18th station
| Company type | Chicago 'L' rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | April 28, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago metropolitan area |
18th serves as a station on the 'L' system, located along the CTA's Pink Line at 1710 West 18th Street within Chicago's Pilsen district. This stop is distinguished by colorful murals created by artists from the Pilsen community.
History
The station originally commenced operations on April 28, 1896, as a component of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad's Douglas Park branch. Between May 1991 and March 1993, the initial structure was demolished and replaced with a new facility. On June 25, 2006, service on the 18th station along with others on the 54th/Cermak branch was reassigned from the Blue Line to the Pink Line. This change redirected trains from the Blue Line’s Dearborn subway route to a path running along Paulina Avenue, linking with Green Line tracks west of Ashland station before looping through downtown and returning to 54th/Cermak.
In 2016, the Chicago Central Area Commission introduced plans for the Connector Transitway, which would have its terminus at 18th station, with the goal of improving transit connections in central Chicago.
Due to vandalism in 2020, segments of murals installed in 1998 were removed. Subsequently, the CTA collaborated with local residents to rehabilitate these artworks, highlighting its dedication to supporting cultural initiatives in Pilsen.
Bus connections
- 18 16th/18th