Chicago (CTA Brown Line)

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For other CTA stations named Chicago, see Chicago (CTA).

Chicago

Coordinates:	800 N, 300 W
Lines:	Brown; Purple
Platforms:	2
Opened:	1900
2005 passenger entrances:	1,204,994 5%

Chicago (sometimes Chicago/Franklin, correctly read Chicago and Franklin) is an elevated station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, located in the Near North Side at 300 West Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois (directional coordinates 800 north, 300 west). The station was established in 1900 as part of the original series of stations on the Northwestern Elevated. There is a high density of art galleries and several schools in the vicinity of the station, including the Moody Bible Institute.

The small station house is on the north side of Chicago Avenue. Beyond turnstiles are staircases which lead up to the two long side platforms; southbound trains stop at the west platform while northbound trains stop at the east platform. The Chicago platforms are unusually long, starting just north of Chicago Avenue and curving along the track before straightening out just south of Chicago Avenue. Early in the station's history, it not only served 'L' trains but North Shore Line interurbans as well, requiring longer platforms which could berth more than one train at a time. The number of tracks also decreased from four to two just north of Chicago, meaning the two track, two side platform station had to provide the same capacity as a four track, two island platform station like Belmont or Fullerton. Currently, the northern, curved parts of the platforms are blocked off to passenger use; trains stop south of Chicago Avenue along the straighter portion of the track which is long enough for eight-car trains. In late 2006, the southern ends of both platforms were further shortened to support the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project and have not reopened. Ironically, the canopies covering the platforms are mostly located above the unused portions. There are exit-only turnstiles to Superior Street on the south end of both platforms, along with an auxiliary exit to the south side of Chicago Avenue on the southbound platform.

Chicago primarily serves the Brown Line but Purple Line Express trains also stop there during weekday rush hours.

[edit] Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project

The Chicago station is currently slated to receive major renovation under the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project. New station houses will be constructed above street level on the south side of Chicago Avenue and on each platform, while the original, historic station house will be restored and used for support systems. Another entrance will be provided on Superior Street, and the platforms will be rebuilt. The canopies will be refurbished and moved south, over the operational part of the platform. Additionally, the station will be made ADA compliant through the installation of elevators. ^[1]^[2]

It is planned for Chicago to remain open during construction on weekdays, although it will be necessary for the station to be closed up to several weekends to allow crews unrestricted access to the station. The Chicago subway station of the Red Line is only a few blocks east, and the CTA recommends using that alternate service in conjunction with the #66 Chicago bus.

The first of six expected closures occurred the weekend of December 2 and 3, 2006.^[3]