Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad
| Company type | Rapid transit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | May 7, 1895 |
| Defunct | 1947 |
| Fate | Merged into Chicago Rapid Transit Company, later taken over by Chicago Transit Authority |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Products | Rapid transit service |
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, often referred to as the Met or Polly "L", was Chicago's third elevated rapid transit line and notably the first among the city's elevated railroads to operate using electric power. Its primary route, known as the main line, stretched from downtown Chicago out to Marshfield Avenue. From this main corridor, several branches extended to areas including Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglas Park, eventually reaching the suburban community of Berwyn, Illinois. Segments of this original network still function today within the Blue Line and Pink Line systems.
Operation
Service on the Metropolitan West Side Elevated commenced at 6:00 a.m. on May 7, 1895, with its inaugural train departing from the Robey Street station heading toward the downtown terminal located at Canal.
Consolidation
In 1913, the four separate elevated railroad companies in Chicago united under the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, facilitating cross-town operations. This alliance culminated in a formal merger by 1924, creating the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. Later, in 1947, the Chicago Transit Authority took ownership of CRT’s properties. Following these changes, several operational adjustments occurred: in 1951, the Logan Square branch was rerouted through the newly constructed Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway, while the Humboldt Park Branch was downgraded to a shuttle service terminating at Damen Avenue before its closure in 1952.
That same year, the Douglas branch was shortened to end at its current point, 54th/Cermak. The development of the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) necessitated demolition of both the Garfield Park branch and sections of the Main Line. However, this freeway project incorporated a new rapid transit route within its median. Consequently, in 1958, the Congress Line opened as a replacement for the former Garfield Park Branch.
Currently, much of what was once the Metropolitan system operates under modern designations: portions of the Logan Square branch are utilized by the Blue Line on its route to O'Hare International Airport, including service along the Congress Line that succeeded Garfield Park. The Douglas Park Branch functioned as part of the Blue Line from 1958 until 2008 and is presently served by the Pink Line.