Grand station (CTA Blue Line)

Grand, (Grand/Milwaukee in station announcements) is an 'L' station on the CTA's Blue Line, at Grand Avenue, Halsted Street and Milwaukee Avenue in the southeast corner of the West Town neighborhood. It is also located within the Fulton River District.

Grand
 
500N
800W
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
General information
Location502 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60622
Coordinates41°53′28″N 87°38′51″W / 41.891189°N 87.647578°W / 41.891189; -87.647578
Owned byCity of Chicago
Line(s)Milwaukee–Dearborn subway
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeSubway
Depth35 ft
Bicycle facilitiesYes
History
OpenedFebruary 25, 1951; 73 years ago (1951-02-25)
ClosedFebruary 9, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-02-09)
June 25, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-06-25)
Rebuilt2019–2020 (2019–2020)
Passengers
2022479,315[1]Increase 37.9%
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station
Chicago
toward O'Hare
Blue Line Clark/Lake
Location
Map

History

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Grand opened on February 25, 1951, as part of the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway. The Milwaukee-Dearborn subway was the second subway line in Chicago's Loop, since the State Street subway opened 8 years earlier in 1943.

Closure and Reopening

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Starting in 1982, Grand was closed during night and weekend hours as a cost savings measure due to low ridership. By 1992, the station was only serving 850 passengers a day, and as a result, the CTA closed the station on February 9, 1992, due to its low ridership and a budget crisis.[2][3] While the station was closed, the five stairways to the subway platform became garbage-strewn, and the station fell into disrepair. On April 21, 1999, the CTA decided to reopen Grand due to population growth in the area around the station.[4] After some refurbishment, Grand reopened on June 25, 1999, at 6:00 a.m.[5]

Bus connections

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CTA

  • 8 Halsted
  • 56 Milwaukee
  • 65 Grand

References

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  1. ^ "Annual Ridership Report – Calendar Year 2022" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority, Ridership Analysis and Reporting. February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Gillis, Michael (February 2, 1992). "Big bus, L cuts by CTA start next weekend". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 55.
  3. ^ "CTA's Cuts Take Effect". Chicago Tribune. February 9, 1992. Section 2, page 2 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ Chicago Transit Authority (April 21, 1999). "CTA Announces Plans to Re-open Grand/Milwaukee Blue Line Station" (Press release).
  5. ^ Chicago Transit Authority (June 24, 1999). "CTA Re-opens Grand/Milwaukee Blue Line Station" (Press release).
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Street level staircase entrance to the station