Montrose (CTA Blue Line)

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Montrose
Station statistics
Address 4600 W. Montrose Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60641
Coordinates (4400N/4600W)
Lines
Blue Line
Connections
Milwaukee District/North
CTA Bus
Structure Surface Level
Platforms 1 Island Platform
Tracks 2
Bicycle facilities Yes
Other information
Opened February 1,1970
Owned by Chicago Transit Authority
Traffic (CTA)
Passengers (2006) 582,992 ▲ 1%

Montrose is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, serving the Blue Line.

A transfer is available to Metra's Milwaukee District North Line's Mayfair stop, just to the west of the station.

[edit] History

The extension of the Milwaukee Line of the West-Northwest Route (the forerunner of today's Blue Line) reached its new terminal at Jefferson Park via a new subway and the median of the Kennedy Expressway. After running in subway under Milwaukee and Kimball avenues, the line crosses under the eastbound lanes of the John F. Kennedy Expressway at School Street (3300N), ascends to the surface and continues northwest another four miles in the median of the Kennedy Expressway to Jefferson Park (5400N). Built concurrently with the Dan Ryan Line -- and together known as the Kennedy-Dan Ryan ("KDR") project -- the Kennedy extension incorporated several new design features that were considered revolutionary or at least very modern for the time.

The design of the six stations of the Kennedy extension was carried out by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill under the direction of Myron Goldsmith, who developed a modern, functional form in the late International style popular at the time. Improved visibility and security, ease of cleaning and more comfortable working conditions for CTA employee were design goals. Skidmore took the KDR project in a unique direction, designing all aspects of the new lines to harmonize in both shapes and materials. All windbreaks, dividers, and ticket booths were stainless steel. The formal and functional criteria were expressed in several ways: open, uncluttered, brightly lit interior spaces; durability, safety, maximum efficiency of movement; lightness and purity of structure. The shape of everything, from the buildings to the agents' booths, to the trashcans, followed together into a seamless design philosophy, which perfectly captured the boxy, purely functional International Modern style for which Skidmore is so well known.

Montrose is one of four median stations, which were the centerpieces of Skidmore's design for the line. The International style stations were constructed of white steel and glass providing maximum visibility from adjacent streets and highways boxy. In terms of interior arrangement and design for the passenger, Skidmore generally followed the edict of modernist pioneer Mies van der Rohe that ‚ "less is more." Except for at a few locations, there were no concessions provided for passengers. Air conditioning and a compact washroom with a toilet were provided in the agents' booths. Restrooms were for employees only, though payphones were provided. Stainless steel turnstiles, now an industry standard, were first used here. The amenities and traffic circulation fit with the architectural design of the station: efficient but purely functional. Stations were designed with wide walkways and no blind corners, with turnstiles and agents booths arranged for maximum queuing and circulation effectiveness. The Dan Ryan and Kennedy stations were also set up to allow Pay On Train operation, though without all of the complicated gates and rearrangement built into the Congress stations. The boarding platforms are long enough to accommodate 8-car trains. The supports of the transparent platform canopies, which extend beyond the center line of the tracks, are white-painted steel frames. Self-service infrared radiant heaters are located at windbreaks on the platforms.

[edit] Connections

Metra Milwaukee District/North Line

CTA Buses

  • 54: Cicero
  • 54A: North Cicero/Skokie
  • X54: Cicero Express
  • 78: Montrose

[edit] External links

Preceding station   Chicago 'L'   Following station
toward O'Hare
 Blue Line
Preceding station   Metra   Following station
toward Fox Lake
 Milwaukee District/North
Transfer at: Mayfair