Cermak branch
| Company type | Rapid transit branch |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | April 28, 1896 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago, Illinois; Cicero, Illinois |
| Products | Rapid transit service |
The Cermak branch, previously known as the Douglas branch, forms a portion of Chicago's Pink Line within the Chicago "L" network. Originally constructed by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad to the west of the Loop, this segment caters to an average weekday ridership of 17,474 passengers as reported in February 2013. It provides transit services to several prominent Chicago neighborhoods, including the Near West Side, Pilsen, Lower West Side, South Lawndale, and North Lawndale, as well as extending into the suburb of Cicero, Illinois.
Service operates daily from 4:05 a.m. until 1:25 a.m. on weekdays; Saturdays from 5:05 a.m. to 1:25 a.m.; and Sundays and holidays from 5:00 a.m. through 1:25 a.m.
History
Originally designated the Douglas Park branch, construction commenced in June 1893. The initial section opened on April 28, 1896, running between Marshfield Avenue and , with four stations, making it the shortest line within the Metropolitan West Side Elevated system. This was extended to on August 7, 1896.
On June 29, 1900, city authorities approved an extension reaching (then known as 40th Avenue), with building work beginning around mid-1901. By March 10, 1902, the line had been extended to Lawndale Avenue, adding stations at , , Homan, and Clifton Park along its route.
The branch continued expanding westward to 46th Avenue (Kenton Avenue) by May 22, 1907, located near the Western Electric Hawthorne facility—a significant employer in the area. Service further reached (48th Avenue) by December 16, 1907, thus extending into Cicero, Illinois.
Additional extensions followed: reaching (52nd Avenue) on August 20, 1910; then to 56th Avenue (Central Avenue) on August 1, 1912; Lombard Avenue in 1915; and ultimately Oak Park Avenue in Berwyn on March 16, 1924.
When the Chicago Transit Authority implemented skip/stop A/B service on December 9, 1951, five stations—14th Place, Homan, Drake, Lawndale, and Kenton—were closed while a new station opened at . Subsequently, on February 3, 1952, service beyond was discontinued and replaced by bus transit. Roosevelt and Douglas Park stations were shuttered three months later.
On June 22, 1958, Douglas branch trains were rerouted via the Congress branch along the Eisenhower Expressway corridor to connect with the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway, continuing northbound to . The Douglas branch was labeled as "B" service while Congress was designated "A". Due to budget constraints, the 50th Avenue station ceased operations in 1973.
Renovations
In 1983, both Polk and Cicero Pink stations underwent reconstruction to meet ADA accessibility standards. The lightly used Laramie Blue station was closed in 1984 to improve overall travel times. By 1993, 18th station was rebuilt for ADA compliance; simultaneously CTA introduced color-coded lines assigning the Douglas branch to the Blue Line. The A/B skip-stop system was discontinued in 1995 with all trains servicing every station equally—this change did not affect Douglas branch operations. In 1996, the line was renamed the Cermak branch, although "Douglas" remains a common informal reference. The branch’s round-the-clock service ended in 1998 alongside similar reductions on Purple and Green lines. A major $363 million renovation project commenced on September 10, 2001 and concluded by January 8, 2005. Presently, all eleven stations along the branch comply fully with ADA accessibility requirements.
Current
The Douglas branch was designated as the Pink Line on June 25, 2006. Service by the Blue Line on this branch concluded on April 25, 2008.
Station listing
%}References
| Station | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Park Avenue and 22nd Street | Shut down February 3, 1952; subsequently demolished | |
| Ridgeland Avenue and 21st Street | Closed February 3, 1952; later demolished | |
| Lombard Avenue and 21st Street | Terminated February 3, 1952; demolished afterward | |
| Austin Boulevard and 21st Street | Service ended February 3, 1952; demolished since | |
| 58th Avenue and 21st Street | Closed as of February 3, 1952; demolished following closure | |
| Central Avenue and Cermak Road | Demolished after closing February 3, 1952; initially called 56th Avenue | |
| 2151 S. 54th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois | Features an additional entrance at Laramie Avenue | |
| 2130 S. Laramie Avenue, Cicero, Illinois | Closed February 9, 1992; reopened in December 2001 for renovations; closed again August 16, 2003; originally named 52nd Avenue | |
| 2133 S. 50th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois | Ceased operation in 1978; preserved at Illinois Railway Museum | |
| 2134 S. Cicero Avenue, Cicero, Illinois | Formerly known as 48th Avenue | |
| Kenton | Located on Cermak Road west of Kilbourn Avenue | Closed December 9, 1951; since demolished |
| 2019 S. Kostner Avenue | Originally named Kildare until renamed Kostner on July 17, 2003; Kildare became a secondary entrance in 2002 | |
| 2021 S. Pulaski Road | Previously called the 40th Avenue Terminal and later Crawford Avenue | |
| Lawndale Avenue and 21st Street | Closed December 9, 1951; subsequently demolished | |
| 1944 S. Central Park Avenue | Situated within South Lawndale, Chicago#Little Village | |
| Drake Avenue and 21st Street | Service discontinued December 9, 1951; demolished afterward | |
| Homan Avenue and 21st Street | Shut down December 9, 1951; later demolished | |
| 1944 S. Kedzie Avenue | ||
| "Douglas Park" | "2008 S. Marshall Boulevard" | "Closed May 3, 1952; demolished thereafter" |
| "2010 S. California Avenue" | ||
| "" | "2010 S. Western Avenue" | |
| "" | "2010 S. Damen Avenue" | "Originally named Hoyne until renamed Damen on July 22, 2004; Hoyne converted to a secondary entrance" |
| "Wood station (CTA Douglas branch)" | "Wood Street and 21st Street" | "Closed May 19,1957; since demolished" |
| "" | "1710 W.18th Street" | |
| "14th Place" | "14th Place and Paulina Street" | "Closed December9,1951; demolished afterward" |
| "Roosevelt Douglas" | "Roosevelt Road and Paulina Street" | "Closed May3,1952; demolished; initially known as12th Street" |
| "" | "1713 W.Polk Street" |