Adams/Wabash station

Adams/Wabash is an 'L' station serving the CTA's Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines. Until 1963, it also served interurban trains of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. It is the closest CTA station to Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Adams/Wabash   200S 45E
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
General information
Location	201–23 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60604
Coordinates	41.8795°N 87.6261°W / 41.8795; -87.6261
Owned by	Chicago Transit Authority
Line(s)	Loop Elevated
Platforms	2 Side platforms
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
History
Opened	November 8, 1896; 128 years ago (1896-11-08)
Rebuilt	1987–1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Passengers
2020	636,466[1]  69.5%
Rank	27 out of 143
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Washington/​Wabash One-way operation Orange Line Roosevelt toward Midway Washington/​Wabash toward Harlem/Lake Green Line Roosevelt toward Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove Washington/​Wabash One-way operation Purple Line Express Library toward Linden Pink Line Library toward 54th/Cermak Washington/​Wabash toward Kimball Brown Line Library One-way operation
Former services Preceding station Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad Following station Madison/Wabash toward Milwaukee North Shore Line Congress/Wabash Closed 1949 One-way operation Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Madison/Wabash Closed 2015 One-way operation Orange Line Roosevelt toward Midway Madison/Wabash Closed 2015 toward Harlem/Lake Green Line Roosevelt toward Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove Madison/Wabash Closed 2015 One-way operation Purple Line Express Library toward Linden Pink Line Library toward 54th/Cermak Madison/Wabash Closed 2015 toward Kimball Brown Line Library One-way operation Madison/Wabash toward Harlem/Lake Lake–Dan Ryan Line Cermak–Chinatown toward 95th/Dan Ryan
Track layout Legend Green to Harlem/Lake Brown to Kimball Adams St. Purple Express to Linden Orange to Midway Pink to 54th/Cermak Green to Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove
Location

History

The station was opened on November 8, 1896, by Lake Street Elevated Railroad before being incorporated into Charles Yerkes's Union Loop in October 1897.^[2]

The station originally had separate ticket offices, one for each platform. The station houses were painted sheet metal similar to Madison/Wabash or Quincy stations with Corinthian pilasters and Baroque style window frames.

Each of the platforms was divided in half to create separate boarding areas for the two "L" companies serving the station. Passengers wishing to transfer between trains had to enter the station house and purchase a ticket for the other company. Transfers were simplified in 1913 and passengers were then able to access the entire platform with the same ticket.^[2]

In 1940, during the first renovation of the station, a footbridge was built over the tracks. In 1967 fare control was moved to the mezzanine below the tracks, replacing the original station houses on the platform level.^[2] Given the high traffic at the station, the two paths (below and above the tracks) have always coexisted.

In 1987, the mezzanine and the platforms were given a new makeover. Exit stairs and control booths were installed at each end of the platforms. The roof of the station was also replaced and extended on the platforms. This work lasted 2 years.

Bus connections

CTA

• 1 Bronzeville/Union Station (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 7 Harrison (Weekdays only)
• 28 Stony Island (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 126 Jackson
• 151 Sheridan

References

1. "Annual Ridership Report – Calendar Year 2020" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority, Ridership Analysis and Reporting. January 19, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
2. "Chicago L.org: Stations - Adams/Wabash". www.chicago-l.org. Retrieved June 23, 2021.

External links

Media related to Adams/Wabash (CTA) at Wikimedia Commons

• Adams/Wabash Station Page at Chicago-L.org
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IL-1-C, "Union Elevated Railroad, Adams Street Station"
• Adams Street entrance from Google Maps Street View