Harold Washington Library – State/Van Buren (CTA station)

Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren
Station statistics
Address One West Van Buren Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Lines
  Brown Line
  Orange Line
  Purple Line weekday rush hours only
  Pink Line
Connections
  Red Line via Jackson/State
  Blue Line via Jackson/Dearborn
Structure Elevated
Platforms 2 Side platforms
Tracks 2
Bicycle facilities Yes
Other information
Opened October 3, 1897
Closed September 2, 1973
Rebuilt June 22, 1997
Accessible
Owned by Chicago Transit Authority
Formerly State/Van Buren
Library-State/Van Buren
Traffic
Passengers (2009) 1,251,260[1]  7% (CTA)
Services
Preceding station   Chicago 'L'   Following station
One-way operation
 Brown Line
toward Kimball
One-way operation
 Orange Line
toward Midway
One-way operation
 Purple Line
toward Linden
Pink Line
    Free transfers    
toward Howard
 Red Line
Transfer at: Jackson
toward O'Hare
 Blue Line
Transfer at: Jackson

Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren (formerly Library-State/Van Buren, commonly abbreviated as Library) is a handicapped accessible 'L' station serving the CTA's Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines. Originally, the station was to have direct access to the second floor of the Harold Washington Library building, but this direct connection was never built. Free transfers are also available at the station for Blue and Red Lines via the Jackson/State and Jackson/Dearborn subway stations. It was originally known as State/Van Buren when it first opened in 1897. The station was closed on September 2, 1973, along with six other stations, due to low ridership.[2] It was rebuilt and reopened on June 22, 1997 in order to serve the city's central library.[3] The Chicago Transit Authority board voted unanimously on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, to rename the station to its current name.[4]

Bus connections

CTA

References

  1. ^ "Rail Ridership by Branch and Entrance: December 2009" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority. http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/ridership_reports/2009-12.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 
  2. ^ Buck, Thomas (September 2, 1973). "CTA Shutting Down 7 Rapid Transit Stations Today". Chicago Tribune: p. 5. 
  3. ^ Hilkevitch, Jon (June 18, 1997). "Library Going on CTA Line - New Rail Station to Bring Riders Right Next to Books". Chicago Tribune: p. 3. 
  4. ^ Hilkevitch, Jon. "'L' stop named for Mayor Harold Washington". Chicago Breaking News. Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/10/l-station-to-take-harold-washingtons-name.html. Retrieved October 7, 2010.