Washington/Wells station

Washington/Wells is a station on the Chicago "L" system, located in downtown Chicago, Illinois on The Loop. The station opened on July 17, 1995. Washington/Wells is located a few blocks from several major attractions and business centers, such as Chicago City Hall, the Civic Opera House, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The station is also three blocks east of Ogilvie Transportation Center, terminal for the Union Pacific North, Northwest, and West line Metra trains. The station is located between Washington and Madison on Wells Street in downtown Chicago.

Washington/Wells
 
100N
200W
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
General information
Location100 North Wells Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Coordinates41°52′57″N 87°38′02″W / 41.882541°N 87.633824°W / 41.882541; -87.633824
Owned byChicago Transit Authority
Line(s)Loop Elevated
Platforms2 Side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsMetra UP-N UP-NW UP-W at Ogilvie
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 17, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-07-17)
Passengers
2020668,828[1]Decrease 69.8%
Rank24 out of 143
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station
Clark/Lake
toward Midway
Orange Line Quincy
One-way operation
Merchandise Mart
toward Linden
Purple Line
Express
Clinton Pink Line
Merchandise Mart
One-way operation
Brown Line Quincy
toward Kimball
Location
Map

History

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The Washington/Wells station replaced two former Loop stations, Randolph/Wells and Madison/Wells. The CTA did the same on the Wabash side of the Loop, replacing Randolph/Wabash and Madison/Wabash with Washington/Wabash.

Station layout

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The station is located between Washington and Madison Streets and is constructed of steel and concrete, with wooden platforms. A large mezzanine is accessible by stairs just south of Washington on either side of Wells, and the station is also accessible via elevators. Just past several turnstiles are stairwells leading to the platform level; the easternmost stairs go to the Inner Loop platform while the westernmost go to the Outer Loop platform. Both platforms are also serviced by elevators. It is possible to go from one platform to the other without leaving the paid area, making Washington/Wells a transfer station. The platforms are from Washington to Madison; the platforms continues over Madison Street. There are auxiliary exits on both ends of both platforms to the east sides of Washington and Madison. Both platforms can handle eight-car trains, the longest on the CTA system.

Service

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Washington/Wells serves the Brown Line (which travels counterclockwise on the Outer Loop track), and the Orange Line, Purple Line Express (weekday rush hours only), and Pink Line (which travel clockwise on the Inner Loop track).

Bus connections

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CTA

  • J14 Jeffery Jump
  • 20 Madison (Owl Service)
  • 37 Sedgwick (Weekdays only)
  • 56 Milwaukee
  • 60 Blue Island/26th (Owl Service)
  • 124 Navy Pier
  • 157 Streeterville/Taylor (Weekdays only)

References

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  1. ^ "Annual Ridership Report – Calendar Year 2020" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority, Ridership Analysis and Reporting. January 19, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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  Media related to Washington/Wells (CTA) at Wikimedia Commons