South Side main line (CTA)
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 7 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 February 2012, the platform of the 58th street station was completely demolished.
New station at Cermak
On January 17, 2012, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel announced at a press conference that the Cermak station will be rebuilt in order to serve McCormick Place.[3][4] Construction on the new station began in August 2013 and it opened on February 8, 2015.[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 |
| 35th–Bronzeville–IIT |
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 |
Image gallery
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Railcar #1 is one of the oldest trains from the South Side Elevated Railroad
-
An Orange Line train (behind the turning train) at the northern end of the South Side Elevated branch
-
The Cottage Grove station is the terminus of the Jackson Park branch
-
A CTA monument overlooking the Ashland/63rd terminal
See also
External links
- Green Line: South Side Elevated at Chicago-L.org
References
- ↑ "Ridership Report: February 2013" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority. transitchicago.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ↑ Garfield, Graham. "South Side Elevated". Chicago-L.org. Chicago 'L'. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Mayor Emanuel Opens Newly-Renovated Grand Avenue Red Line Station" (Press release). City of Chicago. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Emanuel to announce two new CTA stations". abclocal.go.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ↑ 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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