CTA Holiday Train on the Green Line

 

[VIDEO] I'm sorry I missed this video from YouTuber msibnsf Harrison showing the CTA Holiday Train terming this the 2020 version of this tradition running on the CTA Green Line especially on the Englewood/Ashland branch from 59th street west side of the Dan Ryan which was uploaded on November 28. The Holiday Train ran on the Green on Nov. 27, 28 and Dec. 1.

Here's a schedule for when and where you will see the Holiday Train & Holiday Bus on the CTA.

#tbt Riding the CTA green line through Englewood

[VIDEO] Let's take our mind off this coronavirus pandemic for second and look at video from over a decade ago in much warmer weather. I uploaded the above video to our YouTube channel a ride from 63rd & Ashland through 63rd & Halsted crossing the Dan Ryan Expressway/CTA Red Line through to State Street and then heading north along Prairie Avenue to the normal routing to Harlem & Lake in Oak Park, Illinois.

The most interesting part of this video is the changes that took place along the former Englewood branch of the L. We see the new 7th Englewood district police HQ being built. The lot which was then vacant where the shopping center that contains Whole Foods Market now. Then yet another lot in front of the former Englewood High School which now contains a St. Bernard Hospital Ambulatory Center.

It's interesting how many vacant lots there were built upon in recent years and how many old buildings have since been torn down.

I must add that you've seen a similar video to this before on this blog.

Go Green on 63rd/Racine...

This story aired on ABC 7 on Thursday. A new project near 63rd/Racine and perhaps could include that long closed Green Line stop at Racine.

Chicago's Englewood neighborhood is going green as the community breaks ground on a new project to revitalize the area around 63rd and Racine Avenue.

Thursday, the residents group R.A.G.E along with its community partners announced the "Go Green on Racine" initiative, a quality of life plan to develop a thriving green corridor in the heart of the South Side neighborhood.

The project is funded in part by some of the city's $750 million neighborhood opportunity fund.

Anchoring the project will be the Fresh Market, a cooperative for locally sourced fresh produce and grocery items.

It's the result of The Inner City Muslim Action Network's corner store campaign.

"We believe that once you start investing other nodes along this corridor east and north south and east west, you'll begin to see the change," said Rami Nashashibi with I.M.A.N.

I hope this group wins the $10 million Chicago Prize grant for which they are finalists with five other groups.

#tbt Englewood branch Green Line August 1993

[VIDEO] At this point the Green Line (Lake-Englewood-Jackson Park) had been created in February 1993 once the Red Line (Howard-Dan Ryan) was created. The original north-south and west-south lines were rerouted according to create the two lines we know today. Thus we see this from 1993 as a Green Line train heads east along 63rd Street.

We see Racine in service before it closed. We also see the closed Harvard stop which would be dismantled later during the two year closure of the green line for rehabilitation.

Also as you see the train approach Halsted you get a different perspective on the intersection of 63rd & Halsted. Buildings that later would be demolished and replaced for Kennedy-King College and then for the shopping center that would later contain Whole Foods Market Englewood.

Woodlawn is going to the finals....#CurbedCup2017

Woodlawn is back in the finals in the 2017 Curbed Cup, this year they will face the South Loop. Sorry no rematch with Uptown, although a lot of positive developments is coming to that part of town. We will hear from them again yet, especially if Uptown Update has anything to say about it.

Which neighborhood should win Curbed Cup: Woodlawn or the South Loop? Cast your vote now! https://t.co/VY0B47vpnA pic.twitter.com/G65TWsYR6u

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) December 29, 2017

While good things are expected to happen to Woodlawn with some construction going around for the Green Line - and I don't mean the restoration of service past Cottage Grove. There's the Obama presidential library that's expected to come to Jackson Park. A new Jewel-Osco is coming to 61st & Cottage Grove, so some things are happening there.

Meanwhile the South Loop which contains an area from roughly Cermak to the lakefront and then Congress to the Dan Ryan on the West. I've been following their progress through the Sloopin blog - which had been quiet about the Curbed Cup until today - and the area appears to be a hot neighborhood over the years. The redevelopment of that neighborhood even inspired a post years ago wondering if Chatham could be "South Looped".

Click the tweet you see above or click here and hopefully you will support Woodlawn to repeat in 2017. Voting will be open through January 2, 2018.

Once voting is over and the winner of the Curbed Cup 2017 is announced hopefully we can discuss what neighborhoods we'd like to see get their recognition next year. Curbed Chicago always looks for those neighborhoods with some development, for example new business activity, new construction especially for housing, and certainly it helps if a major project like a national park in the case of Pullman or in the case of Woodlawn getting a presidential library is being planned or created. Let's find ways to make something happen in our communities so that they get the attention they deserve!

Don't forget to support Woodlawn through January 2 and happy new year!

Can we help Woodlawn repeat as winner of the Curbed Cup?

