Dan Ryan branch
| Company type | Rapid transit branch |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago South Side |
| Owner | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Website | www |
The Dan Ryan branch constitutes a portion of Chicago's Chicago "L" network, situated on the city's South Side. Managed by the Chicago Transit Authority as an integral segment of the Red Line, it extends through the downtown area to the North Side by way of the State Street subway. As recorded in February 2013, this branch accommodates an average weekday ridership of 45,355 passengers. Operating around the clock, it serves several prominent neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Armour Square, Fuller Park, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, and Roseland.
History
Following World War II, the CTA initiated development of new L lines within freeway medians, beginning with the Congress Branch in 1958. On July 30 of that year, plans were proposed for routes in the medians of both the Dan Ryan Expressway and Kennedy Expressway. Constructed between 1967 and 1969 at an expenditure of $38 million, the Dan Ryan branch commenced operations on September 28, 1969. Originally linked to the Lake Street Elevated through the Loop and the South Side Main Line, it rapidly exceeded anticipated ridership by 10%, reaching a daily count of 99,000 riders by 1970. This surge redirected passenger demand away from the South Side Elevated and its Englewood and Jackson Park branches.
Service was interrupted for two weeks starting January 4, 1978, due to structural fissures detected near Clark and 18th Streets that required repair. With the CTA’s color-coded routing update on February 21, 1993, the Dan Ryan branch was incorporated into the Red Line. It was rerouted to connect with the State Street subway and North Side Main Line to optimize operational efficiency and better match ridership patterns; concurrently, the Lake Branch combined with the South Side Elevated to form what is now known as the Green Line. This configuration employed a subway extension reaching 16th and Wentworth completed between 1985 and 1990.
Initially outfitted with concrete railroad ties that deteriorated prematurely, these were subsequently replaced by wooden ties. Beginning April 17, 2004, a $192.5 million refurbishment enhanced signals, substations, platform shelters, and installed elevators at both the 47th and 69th stops to improve service dependability and accessibility.
Red Line South reconstruction project
On November 3, 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Pat Quinn, CTA President Forrest Claypool, alongside other officials announced local and $646 million in state funding dedicated to renovating the branch. Two construction strategies were evaluated: either a full closure lasting five months or restricted weekend work extending over four years; ultimately, the five-month complete shutdown was selected.
The Dan Ryan branch ceased operations on May 19, 2013 as part of the $425 million Red Line South Reconstruction Project. At that time, after 44 years in service, deteriorating track conditions had resulted in slower travel times, crowding issues, and inconsistent service reliability. The initiative upgraded Garfield, 63rd, and 87th stations while adding elevators to ensure all stations along the Dan Ryan branch met accessibility standards. During this period, Red Line trains were diverted via the South Side Elevated to Ashland/63rd station; concurrently Green Line trains operated along Cottage Grove. The fully renovated Dan Ryan branch along with nine stations resumed service on October 20, 2013.
Extension
Plans are in progress to extend the Red Line further south beyond 95th Street. The CTA initially proposed nine possible routes, which included options along the medians of both the Bishop Ford Freeway and Interstate 57. By April 2007, the CTA had refined these to five alternatives: two bus rapid transit (BRT) routes along Halsted Street or Michigan Avenue, and three heavy rail possibilities—either underground or elevated—through the Halsted corridor, Michigan corridor, or the Union Pacific Railroad corridor heading toward the South Shore Line. In October 2008, the CTA initiated a $150,000 study focused on extending service from 95th Street to 130th Street in Riverdale.
Alternatives
The federally required Alternatives Analysis Study completed in December 2008 reduced the transit options to two corridors: Halsted Street (either Bus Rapid Transit or elevated Heavy Rail Transit) and the Union Pacific Railroad corridor (elevated Heavy Rail Transit).
By December 2009, the CTA designated the Union Pacific corridor as the Locally Preferred Alternative. This plan envisions a new elevated rail extension running from 95th/Dan Ryan to a terminal at 130th Street, closely following the Union Pacific Railroad and South Shore Line through Far South Side neighborhoods such as Roseland, Washington Heights, West Pullman, and Riverdale. Proposed station locations include stops at 103rd, 111th, and Michigan avenues, with a new rail yard and maintenance facility planned near 120th Street. Currently, preliminary engineering and environmental impact assessments are underway to finalize the design and alignment details.
Station listing
| Station | Location |
|---|---|
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 138 W. Cermak Road |
| Template:Cta Disabled access Template:Rint | 142 W. 35th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 220 W. 47th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 220 W. Garfield Boulevard |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 220 W. 63rd Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 15 W. 69th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 15 W. 79th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 15 W. 87th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 15 W. 95th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 405 W. 103rd Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 357 W. 111th Street |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 11549 S. Michigan Avenue |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1100 E. 130th Street |
