Kostner station (CTA Congress Line)
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | August 5, 1962 |
| Defunct | September 2, 1973 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | West Garfield Park, Chicago |
Kostner is a disused rapid transit stop located in Chicago's West Garfield Park area. It was part of the Chicago Transit Authority's Congress Line, which is currently incorporated into the Blue Line. The station commenced operations on August 5, 1962, nearly four years after the Congress Line began service on June 22, 1958. Due to insufficient passenger numbers, Kostner ceased operations on September 2, 1973.
History
Originally, the CTA did not intend to include a station at Kostner on the Congress Line, opting instead to serve the area with nearby Pulaski and Cicero stations because of the low population density in West Garfield Park. To optimize travel times and operational efficiency, the CTA deliberately limited the number of stops. Nonetheless, since the former Garfield Park line had a Kilbourn Avenue station serving this vicinity, local residents advocated for a comparable station at Kostner.
The Chicago City Council ordered the establishment of a station at Kostner despite opposition from the CTA, which argued that low ridership would not justify it and that additional stops would prolong travel times. Community members suggested constructing a basic wooden platform and organized petitions, even threatening legal measures. Eventually, in 1961, the CTA consented to build the station; the city took responsibility for construction while the CTA handled track work, signaling systems, and electrical installations. To ensure uninterrupted service during building activities, temporary bypass tracks were utilized from November 1961 until July 1962.
The Kostner station was officially dedicated by Mayor Richard J. Daley on August 3, 1962, with public opening two days later. Despite this, passenger usage remained modest, reaching its highest point at 258,000 entries in 1967 before falling to 137,791 by 1972. Facing budget reductions, the CTA closed Kostner on September 2, 1973, marking it as one of their shortest-operating stations. The station's physical structure still exists but remains sealed off.
Structure
Kostner comprised a small station building situated on the east side of the Kostner Avenue overpass and an island platform positioned within the median of the Eisenhower Expressway. Compared to other Congress Line stations, its station house was more compact—measuring 32 by 17 feet—and contained only one agent booth along with a single entrance and exit turnstile setup, smaller than the typical 42 by 17 feet structures found elsewhere. The platform extended to a standard length of 600 feet but lacked accessibility ramps; access was provided solely via one staircase.
Because it was added after initial construction, track alignment at Kostner featured a curve that limited operator sightlines; to mitigate this issue, mirrors were installed along the curved platform section to aid train operators. Passengers were protected by a full-length canopy and eight windbreak panels. Following closure, all signage was removed; however, while fenced off and boarded up, both platform and station house remain structurally intact.