2008 Woodie Awards
Return the lost 'L' stations, please
Igor Studenkov
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Features
Media Credit: Igor StudenkovThe Madison station, which once bustled with people, now stands empty.
When the Chicago Transit Authority took control of Chicago's 'L' lines in 1947, they took several measures to cut costs and make the system more efficient. The CTA examined the travel patterns, paying special attention to station usage. Over the next few years, they shut down the stations that were underused, close enough to other stations to make them redundant or otherwise expendable. Some riders were disgruntled, but it saved money, and the CTA was happy with that.
Flash forward a few decades. Long-established neighborhoods found a new lease on life. Brand-new neighborhoods were created. Former industrial zones were turned into residential areas. As communities grew and expanded, so did the demand for transit, but the 'L' stations that used to serve those neighborhoods were no longer there. The problem is especially acute in the vicinity of UIC, which is surrounded by neighborhoods of this nature.
First and foremost, there is the Morgan/Lake station. It was located at the modern-day Green Line, above the intersection of Morgan and Lake Streets. The station was built in 1893 for Lake Street Elevated Railroad, serving the nearby warehouse districts and factories. It was closed in 1948.
In recent decades, the nearby Fulton Market District and West Loop neighborhoods saw considerable redevelopment. During the early phases, they were served by the Halsted/Lake station, but the CTA closed it down during the 1994-1996 Green Line renovation. It was supposed to be replaced by reconstructed Morgan/Lake, but those plans were postponed indefinitely.
Since then, the development continued at an escalating pace. The West Loop is crowded with converted lofts and condos, while the Fulton Market District is regaining its commercial vitality. The demand for a local station is strong. Randolph/Fulton Market Association, a local commercial organization, has been lobbying particularly hard, insisting that the station would bring jobs and customers to the area.
Their assertion was supported by Michael Johnson, a barista at the Starbucks on the Randolph and Morgan intersection, who said that, if the station was rebuilt, the coffee house would probably become a lot busier. His fellow barista, John St. James, echoed the sentiment, though he commented that otherwise, he wouldn't care because "[he] prefers to avoid the trains on principle."
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Flash forward a few decades. Long-established neighborhoods found a new lease on life. Brand-new neighborhoods were created. Former industrial zones were turned into residential areas. As communities grew and expanded, so did the demand for transit, but the 'L' stations that used to serve those neighborhoods were no longer there. The problem is especially acute in the vicinity of UIC, which is surrounded by neighborhoods of this nature.
First and foremost, there is the Morgan/Lake station. It was located at the modern-day Green Line, above the intersection of Morgan and Lake Streets. The station was built in 1893 for Lake Street Elevated Railroad, serving the nearby warehouse districts and factories. It was closed in 1948.
In recent decades, the nearby Fulton Market District and West Loop neighborhoods saw considerable redevelopment. During the early phases, they were served by the Halsted/Lake station, but the CTA closed it down during the 1994-1996 Green Line renovation. It was supposed to be replaced by reconstructed Morgan/Lake, but those plans were postponed indefinitely.
Since then, the development continued at an escalating pace. The West Loop is crowded with converted lofts and condos, while the Fulton Market District is regaining its commercial vitality. The demand for a local station is strong. Randolph/Fulton Market Association, a local commercial organization, has been lobbying particularly hard, insisting that the station would bring jobs and customers to the area.
Their assertion was supported by Michael Johnson, a barista at the Starbucks on the Randolph and Morgan intersection, who said that, if the station was rebuilt, the coffee house would probably become a lot busier. His fellow barista, John St. James, echoed the sentiment, though he commented that otherwise, he wouldn't care because "[he] prefers to avoid the trains on principle."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Ken Peterson
posted 4/14/08 @ 6:57 PM CST
I loved your article. I live at River City on Polk St and Wells St. I'd love to see the CTA reopen the Polk St. exit from the Harrison Red Line Station. (Continued…)
Igor Studenkov
posted 5/05/08 @ 1:10 PM CST
Ken Peterson:
Given that the original stairs were removed and paved over, I am afraid it's not very likely, though I'm not ruling it out completely. (Continued…)
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