Blue line stub tracks just west of Clark & Lake

Ever used for anything?
Or alternatively, what was planed for them?

Thank you.

Chicago was a late comer to having subways, although the subject was widely discussed no sooner than the Loop elevated was in operation. In 1937 the City and the federal Works Progress Administration hammered out an agreement resulting in the City's Initial System of Subways. Chicago had asked for a four-track subway beneath State St. and Chicago Ave. connecting with the north and south side elevateds and two east-west streetcar subways. The Feds countered with a two-track State St. subway that went further north under Division St. and Clybourn Ave. that eliminated many curves on the north side 'L'. The Feds said NO to the streetcar subways, but offered instead two options: a subway under Dearborn St. turning under Lake St. and extending west to about Racine Ave, connected with the elevated there and also suggesting that the City connect the Lake St. elevated with the Logan Square/Humbolt Park branch at Paulina Ave.

The second option did not connect to the Lake St. 'L' but turned northwest under Milwaukee Ave. and made the connection north of Division St. A provision for a future Lake St. 'L' connction was built into the curve underneath Milwaukee. The junction would be a "flying junction" as the northbound track is lower than the southbound track, in fact this is the lowest point in the Chicago subway system. Over the decades, several options to use the junction have appeared but none was enacted.

A junction/connection was also provided at the south end of the State St. subway which was expected to eventually connect with an Archer Ave. subway, but the Midway line evolved and the connection ultimately connected with teh Ryan median Red line.

David Harrison

Likely the most appropriate existing topic to place this material, but a University of Chicago study has concluded that any kind of premium priced Express service over Blue Line, or other existing rail infrastructure, is simply a "non-start":

http://uchicagogate.com/2016/04/24/the- ... n-to-ohare" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fair Use:

For Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, this isn’t good enough. Emanuel recently commissioned a basic engineering and costs study for express rail service between O’Hare International Airport and downtown. The train service would be operated by private investors, creating a new transit system separate from both the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra commuter rail. Emanuel, whose proposal targets primarily business travelers, promises that such a train would give Chicago “world-class” prestige. Proponents also believe the express train would provide a quiet work environment for businessmen that the Blue Line does not. The express train would connect the two locations with a travel time of twenty to twenty-five minutes, about fifteen minutes faster than existing service by the Blue Line, which makes fifteen stops between the airport and the Loop. The project would require building new rail corridors or upgrading existing track, as well as the construction of new terminus stations.