Washington station (CTA Red Line)
| Company type | Chicago "L" rapid transit station (closed) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Defunct | October 23, 2006 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Washington is a closed "L" station on the CTA's Red Line. Situated within the State Street subway, it was located at 128 North State Street in the Loop area.
History
Washington's platform forms part of an uninterrupted stretch beneath State Street extending from Jackson to Lake, representing the longest continuous passenger platform in the United States. The station incorporated two mezzanines: a northern mezzanine at Randolph shared with Lake station, and a southern mezzanine at Madison, both reachable by stairs and escalators along State Street. An elevator provided access from Washington’s platform to the Randolph mezzanine, accommodating passengers with disabilities. Another elevator connecting the mezzanine to State Street remains operational for access to Lake station.
From Washington’s platform, two staircases descended to a pedestrian tunnel on a lower level that linked it to the Washington Blue Line station within the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway, enabling transfers between the Red and Blue Lines. Initially, Lake and Washington stations functioned as a single entity but were separated on June 2, 1996, during renovation work on the Randolph-Washington mezzanine. Subsequently, Lake was established as an independent station on November 18, 1997, to enhance transfers between the Red Line subway and the elevated State/Lake station.
Closure for Block 37 superstation
In conjunction with developing 108 North State Street (Block 37), Chicago planned a superstation beneath the Block 37 shopping center. To allow for construction, the Washington/State station and its lower-level transfer tunnel to the Blue Line ceased operations at midnight on October 23, 2006.
Following $100 million in budget overruns, the superstation project was indefinitely suspended in June 2008. The incomplete superstation was abandoned, and although Washington/State’s platform reopened in February 2010, trains did not resume stopping there.
Post closure
After closing, the Washington/State station remained largely untouched except for removal of signage. No renovations were undertaken at the Washington-Madison mezzanine despite discussions about potential reopening. The station was removed from CTA rail maps beginning January 2009.
Pedestrian access continues through nearby Lake and Monroe stations due to Washington’s central position.
As of October 2019, CTA does not consider the station permanently closed but currently has no plans for its reactivation.
External links
- Washington/State Station Page at Chicago-L.org