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South Side Elevated

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South Side Elevated
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleChicago, Illinois, United States
Termini
Stations8
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemChicago "L"
ServicesGreen
Operator(s)Chicago Transit Authority (1947–present)
Chicago Rapid Transit Company (1924–1947)
South Side Elevated Railroad (1892–1924)
Rolling stock5000-series
Daily ridership8,119
(average weekday 2019)
History
OpenedJune 6, 1892
Technical
Line length6.5 mi (10.5 km)
CharacterElevated
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 600 V DC
Route map

Loop
Congress |
Congress/
Wabash
Harrison Curve
Realigned
in 2003
State Street subway
to North Side Main Line
Roosevelt
13th Street incline
State Street subway
to Dan Ryan branch
St. Charles Air Line
17th Junction
to Midway branch
and Dan Ryan branch
18th Street
Cermak–McCormick Place
26th Street
29th Street
31st Street
MTCC tube
33rd Street
35th–Bronzeville–IIT
Pershing
Chicago Junction Railway
Stock Yards branch
to Union Stock Yards
Indiana
Kenwood branch
to 42nd Place
43rd
47th
51st
Garfield Park and ride
58th
59th Junction
Englewood branch
to Ashland/63rd
Jackson Park branch
to Cottage Grove

The South Side Elevated is a branch of the Chicago "L" system in Chicago, Illinois that is served by the Green Line. It has on average 12,509 passengers, counting branch divisions, boarding each weekday as of February 2013, according to the Chicago Transit Authority.[1] The branch is 6.5 miles (10.5 km)[2] long with a total of 8 stations, and runs from the Near South Side to the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Route

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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

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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 branches 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 (now Ashland) and Jackson Park (now East 63rd) branches remain.

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

Station listing

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Station Location Notes
Congress Terminal 550 S. Holden Court Closed October 18, 1897, reopened March 10, 1902. Closed August 1, 1949; demolished.
Congress/Wabash 500 S. Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
Roosevelt Disabled access Metra or South Shore connection 22 E. Roosevelt Road

Originally called 12th Street

18th Street 18th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
Cermak–McCormick Place Disabled access 12 E. Cermak Road

Originally called 22nd Street

26th Street 26th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
29th Street 29th Street and Wabash Avenue Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
31st Street 31st Street near State Street Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
33rd Street 33rd Street and Wabash Avenue Closed September 25, 1961; demolished
35th–Bronzeville–IIT Disabled access Metra or South Shore connection 16 E. 35th Street Originally called 35th Street, later Tech-35th
Pershing Pershing Road and State Street Original southern terminal, Closed August 1, 1949; demolished
Indiana Disabled access 4003 S. Indiana Avenue Former terminal for Stock Yards and Kenwood Lines
43rd Disabled access 314 E. 43rd Street
47th Disabled access 314 E. 47th Street Terminal of Prairie extension.
51st Disabled access 319 E. 51st Street Terminal of Washington Park extension.
Garfield Disabled access 320 E. Garfield Boulevard Originally called 55th Street
58th 320-24 E. 58th Street Closed January 9, 1994; demolished
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References

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  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.