CTA – Western/O’Hare

The station itself fine.
The premises outside it are disgusting. Crack heads seem to linger around here in droves and I’m about 99% positive I witnessed a drug exchange a week ago. CPD should have a post over here where all the bums live next to the station by the check cashing place.

I’ve seen my share of CTA L-​stops, and the Western Blue Line is a nice stop. It has a long and wide platform. So that mini-​panic attack I get when I’m walking a platform thinking I’m going to trip and fall on the tracks is of no concern. It’s a recently renovated station, with working elevators, and multiple entrances and exits.
There are plenty of ways to get to and from this stop, using major bus routes, making any part of the city easily accessible from this stop.
The downsides, only one heating area and the bathrooms have double duty as elevators.

Decent El station. Fairly bare-​bones, but there is a little snack shop in the lobby, and I love the view to the north-​east between this stop and Damen.

I arrived in Chicago during rush hour right before the holidays, so we made the collective decision to take the train to a stop near my sister’s house and get picked up there. It saved us time and money and was super easy. We picked this stop because it has an elevator and with luggage that was a necessity. The only complaint is that it isn’t an easy place for drop offs or pick ups, but that is probably only relevant to my situation.

The Western Ave. Station has all the amenities. Dunkin’ Donuts, PNC ATM, McDonald’s and more. Keep warm in the winter under the heated lamps, dodge the pigeons in the summer and be aware of the smell of urine on the bridge overpass.

Elevated L stop so must take the stairs up to the tracks, or else risk the wet elevators… why do bums pee in there again?
I hate that there isn’t a crosswalk close by to get across to the o’hare line but i’m usually on the one headed to forrest park anyways, so not a HUGE deal I suppose… but still frustrating when I need to head in the o’hare direction. (And I’m not a stairs person as you can tell, I don’t like taking the overhead stairs to get to the other side.)
The warming areas are super helpful but can get crowded in the mornings. Overall though I’m satisfied with this stop.

As far as L stops go, this one is pretty standard. They have an elevator, a Dunkin’, and is usually pretty clean. My only wish is that they’d put in a few more benches, and maybe another heater or two.

Donuts, shelter, elevator, cross-​over, clean, and always open.
Yup, a decent el stop.

As far as CTA stations go, I’d call this one slightly above average. Decent setup, has an elevator, a Dunkin Donuts, an ATM, a Credit/​Debit capable transit card machine & one warmer on each side of the platform.
Personally I think they could add another warmer on each side but I’ll take what I can get!

The station is fine, but the elevator is more of a moving toilet than anything else. Why bums, why?
Enjoy Suckas’!!!

I do not use this station often, but when I do it works just fine.
There is an elevator.
There is an enclosed area to protect you from the elements.
It seems like there are a lot of stairs here, but I think it is just how this place is set up.
Bike parking out front.

The northwest staircase functions as an express lane to the Green Eye.
Five stars.

Its better than California.

I jump off this stop all the time.
Nothing spectacular about the station.
Nothing terrible.
Middle of the road.
Bucktown rocks, but the station itself ain’t no thing.

the key to this train stop is that it has a cover in the waiting area… so important during the winter and rain.
it smells a little funky and often times has dead birds/​rodents in the rafters but the staff is pretty friendly and the station itself is relatively clean. not too much riff raff going on there.
i love the blue line because i live so close to it and it takes me downtown in no time, so i give the western stop 3 stars :).

Plusses: Dunkin’ Donuts, ATM, Elevator, Handicap accessible, Bike Racks, three fare machines. McDonald’s, Vella Café, three bus lines within walking distance.
Minusses: Urine. Every where. All pee, all the time.