Remember last year when Woodlawn won Curbed Chicago's Cup for neighborhood of the year. Then the year before where it was Pullman that had the honor.

In 2017 Woodlawn is back and made it into the final four for this year's Curbed Cup. There were three other entrants in this competition from Chicago's south side. Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and yes the South Loop. I do consider the South Loop south side even if they may have the close proximity to downtown and for many years it was an area that hadn't be doing well until the 21st century.

Curbed Cup Elite Eight results! West Loop and Fulton Market knocked out https://t.co/viQ6tUmBFS pic.twitter.com/gtrktAgNWW

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) December 22, 2017

Anyway, why Woodlawn again? The expansion of the University of Chicago further south, the Obama library is expected to come that way, there's going to be a new Jewel-Osco on 61st & Cottage Grove. I want to add a grassroots movement to re-extend the CTA Green Line beyond their current terminal at Cottage Grove. This would be great news for another are of Chicago's south side that hadn't done well in recent years until now.

BTW, voting will begin on the final four neighborhoods after the Christmas holiday. Hopefully that means on Tuesday - today - you will see a poll on a future poll at Curbed Chicago. Let's support Woodlawn and allow that neighborhood to repeat their accomplishment from last year.

And I still want to open the floor for other neighborhoods we all hope will get nominated next year. Yes I'm looking at you Englewood, Chatham, Roseland, or even Pullman - again! Am I missing any from our part of town? Let us know!!!

Another historic CTA photo in Englewood

Another missed post from the CTA instagram from back in July the former Englewood branch station at 63rd/Loomis. This station was closed in 1969 after the opening of the current terminal of the CTA Green Line at 63rd/Ashland.

BTW, if you want to know more about the history of Chicago L-trains feel free to visit Chicago-L.org with more information on the operations of Chicago's rapid transit network.

The Englewood Branch, in its early years, had been built out to Loomis/63rd and ended there for much of it's life (before being extended to Ashland/63rd in 1969, now part of the Green Line). As you can see in this south-facing view from just north of 63rd Street, the tracks ended unceremoniously over the street. The location was a busy interchange for Englewood residents (as the Ashland/63rd terminal is today). An 'L' train is visible in the terminal and a "Blue Goose" streetcar is in the foreground. The paint scheme on this particular car is atypical for these cars, as it's one of several that received experimental livery modifications for better visibility on the road. #cta #ctahistory #chicago #chicagohistory #ctaredline #ctagreenline #englewood #westenglewood #transit #publictransit #rapidtransit #streetcars #elevatedtrains #trains #railway #railroad #1940s

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Jul 1, 2017 at 6:11pm PDT

#63rdL and a hopeful PR response from CTA

[VIDEO] What you see above is a video advertising the petition campaign to restore East 63rd Green Line service to Jackson Park.

As always if you support restoration of the East 63rd Green Line then sign the petition over at change.org. There are also some updates provided and as of the latest update reportedly Reuben Lillie - who you see interviewing Woodlawn residents above - has recieved 405 signatures to his petition.

The campaign got the attention of Chicagoist who shared this response from the CTA:

Irene D. Ferradaz, a CTA public affairs representative told Chicagoist:

"The CTA is focused on rebuilding and modernizing the existing ‘L’ system, and on pursuing the extension of the Red Line South to 130th Street. While there are no current plans to extend the Cottage Grove branch of the Green Line, CTA always looks for opportunities to improve the system to meet ridership demand."

As stated in an earlier post about this if there is some opportunities to expand public transit on the south side as far as the L system this is one worthwhile project in addition to my favored CTA Red Line extension south from 95th Street. Here's hoping Lillie's campaign is successful and this becomes part of CTA's long term plans.

Petition to restore East 63rd Green Line service to Stony Island #63rdL

Via Chicago-L.org

In April I've written about a future project involving the East 63rd branch of the CTA Green Line which would mean upgrades to the Cottage Grove station the current terminus of this branch. Now a petition which you can find through 63rdL.com. Here's a portion of the argument in favor of restoration that you might read with the petition:

While CTA Buses, Metra Electric trains, and S. Lake Shore Drive carry passengers along the Lakefront, none of the existing infrastructure effectively connects the South Side Lakefront with points west. Without restoring the ‘L’ between Cottage Grove Ave and Stony Island Ave we have no way to carry people through the heart of Woodlawn. Likewise, residents, students, and commuters to Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore who do not live, study, or work near the Lakefront arterial infrastructure have no way of accessing the ‘L’ to travel to and from other parts of Chicagoland. Restoring the E. 63rd Street branch of the Green Line with strategically placed stations not only encourages visitors to Jackson Park to take in the surrounding neighborhoods but also enables our South Side neighbors to move more freely to, from, and within Woodlawn and steps from the University of Chicago in ways they have not been able since the ‘L’ was razed 20 years ago. 

