Editing Blue Line (CTA) (section)

=== Douglas branch ===
{{Main|Douglas branch|Pink Line (CTA)}}

The [[Douglas branch]] was once operated as part of the Blue Line. On April 28, 2008, the CTA eliminated Blue Line service on the Douglas branch, having been replaced by the [[Pink Line (CTA)|Pink Line]].<ref name="hilkevitch">{{cite news |title=Trial closing of Blue Line's Douglas branch starts |author=Jon Hilkevitch |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=April 28, 2008 }}</ref> The Loomis ramp that connects the Congress branch to the Douglas branch remains intact for non-revenue equipment moves as the only track connection between the Blue Line and the rest of the system.

On April 26, 1998, the Douglas Branch lost its overnight (owl) and weekend service and began operating between 4&nbsp;a.m. and 1&nbsp;a.m. on weekdays only as a result of budget cuts that also eliminated owl service on several other lines. Congress (Forest Park) service was effectively doubled through much of the day since service frequency from O'Hare required shorter headways than what would have been left.

While the CTA claimed Douglas branch reductions were due to low ridership, community activists also pointed to badly deteriorated infrastructure and funding shortfalls, as well as a perception that the CTA was uninterested in serving the West Side. On September 10, 2001, the CTA began a historic reconstruction of the Douglas Branch to repair its aging stations and tracks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/renew-the-blue-cta-breaks-ground-on-the-blue-line-renovation/?Month=9&Year=2001|title = Renew the Blue: Cta Breaks Ground on the Blue Line Renovation}}</ref> The work was officially completed on January 8, 2005, with new elevated structures, tracks, rebuilt stations, new communication networks and an upgraded power system along the route.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/mayor-daley--cta-celebrate-completion-of-54th-cermak-branch-of-blue-line/?CategoryId=2&Year=2005&Month=18pg=2|title = Mayor Daley / Cta Celebrate Completion of 54Th /Cermak Branch of Blue Line}}</ref> On January 1, 2005, weekend service was restored.

[[File:54 Cermak CTA.JPG|thumb|Douglas branch stations like the [[54th/Cermak station]] were once served by the Blue Line.]]
In January 2005, the CTA held hearings on a proposal to reroute Douglas Branch service via the recently rebuilt Paulina Connector to the Lake Street [[Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Green Line]], carrying Douglas trains to and around the elevated Loop for the first time since 1958. It was the first stage of what became the [[Pink Line (CTA)|Pink Line]]. This would have allowed a doubling of Blue Line trains to Forest Park on the Congress Branch, since service would no longer be divided between the Forest Park and 54th/Cermak terminals. Due to community fears that the Pink Line would not be enough, however, the CTA decided to retain limited Douglas Branch Blue Line service during weekday rush hours.

On February 15, 2006, the CTA approved the separate operation of the Douglas Branch plan.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-board-approves-west-side-corridor-service-recommendations/?Month=2&Year=2006|title=CTA Board Approves West Side Corridor Service Recommendations|location=[[Chicago]]|publisher=[[Chicago Transit Authority]]}}</ref> All non-rush hour trains would all be routed via the Loop, [[Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Green Line]] and Paulina Connector. During rush hour, service was available on the new route as well as the existing route via the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway. These changes were scheduled to be implemented for a 180-day trial period beginning June 25, 2006, and after their evaluation in early 2007, the Pink Line remained in service.

Beginning April 28, 2008, the CTA began a six-month experimental ceasing of Blue Line operations on the Douglas.<ref name="hilkevitch" /> Despite maintaining that the service cut was an experiment, the CTA immediately covered Blue Line stations' directional signage for trains to {{cta|54th/Cermak}} with paint rather than temporary covering, suggesting it was a permanent discontinuation instead of a temporary one. All Douglas Branch operations are now served by the Pink Line.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/838770,cta031208.article | title=Blue line's Douglas branch to get cut :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Transportation }} {{dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> On December 4, 2008, CTA announced its decision to permanently discontinue Blue Line service on the Douglas branch and to make the Pink Line permanent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transitchicago.com/chicago-transit-board-approves-permanent-addition-of-west-sidewest-suburban-service-enhancements/?CategoryId=2&Year=2008&Month=12&pg=3|title = Chicago Transit Board Approves Permanent Addition of West Side/West Suburban Service Enhancements}}</ref>