Pink Line (Chicago Transit Authority)

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Pink Line (Douglas-Loop Service) is the name of a new rapid transit service being operated by the Chicago Transit Authority in Chicago, Illinois for a trial period of 180 days. The new line reroutes 80% of Blue Line Douglas branch trains from Cicero (54th/Cermak) via the previously non-revenue Paulina Connector and the Green Line on Lake Street to reach and circle the Chicago Loop.

1 Background
2 Trial operation
3 Possible route to Ravenswood
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Background

54/Cermak destination sign

Loop destination sign

In January 2005, the CTA held hearings on its proposal to reroute trains from 54th/Cermak via the recently rebuilt Paulina Connector to the Lake Street Green Line, carrying Douglas branch trains to and around the elevated Chicago Loop (clockwise) for the first time since Douglas trains began using the Milwaukee-Dearborn-Congress Subway in downtown Chicago on June 22, 1958. This would allow a doubling of Blue Line trains to Forest Park on the Congress Line, since service would no longer be divided between the Forest Park and 54th/Cermak destinations. The CTA has also promised that service to/from 54th/Cermak would be increased 100% during rush hour.

At the initial time of proposal, this plan was often referred to as the "Silver Line," as the original idea was to use grey as the line color on printed materials and give it the friendlier route name of "Silver."

Opposition to the plan centers on loss of access to other Blue Line destinations such as UIC campus. The CTA has said that two rush hour trains per hour from 54th/Cermak (Douglas) will be routed through the subway to O'Hare International Airport.

On February 15, 2006, the CTA approved the separate plan. Non-rush hour trains would all be routed via the Loop, Green Line, and Paulina Connector. During rush hour, service will be available on this routing as well as the original route via the Dearborn Street Subway. These changes were implemented beginning June 25, 2006. The trial period will conclude 180 days later on December 22, 2006.

[edit] Trial operation

A Pink Line train approaches Ashland station.

The Pink Line began operation on June 25, 2006, using a rebuilt connecting line that had not been used in regular revenue service for nearly 50 years.

The service, though not yet permanent, to be run for a trial period of 180 days (6 months), reroutes about 80% of the Douglas branch trains of the current Blue Line from the 54th Avenue terminal in Cicero away from its current connection with the Congress branch of the Blue Line north via the Paulina Connector to the Lake Street branch of the Green Line, and then over its tracks to the Loop elevated structure downtown. Douglas trains will circle downtown Chicago clockwise around the Inner Loop track via Lake-Wabash-Van Buren-Wells before returning west and southbound via Lake-Paulina to Cicero.

Previously all trains of the Douglas branch operated via the Milwaukee-Dearborn-Congress Subway through to O'Hare Airport.

On March 30, 2006, the Chicago Transit Authority announced that of the top three colors, Pink, Gold and Silver, Pink had received the most votes in a write-in essay contest for Chicago-area schoolchildren in kindergarten through 8th grade. Later in 2006, the CTA will award a $1,000 savings bond to a selected essay writer who advocated the color pink.^[1]

[edit] Possible route to Ravenswood

In 2002, the CTA proposed the creation of the "Circle Line", which would utilize segments of existing rail lines to keep new construction to a minimum, in addition to 6.6 miles of new subway and elevated segments to the 'L' system to complete the circumferential route. Maps additionally suggested a possible extension of the existing Brown Line beyond the Loop to 54th/Cermak via the Green Line and the Paulina Connector, and Orange Line service from Midway Airport to Kimball, as other potential routings using the new infrastructure. This project is currently undergoing a standard federally mandated alternatives analysis.