Cermak branch explained

Cermak branch
Type:Rapid transit
System:Chicago "L"
Status:Operational
Locale:Chicago, Illinois, United States
Cicero, Illinois
Start:54th/Cermak
End:Polk
Stations:11
Daily Ridership:17,474 (average weekday Feb. 2013)
Operator:Chicago Transit Authority
Character:Elevated, At-Grade Level
Stock:5000-series
Linelength:6.6miles
Electrification:Third rail, 600 V DC
Map State:collapsed

The Cermak branch, formerly known as the Douglas branch, is a 6.6miles long section of the Pink Line of the Chicago "L" system in Chicago, Illinois. It was built by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated west of the Loop. As of February 2013, it serves an average of 17,474 passengers every weekday.[1] The branch serves the Near West Side, Pilsen, Lower West Side, South Lawndale, and North Lawndale neighborhoods of Chicago, and the west suburb Cicero, Illinois. The branch operates from 4:05 a.m. to 1:25 a.m., weekdays, and Saturdays from 5:05 a.m. to 1:25 a.m., and Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 1:25 a.m., including holidays.

History

Initially known as the Douglas Park branch, construction began in June 1893 and the line was inaugurated on April 28, 1896, between Marshfield Avenue and . The branch started off with four stations and was the shortest of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated. Construction time was longer than in other sections.[2] On August 7, 1896, the Douglas Park branch was extended to .[3]

On June 29, 1900, the City of Chicago approved an extension of the branch to (then 40th Avenue) and construction took place in mid-June 1901. On March 10, 1902, the Douglas Park branch was extended to Lawndale Avenue, which allowed the opening of four new stations:,, Homan, and Clifton Park (Drake).

On May 22, 1907, the Douglas Park branch was extended to 46th Avenue (Kenton Avenue), which is the Chicago city limits. The station was a few meters from the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric which was one of the largest employers in the area of Chicago at the time. On December 16, 1907, the Douglas Park branch was extended to (then 48th Avenue), extending service to the town of Cicero, Illinois.

On August 20, 1910, the Douglas Park branch was extended to (then 52nd Avenue Avenue).[2] On August 1, 1912, service was extended to 56th Avenue (Central Avenue)[4] and extended again to Lombard Avenue exactly three years later. The final stretch on the branch was to Oak Park Avenue, in Berwyn, which opened on March 16, 1924.[5]

On December 9, 1951, during the establishment of skip/stop A/B, the Chicago Transit Authority l, which had taken over operation of the "L" system in 1947, streamlined service on the line and shut down five stations: 14th Place, Homan, Drake, Lawndale and Kenton, while opening a station at . On February 3, 1952, service on the Douglas line was suspended to all stations west of . Service to these areas was replaced by a bus route.[6]

The stations at Roosevelt and Douglas Park were closed three months later.[2] On June 22, 1958, Douglas trains were rerouted to the West-Northwest route, the Congress branch, the new line in the middle of the Eisenhower Expressway and connecting routes to the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway, heading north to .[7] The new system changed the service and it was decided that all stations on the Douglas branch would now be "B" and the Congress branch would now be "A". In 1973, due to budget cuts, the 50th Avenue station closed.[2]

Renovations

In 1983, and were rebuilt to make them ADA accessible for passengers with disabilities. The poorly utilized station was closed to accelerate service the following year. In 1993, was rebuilt to provide access for passengers with disabilities and the CTA color-coded the lines, placing the Douglas branch as part of the Blue Line. In 1995, the A/B service was abandoned and all trains stop at every station, which does not affect the service of the stations on the Douglas branch. In 1996, the CTA changed the name of the branch to the Cermak branch, although Chicagoans still use the name "Douglas" to refer to the line. In 1998, the branch lost its 24-hour service, along with the Purple and Green lines. On September 10, 2001, the CTA began a $363 million renovation project of the branch which was completed on January 8, 2005.[8] As of today, all eleven stations on the branch are ADA accessible.

Current

The current Pink Line route was assigned to the Douglas branch on June 25, 2006.[9] The CTA ended Blue Line service on the Douglas branch on April 25, 2008.[2]

Station listing

StationLocationNotes
Oak Park Avenue and 22nd StreetClosed February 3, 1952; demolished
Ridgeland Avenue and 21st StreetClosed February 3, 1952; demolished
Lombard Avenue and 21st StreetClosed February 3, 1952; demolished
Austin Boulevard and 21st StreetClosed February 3, 1952; demolished
58th Avenue and 21st StreetClosed February 3, 1952; demolished
Central Avenue and Cermak RoadClosed February 3, 1952; demolishedOriginally known as 56th Avenue
2151 S. 54th Avenue, Cicero, IllinoisAuxiliary entrance at Laramie Avenue
2130 S. Laramie Avenue, Cicero, IllinoisClosed February 9, 1992; reopened in December 2001 during Douglas branch renovation and closed on August 16, 2003Originally known as 52nd Avenue
2133 S. 50th Avenue, Cicero, IllinoisClosed 1978; deconstructed, reassembled, and preserved in Illinois Railway Museum
2134 S. Cicero Avenue, Cicero, IllinoisOriginally known as 48th Avenue
KentonCermak Road west of Kilbourn AvenueClosed December 9, 1951; demolished
2019 S. Kostner Avenue Originally known as Kildare (one block east of Kostner) until 2002; became Kostner July 17, 2003 and Kildare was converted into an auxiliary entrance
Originally known as 40th Avenue Terminal and later Crawford Avenue.
Lawndale Avenue and 21st StreetClosed December 9, 1951; demolished
1944 S. Central Park AvenueSouth Lawndale, Little Village
Drake Avenue and 21st StreetClosed December 9, 1951; demolished
Homan Avenue and 21st StreetClosed December 9, 1951; demolished
1944 S. Kedzie Avenue
2008 S. Marshall BoulevardClosed May 3, 1952; demolished
2010 S. California Avenue
2010 S. Western Avenue
2010 S. Damen AvenueOriginally known as Hoyne (one block west of Damen) until 2002; became Damen on July 22, 2004 and Hoyne was converted into an auxiliary entrance
WoodWood Street and 21st StreetClosed May 19, 1957; demolished
1710 W. 18th Street
14th Place and Paulina StreetClosed December 9, 1951; demolished
Roosevelt Road and Paulina StreetClosed May 3, 1952; demolishedOriginally known as 12th Street
1713 W. Polk Street

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ridership Report: February 2013. Chicago Transit Authority. April 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180204060328/http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/ridership_reports/2013-2.pdf. February 4, 2018.
  2. Web site: Cermak (Douglas) branch. Chicago"L".org. August 18, 2013.
  3. . The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad . 1898 . 2013-08-18.
  4. . Chicago Elevated Railroads . 1913 . 2013-08-18.
  5. J.P. Shealy Street Guide . Know Chicago - Shealy's New Idea Street Guide for Quick Service . 1925 . 2013-08-18.
  6. Chicago Transit Authority . Chicago Transit Map . 1954 . 2013-08-18.
  7. Chicago Transit Authority . Skokie Swift: "The Commuter's Friend" . 1965 . 2013-08-18.
  8. Web site: Douglas branch renovation. Kiewit Corporation. February 9, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131006153218/https://www.kiewit.com/projects/transportation/cta-blue-line-rehabilitation-douglas-branch.aspx. October 6, 2013.
  9. Web site: Groark. Virginia. CTA Pink Line is ready for service. Chicago Tribune. February 9, 2013.