Type Rapid transit Status Operational Stations 8 | System Chicago "L" Termini Roosevelt
Garfield | |
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Locale Chicago, Illinois, United States | ||
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. The branch is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long with a total of 8 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.
Contents
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 2012, the platform of the 58th street station was completely demolished. In 2015, a new Cermak–McCormick Place Station was built in the same location as the original Cermak Station, to serve the McCormick Place convention center.