This is one project worthwhile in addition to the plan to extend the CTA Red Line further south from 95th Street. Let's hope that CTA will eventually add for future expansions the possible restoration of the former Jackson Park branch of the Green Line to it's former terminus at Stony Island. Perhaps even a pipe dream send the L over to the Museum of Science & Industry as it once was during the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

You can read more of any proposals surrounding the restoration of CTA Green Line service to Cottage Grover via this tweet below from Curbed Chi.

Online petition calls on the CTA to restore the 63rd Street branch of Green Line https://t.co/kNDfQNioO8 pic.twitter.com/lVmnOAlh7E

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) July 11, 2017

In addition this petion is not only directed towards Mayor Emanuel, also 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston, and 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale who chairs the city council transportation committee. Those three especially in addition to 17 other decision makers.

Ashland/63rd CTA bus boarding 1975

With all the good news coming from Englewood it seems this blog has been posting a lot of news from that community. Even reposting from those Englewood folks who are on ig.

Today we share this ig post from the Chicago Transit Authority a scene from 63rd/Ashalnd. Riders boarding the 110 Marquette bus to 71st/Pulaski back in 1975. I got to see if that bus got cut in later years. It's even noted that the Ashland/63rd Green Line station is the terminal for some Red Line trains during rush hour period as work is underway to revamp the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line terminal.

Bus at Ashland/63rd: CTA riders change at the Ashland/63rd station to a GMC-made CTA bus in service on the 110 Marquette route to 71st/Pulaski in 1975. Today, this station is served by Green Line trains as well as some Red Line rush period trains that operate between Howard and Ashland/63rd, a temporary routing today to allow for reconstruction work to proceed at 95th. During the era where this photo was taken, all trains serving this station went to/from Howard, via subway, in service on what was then called the North-South Route (predating the modern Red and Green Line routings and route naming by color). #cta #cta70 #ctahistory #chicagohistory #transit #buses #rapidtransit #ctagreenline #ctaredline #1970s #hats #englewood #westenglewood #westlawn

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Apr 24, 2017 at 8:38am PDT

Curbed Chicago: CTA to upgrade Cottage Grove station on Green Line

While I'm glad that the CTA green line stop at 63rd & Cottage Grove is finally getting the attention it deserves in light of increased investment in the Woodlawn community, here's hoping that one day in the near future we can revive the green line beyond Cottage Grove. After a two year closure to rebuild one of CTA's old rail lines this part of the green line was contracted to Cottage Grove with the remaining portions of the line ultimately removed.

Upgraded CTA station, new affordable-rate TOD headed to Chicago’s Woodlawn https://t.co/zRfT4pGmAE pic.twitter.com/MxX8X45twm

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) April 24, 2017

Mr. Greg Hinz has lots to say about this project and of course lots of questions.

 Since I brought up what happened to the segment beyond Cottage Grove [VIDEO]

EDIT 11:25 PM - Should've added this post from the Mayor's ig page. Here it is from Monday's announcement of the upgrade of the Cottage Grove green line stop

CTA Holiday Train schedule

The CTA has the dates when the Holiday Train will ride throughout the system.

The Red Line is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 17, Thursday Dec. 19 and Saturday Dec. 21, that last day includes an extended time for photos with Santa.  Exact travel times have not been published (and won't be until the last minute).

The Green Line starts TODAY, Friday November 29.
It also runs Saturday, November 30 (with photos with Santa)  as well as Tuesday, December 3.

The entire schedule is found here.

We will publish a  more detailed Red Line schedule when available. The Sixth Ward writer JP Paulus and his family plan riding the Saturday train (possibly the early run) -- stay tuned for details!

A drive along 63rd - from Englewood to Woodlawn

[VIDEO] The vid above is from one of my long time YouTube favorites, artistmac. He takes a drive along 63rd Street from Morgan Street all the way to Stony Island and he made sure to note how the individual neigborhoods once grew in that corridor. 63rd & Halsted was once a bustling commercial district in Englewood and then the area around 63rd & Cottage Grove was also a bustling commercial area in Woodlawn. Both areas are now mostly vacant lots although some redevelopment has occured in those areas.

In fact on East 63rd just past the Cottage Grove terminal of the CTA Green Line some single family homes have been built. Artistmac didn't want to get into the politics on the video of how the Green Line abruptly ended at Cottage Grove when it used to terminate as far east as Stony Island. Sometimes I wonder if cutting the L beyond its current terminus was a huge blunder!

On West 63rd, Kennedy-King College was built within the former 63rd/Halsted business district and is still waiting for even more development. While it seems more likely Woodlawn could be redeveloped given the fact that the University of Chicago is slowly but surely expanding south beyond the Midway Plaisance, time can only tell for Englewood.

Artistmac does provide one omnimous conclusion: "Unless those middle-class residents can be enticed to come back to Woodlawn, Bronzeville and Englewood, I doubt those neighborhoods, or any of Chicago's declining neighborhoods, can be brought back to life."