Chicago Landmark Loop L station receives two new elevators making it vertically accessible to people with disabilities, among other improvements
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. today announced the completion of modernization work at the historic Quincy L station to make it vertically accessible to customers with disabilities – the latest milestone in Mayor Emanuel’s and CTA’s shared commitment to make the entire rail system wheelchair accessible over the next 20 years.
“The Quincy L station has served riders for more than 120 years, providing customers with convenient access to and from Chicago’s downtown Loop, business district and tourist destinations,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “The addition of these two new elevators extends the life of this historic station and makes it fully functional and accessible for all 21st century customers.”
The $18.2 million modernization, funded with local tax increment finance (TIF) funds, added two elevators to the historic station on either side of Wells Street on the south end of each platform. The elevators connect to the stationhouse for both the Inner Loop (Orange, Purple, Pink Lines) and Outer Loop (Brown Line) platforms. In keeping with the historical look of the station, the elevator tower exteriors mimic patterns on the station’s historic railings.
“CTA is proud to work with the Mayor to extend the life of the 19th century Quincy L station - one of our most historic, iconic stations – and make it fully functional and accessible for 21st century customers,” CTA President Carter said. “The Quincy station reflects our commitment to providing accessible, affordable and reliable transportation to for all riders.”
Additionally, Quincy Station received various lighting upgrades, reconfigured stairs to improve passenger circulation, replaced its flooring with tile, added new HD security cameras and installed motorized doors that meet ADA guidelines.
The Quincy project represents an ongoing commitment to accessibility. CTA trains and buses are 100 percent accessible, and 71 percent of rail stations (103 of 145) are accessible, one of the highest totals among older U.S. transit agencies. In July 2018, the CTA released the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Strategic Plan – a blueprint for making the remaining 42 rail stations fully accessible over the next two decades.
This comprehensive plan outlines both short- and long-term station accessibility projects, including repairs/replacement of 160 existing rail station elevators, cost estimates and a proposed implementation schedule.
Built in 1897, the Quincy L station opened when U.S. President William McKinley was in office. Many features of the original station remain today—including pressed metal wreaths and fluted pilasters, or decorative columns, located on the stationhouse façade - as well as the ticket agent booth, which is still in use.
The Quincy Loop Elevated station was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2017. The last renovation of the station came in 1988, when it was restored as close to its original 1897 appearance as possible. The station provides more than 2.2 million rides annually on the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple lines, and is a major multi-modal transfer point for 11 CTA bus routes. It also provides convenient connections to Union Station and the LaSalle Street Metra Station.
For more information about the Quincy station, please visit: transitchicago.com/quincy.