Washington station (CTA Blue Line)
| Company type | Chicago "L" rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | February 25, 1951 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago, Illinois |
| Products | Rapid transit services |
| Website | www |
Washington serves as a station on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line, situated within the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway corridor, positioned between and stops, and located close to the Richard J. Daley Center.
History
The station began operations on February 25, 1951, as an integral part of Chicago's second subway system, the Milwaukee-Dearborn line. Between 1982 and 1984, Washington underwent comprehensive modernization. Initially, it included two enclosed staircases descending to a pedestrian transfer tunnel at a lower level, which linked to the now-defunct Washington station on the State Street subway. This passage was closed at midnight on October 23, 2006, due to construction activities related to a proposed superstation beneath the Block 37 shopping complex. On November 20, 2009, the Chicago Pedway connection that links the unpaid zones of Lake station and Washington was reopened. Since May 2013, the CTA has enabled farecard transfers via this pedway between these two stations.
Washington is the most northerly of three stations sharing an uninterrupted platform under Dearborn Street; Monroe and Jackson complete this trio.
Service
Washington station is incorporated into the CTA Blue Line network, facilitating travel from through downtown Chicago to . It ranks as the second stop in the Loop when traveling from O'Hare and fourth when coming from Forest Park, positioned between and stations. The Blue Line provides continuous service around the clock, with train frequencies ranging from every 7 to 10 minutes during peak and midday periods, extending up to half-hour intervals overnight. In 2010, this station recorded a total of 2,335,025 boardings. There are two mezzanine levels at Washington: Randolph-Washington, which remains open all day and night offering farecard transfers to the Red Line and access to Daley Plaza; and Washington-Madison, also accessible 24 hours daily.
Bus connections
- J14 Jeffery Jump
- 20 Madison (Owl service)
- 22 Clark
- 24 Wentworth (Weekdays only)
- 28 Stony Island (Weekday Rush Hours only)
- 36 Broadway
- 56 Milwaukee
- 60 Blue Island/26th (Owl Service)
- 62 Archer (Owl Service)
- 124 Navy Pier
- 130 Museum Campus (Summer Service Only)
- 157 Streeterville/Taylor (Weekdays only)