Chicago "L" is the rapid transit system serving 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. In 2016, the "L" had 1,492 rail cars, eight different routes, and 145 train stations. In 2023, the system had 117,447,000 rides, or about 350,900 per weekday in the first quarter of 2024.
Western is an elevated rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s Blue Line, where it is located on the O'Hare branch. The station, opened in 1895, is located within the Bucktown neighborhood in the larger Logan Square community area. It has two side platforms at track level with a station house at street level.
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad was the third elevated rapid transit line to be built in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first of Chicago’s elevated lines to be electrically powered. The main line ran from downtown Chicago to Marshfield Avenue, with branches to Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglas Park. Portions of the system are still operated as sections of the Blue Line and the Pink Line.
Morgan is a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s Green and Pink Lines in Chicago's Near West Side neighborhood. The current station opened at this location in 2012, where a previous station stood from 1893 to 1949.
The Northwestern Elevated Railroad was the last of the privately constructed rapid transit lines to be built in Chicago. The line ran from the Loop in downtown Chicago north to Wilson Avenue in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood with a branch to Ravenswood and Albany Park that left the main line at Clark Street. The Ravenswood line is now operated as the Brown Line, while the Main Line is used by the Purple and Red Lines.
29th was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s South Side main line. Originally constructed by the South Side Elevated Railroad company, it was one of the original ten stations opened on the Chicago "L", beginning service on June 6, 1892. The South Side Elevated Railroad merged operations with three other companies to form Chicago Elevated Railways (CER) in 1911, before merging outright with them in 1924 to form the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT). Public ownership came to the "L" in 1947 with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).
The Metropolitan main line was a rapid transit line of the Chicago "L" system from 1895 to 1958. It ran west from downtown to a junction at Marshfield station. At this point the Garfield Park branch continued westward, while the Douglas Park branch turned south, and the Logan Square branch turned north with the Humboldt Park branch branching from it. In addition to serving the Chicago "L", its tracks and those of the Garfield Park branch also carried the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad, an interurban that served Chicago's western suburbs, between 1905 and 1953.
The North Side Main Line is a branch of the Chicago "L" system that is used by Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains. As of 2012, it is the network's busiest rail branch, serving an average of 123,229 passengers each weekday. The branch is 10.3 miles (16.6 km) long with a total of 21 stations, from Howard Street in Rogers Park down to Lake Street in Chicago's Loop. The branch serves the north side of the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Logan Square branch was an elevated rapid transit line of the Chicago "L", where it was one of the branches of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad. Diverging north from the Metropolitan's main line west of Marshfield station, it opened in 1895 and served Chicago's Logan Square and West Town neighborhoods. North of Damen station, the Humboldt Park branch diverged from the Logan Square branch, going west to serve Humboldt Park. The original Logan Square branch was separated into several sections in 1951, some of which remain in revenue service as of 2023.
The Lake Street Transfer station was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L", serving as a transfer station between its Lake Street Elevated Railroad and the Logan Square branch of its Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad. Located where the Logan Square branch crossed over the Lake Street Elevated, it was in service from 1913 to 1951, when it was rendered obsolete by the opening of the Dearborn Street subway.
Marshfield was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L" in service between 1895 and 1954. Constructed by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, it was the westernmost station of the Metropolitan's main line, which then diverged into three branches. Marshfield was also served by the Aurora Elgin and Chicago Railway (AE&C) and its descendant the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E), an interurban, between 1905 and 1953.
Madison was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, serving its Logan Square branch from 1895 to 1951. The station was typical of those constructed by the Metropolitan, with a Queen Anne station house and two wooden side platforms adjacent to the tracks. For much of its existence, Madison served the nearby sports arena Chicago Stadium.
Laflin was a rapid transit station operated by the Chicago "L"'s Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad and located on its main line. The station existed from 1895 to 1951, when it was closed due to low ridership. The entire main line would soon be demolished for construction of the Eisenhower Expressway and its Congress Line, and the niche served by the Laflin would be filled by an entrance on the new line's Racine station.
Canal was a rapid transit station located on the Metropolitan main line of the Chicago "L" that was in service from 1895 to 1958, when the entire main line was replaced by the Congress Line located in the median of the nearby Eisenhower Expressway. Starting in 1927, the interurban Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E) also served the station, continuing until 1953. The station connected with Chicago's Union Station, which was one of the city's rail terminals. One of the busiest stations on the Metropolitan's routes, and of the "L" in general, it opened a second entrance on Clinton Street in 1914.
Division was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s Logan Square branch, one of several branches of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad. Located on Division Street, the station was constructed by the Metropolitan in the early 1890s and began service on May 6, 1895.
Chicago was a rapid transit station on the Logan Square branch of the Chicago "L", one of the several branches of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, between 1895 and 1951. Located on Chicago Avenue, the station was constructed by the Metropolitan in the early 1890s and began service on May 6, 1895.
Grand was a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L"'s Logan Square branch, one of the several branches of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad. Located on Grand Avenue, the station was constructed by the Metropolitan in the early 1890s and began service on May 6, 1895.
Loomis was a rapid transit station on the Chicago Transit Authority Lake Street Elevated, which is now part of the Green Line. The station was located at the intersection of Lake Street, Loomis Street, and Ogden Avenue in the Near West Side neighborhood. Loomis opened on November 6, 1893, and closed on April 4, 1954.
The North Water Terminal was an "L" station on the North Side main line, located in the Near North Side neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. While the initial portion of the Northwestern Elevated (Loop–Wilson) opened in 1900, the terminal opened on November 17, 1908, to accommodate excess traffic in the downtown area. A walkway was provided to connect the terminal station to the nearby Merchandise Mart station.
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