California station (CTA Congress Line)
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 22, 1958 |
| Defunct | September 2, 1973 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
California station is a defunct rapid transit stop situated within Chicago's East Garfield Park area. Positioned in the central reservation of the Eisenhower Expressway, it formerly operated on the Chicago Transit Authority's Congress Line, which is currently incorporated into the Blue Line. This station commenced operations on June 22, 1958, and ceased service on September 2, 1973, as a result of budget-driven closures implemented by the CTA.
Elevated station
The initial California stop was inaugurated in 1895 on the Garfield Park branch of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated. Starting December 9, 1951, with the rollout of skip-stop service, California was classified as a B station and was exclusively served by B trains. The elevated facility was shut down in 1953 when train routes were diverted to provisional tracks along Van Buren Street to facilitate the construction of the Congress Expressway and an accompanying new branch line located in the expressway median.
Expressway-median station
The current California station began operations on June 22, 1958, as part of the newly constructed Congress branch. In contrast to its elevated predecessor, it was categorized as an A station and received service from A trains. All stations westward from Racine station on this line were designated A stations; meanwhile, B trains served the Douglas branch (presently known as the Pink Line). The station was closed on September 2, 1973, amid a reduction in systemwide services.