Roosevelt station (CTA)
| Company type | Chicago "L" station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago Loop, Near South Side |
| Products | Rapid transit services (Red, Green, Orange Lines) |
Roosevelt is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) "L" system, serving the Red, Green, and Orange Lines. It is situated at 1167 S State Street, nestled between the Chicago Loop and Near South Side neighborhoods. Located just north of Roosevelt Road, this station is the nearest "L" stop to both Soldier Field and the Museum Campus, which lies roughly half a mile to the east. Additionally, the Museum Campus/11th Street Metra station is positioned about one-third of a mile away. A pedestrian tunnel connects the Red Line’s subway platform (Roosevelt/State) with the elevated platforms for the Green and Orange Lines (Roosevelt/Wabash), enabling smooth transfers for commuters.
Elevated station
The original elevated Roosevelt station commenced operations on June 6, 1892, as part of the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad—the city’s inaugural elevated rapid transit route. Between 1919 and 1963, it also served the North Shore Line operated by the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. Elevated "L" service ended in 1949 when CTA redirected trains through the State Street subway to form what became known as the North-South Route. Following the North Shore Line's bankruptcy in 1963, this station was closed and subsequently demolished. Elevated trains resumed passing through this location in 1969 with the introduction of the Lake–Dan Ryan route entering downtown.
A modern elevated station was constructed in 1993 to coincide with the start of Orange Line service. This facility includes a broad canopy and a spacious headhouse, characteristic of Orange Line stations. Close by, a pocket track enables trains to reverse direction back toward the Loop during service interruptions.
Subway station
The Roosevelt subway station opened its doors on October 17, 1943, as part of the State Street subway project. In 1996, it underwent refurbishment that introduced enhanced lighting and tilework inspired by Art Deco design motifs, marking it as the first station remodeled in this aesthetic.
Transfer tunnel
Although plans for a direct connection between the new elevated station and subway were drawn up in 1993, construction was delayed due to funding shortages. After securing $7.5 million from state and federal sources, construction began in November 2001. The Roosevelt transfer tunnel officially opened in December 2002, physically linking both stations into one integrated complex.
Architect Cynthia Muller designed this approximately 200-foot-long passageway, which features Hopes and Dreams, a mosaic artwork by Juan Angel Chávez and Corinne D. Peterson. This piece consists of over 4,000 clay tiles created by visitors to the Museum Campus in 1999 and reflects themes related to nearby cultural institutions.
Operations as a terminus
Both the subway and elevated Roosevelt stations have occasionally functioned as terminal points. The elevated station includes a reversing track located just south of its platform; this track is utilized solely during blockages occurring between Roosevelt and either or . The subway station last served as a terminus during construction on the Ravenswood Connector when Brown Line trains were rerouted through the State Street subway terminating at Roosevelt. In cases where Red Line service is disrupted between and Roosevelt, trains are diverted via the 13th Street Ramp onto the Green Line tracks, eliminating the necessity for Roosevelt to operate as a terminal station.
Bus Connections
- 12 Roosevelt
- 18 16th/18th
- 29 State
- 62 Archer (Overnight Service)
- 130 Museum Campus (Operates Memorial Day through Labor Day)
- 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express
- 192 University of Chicago Hospitals Express (Weekday Peak Hours)
See Also
- Clark/Lake, another Chicago station combining elevated and subway ‘L’ lines
External Links
- Roosevelt Station on the official CTA website
- Roosevelt/State station information at Chicago-L.org
- Roosevelt/Wabash station details at Chicago-L.org