CTA’s modernist design styles stem from an early series of expansions to the system when the Kennedy Extension to the Logan Square ‘L’ was built with a new subway and Kennedy Expressway median line to Jefferson Park (later to be extended to O’Hare) and the Dan Ryan Line, which was tied onto the Loop and Lake Street ‘L’ via new elevated structure in Chinatown and along 18th Street and a new expressway median line bringing service as far as 95th and the Dan Ryan Expressway (with current planning underway to extend this line to 130th. With these new lines came a new design system and enameled metal station signage on the new lines—and later systemwide—which would reflect train stopping patterns during the era of “A/B Skip Stop” semi-express services where some trains would bypass alternating stations during some times of the day. “A” stations (where “A” trains and off-peak all-stop trains) got a red theme, “B” stations (where “B” trains and off-peak all-stop trains) and “AB” stations were served by all trains at all times when services ran and all station signs and maps adopted these colors for quick recognition and association with the service patterns of the day. This map is a loving (though slightly modified with some artistic license) approximation of the original maps as they appeared in 1970 after both new lines initially opened, with a style that would continue to be used on station maps for many years. These maps and themes were in an era before color “line” names, so train routes on our system are described by name and destination.

Prints measure 20" x 24" and are available in 2 styles: Poster and Metal Print.

Posters are printed on matte 185gsm paper and can be easily framed in a standard size frame found at most major retailers.

Metal Prints are made of 1.149mm thick aluminum with rounded corners and a dye sublimated high gloss image. They are easily hung via a built in wooden frame mount.