1863 - horse car service introduced on Blue Island Ave. from downtown to 13th Pl.
1877 - extended southwest to Cermak/Ashland
1879 - extended southwest to Western/26th St.
1893 - horse car route converted to cable car
1895 - electric streetcar service introduced on 26th St. from Western to Pulaski
1897 - extended west to Cicero Ave.
7/22/06 - cable car segment converted to electric streetcar
9/3/49 - buses substituted on weekends
5/11/52 - streetcar route converted to buses
Owl service
Car House: Blue Island (until 2/15/48)
Lawndale (2/15/48-5/11/52)
Bus Garage: Lawndale (9/3/49-12/16/73)
Kedzie (12/16/73-9/2/79)
Lawndale (9/2/79-6/29/84)
Kedzie (6/29/84-9/7/86)
Lawndale (9/7/86-7/3/94)
Kedzie (7/3/94-3/23/2008)
Archer (3/23/2008-2/7/2010)
Kedzie (2/7/2010-present)
Route number originally skipped, avoiding confusion of route 59 operating via 61st St.
Number assigned by CTA to previously unnumbered former CMC summer beach shuttle, originally introduced 6/16/34, restructured 7/3/53 as variation of route 81A.
11/25/79 - introduced as bus route
7/3/94 - discontinued
Operated between Merchandise Mart and Harlem/Archer, making limited stops. Discontinued, with most riders having switched to new Midway rapid transit line.
Operated rush hours only
Bus Garage: Archer
1864 - horse car service introduced on Archer Ave. from State St. to Stewart
1865 - extended southwest to Fuller St.
1884 - extended southwest to Western Ave.
1887 - extended southwest to Pershing/Rockwell
1887 - horse car service introduced on 38th St. branch from Archer to Kedzie
1894 - 38th St. branch converted to electric streetcar
1895 - Archer Ave. converted to electric streetcar
1896 - Archer Ave. route extended southwest to Kedzie
1898 - 38th St. branch extended west to Central Park Ave.
1900 - Archer Ave. route extended southwest to Cicero Ave.
1901 - Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Co. introduces interurban service to Joliet
6/17/34 - Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Co. abandons interurban line
6/25/34 - extension bus route 62A introduced west of Cicero Ave., replacing interurban
2/15/48 - 38th St. branch discontinued
5/30/48 - streetcar route converted to buses, extension route combined into main route
38th St. branch operated west from Archer to Kedzie. Main streetcar route terminated at Cicero Ave., connecting with Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway interurban line, which operated further west on Archer. After that interurban line was abandoned, replacement bus service within Chicago was operated by Chicago City Railway.
Owl service
Car House: Archer
Bus Garage: Archer (6/25/34-2/7/2010)
Kedzie (2/7/2010-12/16/2012)
74th St. (12/16/2012-present)
10/21/46 - introduced as bus route, between downtown and Cicero Ave./63rd St.
8/26/64 - some service operated express via newly opened Stevenson Expressway
9/11/66 - some service operated via Narragansett Ave. between Archer Ave. and 63rd St.
2/29/76 - Stevenson Expressway service redesignated route 99 Stevenson Express
1/4/82 - all service west of Cicero Ave. transferred to route 164 Narragansett Express
7/3/94 - discontinued
Originally operated between downtown and Cicero Ave., making limited stops. Later with some service extended west to Harlem Ave. This was only Chicago Surface Lines express bus route, introduced several months before the replacement with Archer local streetcars with buses. Route served Chicago's southwest side, the only area of Chicago lacking a rapid transit line. Several months after southwest side finally received new rapid transit line to Midway Airport, route was discontinued.
No Sunday service
Bus Garage: Archer
11/7/93 - introduced as bus route, feeding new rapid transit at Pulaski/Archer
7/3/94 - route revised to serve Midway Airport station
Created as feeder route connecting with newly opened rapid transit line to Midway Airport, supplementing route 62. Originally connected with rapid transit at Pulaski/Archer, changed to serve Midway station.
No Sunday service
Bus Garage: Archer (11/7/93-2/7/2010)
74th St. (2/7/2010-present)
1888 - horse car service introduced from Cottage Grove to Dorchester
1889 - horse car service introduced from Halsted to Ashland
1892 - extended from Ashland to Central Park Ave.
1892 - extended from Dorchester to Stony Island
1893 - segments Halsted to Ashland, Cottage Grove to Stony Island converted to electric streetcar
1898 - electric streetcar service introduced State St. to Halsted
1899 - electric streetcar service introduced State St. to Cottage Grove
1899 - segment Ashland to Central Park Ave. converted to electric streetcar
1/20/02 - service extended from Central Park Ave. past Cicero Ave., to Central Ave.
7/10/04 - segment west of Cicero Ave. transferred to South Cicero route
1/3/11 - South Cicero route becomes Argo route, extended west on 63rd St. to Archer Rd.
