Ok, I may not have used every Blue Line station, but let me say that I definitely disagree with many of these placements! I will say only two things that just mind-boggled me: 1. Placing Jefferson Park below Montrose and Addison is just... absolutely insane! The integrated Metra station, the walkway, and all the bus connections definitely put this station above them! 2. The Division station's auxiliary exit is actually one of my favorite aspects about the station as its literally right next to the stairs, very quick transfer to the surface-level which is pretty nice, not like its necessary but more stations should be that quick from platform to surface-level (or bus stop). The narrowness of the platform in general is honestly not a problem for me, just the cleanliness is!
Many chicagoans treat the highway median cta stops as if it's a smart, efficient design. But its actually such a dehumanizing experience for riders; and lazy design. Go to DC, where the silver line WMATA train runs in the highway median but it actually has sound treatment!! What would it honestly take for cta to put some noise and air protection on these stations?
Good work! Interesting fact: Clinton is the deepest subway station on the rail system. This is my stop for work and I can tell you if that escalator is broken - you won't need your daily work out at the gym!
I definitely agree with putting Western #1. They renovated it a decade or so ago (before it was almost identical to Damen), and it combines the practicality of a modern station with the charm of the old 'L'. The neighborhood around Western is also pretty interesting.
I've never been to Chicago but one thing stand out throughout the video - narrow platforms. No matter if in highway median or underground the majority of stations have what I'd consider unusually narrow platforms
i like the ohare and forest park stations ohare has the stairway and nice to take pictures there and going thru the airport and seeing everything and i pretty much like stations but a few blue line stations i do not like are harlem fp clinton and lasalle
I like to visit Chicago. The last time I was there, there was a drunk homeless dude at Jackson trying to incite the police officer that was working down there. I was pleasantly surprised at the cops level of restraint.
I've been to Forest Park Station many times in the past to transfer into a different bus to get somewhere and again very recently from the blue line and I'll say to expect yelling, arguing, and maybe at least a homeless person. It's a bit sketchy and it is a bit far from major roads if you're heading west and walking and the station is near Des Plaines Avenue if you're walking East. There are many buses to transfer on at the station but it depends on the time you have to wait for the specific bus. The only other plus is that there's a small convenience store inside of the station. However, I don't think there's any AC (Idk for heating) since they just bring out the two big fans to make the station cooler. Last time I was there, two people were arguing with an officer (they were loud), at least one homeless person was there, and someone selling snow cones out of a cooler outside of the station
Montrose is nice but only having one stair and one escalator that only goes from the platform to the street on each side is annoying. Especially when you are trying to make the train and the people in front of you are taking up the entire stair at a snails pace
My ranking of the Ⓜ️ I visited: Racine, 🌳 Park, Rosemont, Damen, California, Chicago/Milwaukee, ➗/Milwaukee, UIC-Halsted, Logan Square, Montrose, Jefferson Park, Washington, O’Hare, Clark/Lake, & Jackson
Division should be much lower. I commute on the Blue Line and if I am not wearing a mask, I am holding my breath when the train pulls up to Division because the stench is just ridiculous. I feel so bad for everyone who relies on that station.
All those mid-freeway stations are HORRIBLE. I hate it every time I have to go to one of those. One of my most hated so far has been Cumberland, mainly because if you're trying to enter it from the south side through Cumberland Ave, you have to either enter the parking lot, or take a rather winding path through an elevated pedestrian bridge. The station itself is very nice, though. I just really REALLY hate its pedestrian access.
Yeah, it's been my main transfer station for 3 years between the blue line and the loop trains. Sketchy characters hang around a lot but they mostly just babble to themselves and you start to recognize them all after a while. I've seen a fist fight once but that's about it.