Quincy station (CTA)

Quincy is a rapid transit station on the Chicago "L" system. It is located between the Washington/​Wells and LaSalle/Van Buren stations on the Loop. The station is located above the intersection of Quincy Street and Wells Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Having opened in 1897, it is one of the oldest surviving stations on the 'L' system.

QUINCY   220S 200W
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
Kimball-bound Brown Line train leaving Quincy in July 2018
General information
Location	220 South Wells Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606
Coordinates	41.878752°N 87.633703°W / 41.878752; -87.633703
Owned by	Chicago Transit Authority
Line(s)	Loop Elevated
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF SWS HC and at Union Station
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Accessible	Yes
History
Opened	October 3, 1897 (1897-10-03)
Rebuilt	1985–1988 (1988) (historic restoration), 2016–2018 (2018) (accessibility improvements, historic refurbishment)
Previous names	Quincy/Wells
Passengers
2020	595,970  72.8%
Rank	32 out of 143
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Washington/​Wells toward Midway Orange Line LaSalle/Van Buren One-way operation Washington/​Wells toward Linden Purple Line Express Washington/​Wells toward 54th/Cermak Pink Line Washington/​Wells One-way operation Brown Line LaSalle/Van Buren toward Kimball
Former services Preceding station Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad Following station Madison/Wells One-way operation North Shore Line LaSalle/Van Buren toward Roosevelt Road Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Madison/Wells Closed 1994 toward Midway Orange Line LaSalle/Van Buren One-way operation Madison/Wells Closed 1994 toward Linden Purple Line Express Madison/Wells Closed 1994 One-way operation Brown Line LaSalle/Van Buren toward Kimball Madison/Wells One-way operation Metropolitan main line Franklin/Van Buren Closed 1955 toward Marshfield
Track layout Pink to 54th/Cermak Orange to Midway Purple Express to Linden Adams St. Quincy St. Jackson Blvd. Brown to Kimball
Location

History

Designed by Alfred M. Hedley from wood and stamped metal, Quincy opened on October 3, 1897. It retained much of its original surroundings over the years and is considered one of "150 great places in Illinois" by the American Institute of Architects. The station is located in the South Loop Financial District and is the closest CTA rail station to the Willis Tower, approximately one block west. It is also three blocks east of Union Station, which doubles as Chicago's Amtrak station and the downtown terminus for several Metra routes. Although the Clinton station on the Blue Line is closer (two blocks south), Quincy is the nearest stop on the Loop to Union Station.

Quincy is an elevated station, located above Quincy Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard. It features two side platforms and station houses, one on the west to serve the Outer Loop track, and one on the east to serve the Inner Loop track. Turnstiles for fare payment are located in the station houses on the platform level. The station once had a transfer bridge, but this was removed in the 1980s. This means it is not possible to change from one platform to the other without paying another fare or asking for employee assistance. There are auxiliary exits to both Adams and Jackson on the Inner Loop platform, while the Outer Loop only has an auxiliary exit to Adams. There are also auxiliary exits to the mezzanine level from both platforms, all using Rotogates. There is also a "slam" gate at each exit for emergencies only. Unlike most Chicago "L" stations, the "slam" gates do not appear to have alarms. Both platforms are designed to handle eight-car trains, the longest the CTA 'L' system can run.

A renovation project from 1985 to 1988 resulted in Quincy taking on a look similar to the look it had when it opened. Some materials such as signage were changed, although several of the station's features are original to its 1897 opening.

A renovation project began at the station in 2016 and was completed in December 2018. The renovation added two new elevators to the station to make it accessible for people with disabilities, and other improvements include new stairs and new lights. The station remained open during the project. The project was completed in December 2018.

Train services

In normal operation, the station is serviced by the Brown, Orange, and Pink Lines. During weekday rush hours, the Purple Line also stops here. Brown Line trains stop at the Outer Loop platform, while all other lines stop at the Inner Loop platform.

Bus connections

CTA

• 1 Bronzeville/Union Station (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 7 Harrison (Weekdays only)
• 28 Stony Island (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 37 Sedgwick (Weekdays only)
• 126 Jackson
• 134 Stockton/LaSalle Express (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 136 Sheridan/LaSalle Express (Weekday Rush Hours only)
• 151 Sheridan
• 156 LaSalle (Weekdays only)

Gallery

• 
  Advertisements at Quincy station
• 
  Platform view
• 
  Interior with turnstiles

External links

• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IL-1-A, "Union Elevated Railroad, Quincy Street Station"
• Quincy/Wells Station Page at Chicago-'L'.org
• CTA - Train schedules: Brown Purple Orange Pink

• Ridership figures, 2009 (172 KiB)

• Adams Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Quincy Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Jackson Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View