12/4/16 - 63rd St. service extended further west, coexisting with Argo route
10/1/29 - Argo route discontinued east of Oak Park Ave., to connect with 63rd St. route
4/11/48 - Argo streetcar route replaced with 63A 63rd-65th bus route
12/7/52 - buses substituted on weekends
5/24/53 - streetcar route converted to buses
11/7/93 - segment west of Cicero Ave. transferred to route 63W West 63rd
Before 1929 and after 1993, service on 63rd St. was basically split at Cicero Ave., by Midway Airport. From 1929 until 1993, service was split further west. The 63rd St. and the Argo streetcar routes were split at Oak Park Ave. And when the Argo streetcar route was replaced with the West 63rd bus route, the split point was relocated east to Narragansett Ave. Narragansett Ave. remained the split point after the main 63rd St. route was converted to buses. After opening of rapid transit line to Midway Airport, 63rd St. service restructured to terminate at Midway Airport terminal, with new route 63W operating west of Cicero Ave.
Owl service
Certain rush hour trips limited stops 6/18/56-9/7/75
Car House: 69th St.
Bus Garage: 77th St. (12/7/52-5/30/54)
69th St. (5/30/54-6/18/95)
74th St. (6/18/95-present)
1/20/02 - 63rd St. streetcar route extended from Central Park Ave. to Central Ave.
7/10/04 - segment transferred to South Cicero route, operating south from Archer Ave.
1/3/11 - South Cicero route becomes Argo route, extended west on 63rd St. to Archer Rd.
12/4/16 - 63rd St. service extended further west, coexisting with Argo route
10/1/29 - Argo route discontinued east of Oak Park Ave., connecting with 63rd St. route
4/11/48 - Argo streetcar route replaced with 63A 63rd-65th bus route
12/7/52 - buses substituted on weekends
5/24/53 - 63rd St. streetcar route converted to buses
9/13/64 - certain route 63 trips extended via 65th St. between Cicero and Harlem Ave.
1/4/82 - route 63A replaced with route 164 Narragansett Express to and from downtown
11/7/93 - present route structure adopted after opening of Midway rapid transit line
Upon replacement of Argo streetcar route with buses, route 63 63rd St. cut back to Narragansett Ave., with Argo streetcars replaced with 63A 63rd-65th bus route, operating via 65th St. from Narragansett to Harlem, and 63rd St. from Harlem to Archer Rd. Effective 9/13/64, with certain route 63 trips extended during rush hours to serve industries along 65th St. between Cicero Ave and Harlem Ave., route 63A became West 63rd route, operating entirely on 63rd St. Present route structure adopted after opening of Midway rapid transit line, when route 63W was created. At the same time, the route 63 65th St. service was replaced with new rush hour route 165.
Car House: Archer
Bus Garage: Archer (4/11/48-2/7/2010)
74th St. (2/7/2010-present)
Original number of segment which evolved to present route 54B South Cicero.
5/23/46 - introduced as bus route extending route 90 Harlem, west on Foster to Canfield
10/28/46 - service becomes route 92A West Foster, split from route 90
10/11/48 - service extended east from Harlem Ave. to Higgins Ave.
10/22/50 - service extended east from Higgins Ave. to Milwaukee Ave.
2/20/55 - route combined into route 85A Foster-Central
2/1/70 - restructured as route 64 Foster-Lawrence
2/27/83 - route 64 restructured into three separate routes 69, 81W, and 92W
1/24/88 - route 69 split, with separate route 64 Foster-Canfield formed
12/16/2012 - discontinued
Upon extension of rapid transit from Logan Square to new Jefferson Park terminal, route reconfigured as route 64 Foster-Lawrence, operating in loop from new Jefferson Park terminal via Lawrence, Canfield, and Foster. When rapid transit was extended further west, route further restructured into three separate routes 69 Foster-East River, 81W West Lawrence, and 92W West Foster. Route 92W operated between Jefferson Park and the new Harlem station. And route 69 operated from the Harlem station via Foster, Canfield, and Higgins, to the new Cumberland station, and via a loop serving East River Rd. Effective 1/24/88, route 69 split, with new route 64 basically operating in a one way loop from Harlem station via Harlem, Foster, Canfield, and Higgins.
No weekend service
Bus Garage: Lawrence (5/23/46-5/30/54)
North Park (5/30/54-12/4/55)
Forest Glen (12/4/55-12/16/2012)
1875 - horse car service introduced from Halsted to Western Ave.
1892 - extended west to Pulaski
1895 - extended west to North Ave.
1896 - electric streetcar service introduced State St. to Halsted
1896 - segment Halsted to North Ave. converted to electric streetcar
1904 - extended west to Leclaire
2/17/08 - extended east to Peshtigo Ct.
1911 - extended west to Harlem
6/8/16 - extended east to Navy Pier
10/28/46 - bus route 65A Grand Supplement introduced between Navy Pier and Franklin
12/4/49 - buses substituted on weekends
4/1/51 - streetcar route converted to buses
12/16/51 - converted to trolleybuses
1/15/73 - trolleybuses replaced with motor buses
Owl service discontinued 9/13/81
Car House: North Ave.
