Harlem on the O'Hare branch (not to be confused with Harlem on the Forest Park Branch) is a Blue Line station located in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway with a single island platform that is completely covered by a canopy structure with a glass domed roof running down the middle of it. It is the first stop of the extension towards O'Hare that opened on February 27, 1983 At the eastern end of the station is a staircase, escalator and elevator up to a mezzanine at street level above the station platform. There is a central bank of turnstiles, and high exit only turnstiles towards each end. The eastern end of this mezzanine is at the western side of Harlem Avenue's overpass. The western end of the mezzanine leads to a driveway with a covered walkway mainly used as the the stations bus loop. On the southern side of the expressway (between it and Higgins Avenue) is a small covered 3 bay Bus Loop and Passenger Loading area. Just beyond it is a tiny Park & Ride lot with 53 spaces (costing $5 for 12 hours, the same as the other parking lot and garage along the Blue Line).
All Photos Taken on 3 July, 2013
Looking down on the blur of the Blue Line train in the middle of the Kennedy
The expressway with the el in the middle of it
A train passes a traffic jam
The el runs in the middle of the traffic
A side view of a train in the median ROW
Entrance to the Harlem Transit Center
The Transit Center is relatively small
The modernized blue triangle transit center sign
The three bay bus loop and drop off area that is also covered
The Harlem Transit Center column
The transit center has the normal full height canopies
View from the edge of the transit center over the highway. The glass area above the platform is where fare control is
The mezzanine isn't even above the platform but one end of it
High exit turnstiles directly to the bus loop, there is one fare control area between the two entrances (the other is from Harlem itself)
Plaque for the Richard J. O'Brien Harlem Avenue Rapid Transit Station
Escalators down to the platform
All platform access is beyond the end of it
The platform roof covers the tracks as well
Last Updated: 17 September, 2013
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