Washington/Wabash station
| Company type | Chicago 'L' rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | August 31, 2017 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago Loop |
| Products | Rapid transit services on Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines |
| Owner | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) |
| Website | www |
Washington/Wabash serves as a 'L' station on the CTA's Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines. This station, inaugurated on August 31, 2017, merges and substitutes the former Randolph/Wabash and Madison/Wabash stations. The project, managed by the Chicago Department of Transportation, commenced in 2015 with a budget of $75 million following the closure of Madison/Wabash in March 2015 and reached completion in August 2017. It is located along Wabash Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets within the Loop district.
In 2018, the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects honored the station with an award of excellence for its outstanding architectural design.
History
Prior to the establishment of Washington/Wabash station, two separate stations operated on this site: Madison/Wabash station and Randolph/Wabash station, both inaugurated on November 8, 1896, as components of the Wabash segment of the Loop Elevated.
The CTA initially proposed unifying these stations as early as November 1981. A similar consolidation took place in July 1995 when Washington/Wells station opened, replacing Madison/Wells and Randolph/Wells stations. In September 1998, plans were introduced for a $29 million superstation intended to replace Madison/Wabash and State/Lake station, although this initiative did not come to fruition.
In April 2003, the CTA allocated $1 million to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to begin preliminary design work for a combined station located between Madison/Wabash and Randolph/Wabash. The finalized design was revealed on September 30, 2013, accompanied by a $75 million budget supported by federal funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. The new ADA-compliant station was designed to enhance travel efficiency and decrease maintenance expenses along the Wabash corridor.
After some delays, construction started in March 2015. Madison/Wabash station permanently ceased operations on March 16, 2015. Washington/Wabash station officially opened on August 31, 2017, with Randolph/Wabash closing shortly after on September 3, consolidating transit services into this modern facility.
Bus connections
- J14 Jeffery Jump
- 20 Madison (Owl Service)
- 56 Milwaukee
- 60 Blue Island/26th (Owl Service)
- 124 Navy Pier
- 147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express
- 151 Sheridan
- 157 Streeterville/Taylor (Weekdays only)
External links
- Official website
- Washington/Wabash at Chicago-L.org