Bus Garage: Limits (10/28/46-4/1/51)
North Ave. (12/4/49-9/7/86)
Kedzie (9/7/86-7/3/94)
Chicago Ave. (7/3/94-present)
Streetcar route introduced by Cicero & Proviso Street Railway/Chicago Railways (west of Cicero)
1859 - horse car service introduced from Clark to Kingsbury
1880 - horse car service introduced from Milwaukee Ave. to Wood St.
1882 - extended west to Leavitt
1890 - extended west to California Ave.
1892 - extended west to Grand, and from Kingsbury to Milwaukee Ave.
1895 - electric streetcar service introduced Grand to Pulaski
1895 - segment Clark to Grand converted to electric streetcar
1895 - Cicero & Proviso introduces electric streetcar service from Cicero Ave. to Austin
1908 - extended from Pulaski to Cicero
12/27/10 - Chicago Railways acquires Cicero & Proviso trackage in city of Chicago
5/11/52 - streetcar route converted to trolleybuses
3/26/67 - trolleybuses replaced with motor buses
Chicago Ave. service originally included service into downtown via Milwaukee Ave., changed to operate via Wells St. effective 3/11/18, discontinued 9/14/24. Segment west of Cicero Ave. originally owned by Cicero & Proviso Street Railway, extending as far west as Harlem Ave. under Cicero & Proviso Street Railway ownership. Austin Blvd. was established as the Chicago city limits in 1899, and on 12/27/10, segment east of Austin went to Chicago Railways, while segment west of Austin went to County Traction Co., later Chicago & West Towns Railways. Service west of Austin eventually discontinued by Pace.
Owl service
Car House: North Ave. (until 12/3/50)
Kedzie (12/3/50-5/11/52)
Bus Garage: North Ave. (5/11/52-9/7/86)
Kedzie (9/7/86-7/3/94)
Chicago Ave. (7/3/94-present)
1887 - horse car service introduced on 69th St. from Vincennes to Halsted
1888 - extended west on 69th St. to Ashland
1889 - extended west on 69th St. to Leavitt
1893 - electric streetcar service introduced on 67th St. from St. Lawrence to Stony Island
1895 - horse car route on 69th St. converted to electric streetcar
1896 - extended west on 69th St. to Western Ave.
8/9/1902 - extended east on 69th St. to Cottage Grove/68th St.
9/26/10 - 67th St. and 69th St. segments combined into one route
2/1/15 - extended east on 67th St. to Oglesby
11/23/24 - electric streetcar service introduced on 71st St. from Western Ave. to California Ave.
5/24/53 - streetcar route converted to buses, extended west on 71st St. to Kedzie
6/22/80 - extended west on 71st St. to Pulaski
Owl service discontinued 2/2/92, replaced by route 5
Car House: 69th St.
Bus Garage: 69th St. (5/24/53-6/18/95)
74th St. (6/18/95-present)
Internal accounting number for local streetcar service, not publicly used. Route evolved to present route 70 Division.
4/21/35 - introduced as bus route 89 Northwest Highway
1/27/43 - route combined into route 92 Foster-Northwest Highway
2/1/70 - route formed as separate route again, assigned new number 68
Through route 92 Foster-Northwest Highway formed as part of wartime conservation efforts, split again at new Jefferson Park station, when rapid transit service was extended to Jefferson Park.
Sunday and owl service discontinued 9/13/81
Sunday service restored 1982
Bus Garage: North Ave. (4/21/35-1/27/43)
Lawrence (1/27/43-5/30/54)
North Park (5/30/54-9/7/57)
Forest Glen (9/7/57-present)
Route number originally skipped, avoiding confusion of route 67 operating via 69th St.
6/7/71 - introduced as branch of route 40 O'Harexpress bus route, operating express
5/29/72 - service to Cumberland becomes extension of route 64 Foster-Lawrence
3/31/76 - route 64X Cumberland Express renumbered route 69
2/27/83 - routes restructured into three separate routes 69, 81W, and 92W
1/24/88 - present route structure adopted, with service discontinued on Higgins Ave.
12/16/2012 - discontinued
First CTA service to the new office area near Cumberland Ave. and the Kennedy Expressway, was a branch of route 40 O'Harexpress, operating nonstop via Kennedy Expressway. After a year, route 64 Foster-Lawrence was extended to the office area, and the route 40 service was redesignated route 64X Cumberland Express, later renumbered route 69. Routes restructured when rapid transit line opened at Cumberland Ave., with express bus discontinued. Route 64 segment became route 81W West Lawrence, while new route 69 Foster-East River operated from the Harlem station via Foster, Canfield, and Higgins, to the Cumberland station, and via a loop serving East River Rd. Effective 1/24/88, route 69 split into separate routes 64 and 69, with route 69 basically operating via Cumberland, Lawrence, and East River Rd. Upon discontinuance, replaced with weekday modification of route 81W via East River Rd.
No weekend service
Bus Garage: Forest Glen