Neighborhood News: Discovering Chicago’s underground in the Loop’s Pedway
Beneath Chicago’s bustling downtown area, you can find a cool respite from the heat and crowds in the very heart of Chicago’s Loop. The Pedway, or Pedestrian Walkway, covers five miles under 40 blocks of Chicago’s business district, from Clark Street to Wacker Drive.
This air-cooled maze of tunnels connects some of the city’s most famous buildings, including Macy’s, City Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, and Millennium Park, as well as the Metra, CTA and Amtrak train systems.
The Pedway Is a safe, quick and convenient way for pedestrians to travel downtown—especially in winter, extreme heat and during times of rain or snow.
History
According to the City of Chicago’s website, development of the Pedway began in 1951, when the City of Chicago built one-block tunnels connecting the Red Line and Blue Line subways at Washington Street and Jackson Boulevard. Since then, both public and private investment have expanded the Pedway, and the system now connects more than 50 buildings.
The smaller, but more elaborate, eastern section of the Pedway, connects the Illinois Center buildings, Hyatt Regency, Fairmont Hotel, Swissôtel, and (later) Aqua, according to Wikipedia sources, as each is linked to one end of the Metra Electric Line rail platforms. Since the Regional Transportation Authority’s removal of the turnstiles in November 2003, the two large pedway sections have been united by the platforms.
As ChicagoCurbed notes, close to 20,000 people board Metra and South Shore Line trains daily, many of them working the Pedway to shave off precious seconds from their commute from offices downtown to awaiting trains. Fans of the Batman franchise will remember this area from 2008’s ‘The Dark Knight.’
The southern reach of the main network was reduced when the 2nd floor passage across Madison Street, linking Three First National Plaza with Chase Tower, was removed after the two buildings restricted public access to upper levels. The tunnels between Chase Tower and Two First National Plaza remain but are closed to the general public.
Chase Tower is still connected to the Blue Line subway and to the restaurant structure in the south-west corner of the adjoining Exelon Plaza, and public access is permitted during workday hours.
In December 2013, 22 stained glass panels were installed on the wall opposite the entrance to Macy’s food court, in a collaboration with the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows; these remain in place, although the museum has closed.
Today
A TripAdvisor member recently recounted her own experience using the Pedway. “Once every five weeks I get a haircut at the Anna George Salon that is located beneath the Illinois Center on the Chicago Pedway, somewhere around Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive… After my haircut, I enjoy strolling through the smaller but more elaborate eastern section of the Pedway, connecting the Illinois Center to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Fairmount Hotel, Swissotel and Agua. On a cold or windy or snowy or rainy day, the Pedway is a convenient option for transportation around the Loop.”
Another TripAdvisor reviewer discussed her experiences in 2019:
“Recently, I was shopping at Block 37 (108 N State Street), and ‘got acquainted’ with Chicago Pedway, taking down the escalator to the lower level, where I talked to a Security lady on duty, she couldn’t be nicer and friendlier, briefly told me about this system and how good it is for pedestrians, she also showed me the Pedway sign on the doors and said, that it was fine to take some photos there.
The tunnel walkway at this part of town is quite wide, clean, there are many shops, cafes and kiosks flanking the walkway, that was moderately busy. There are also ads there about cultural events in the city. I think though, that there could be more signs about directions to a particular destination point – that usually helps.”
How to experience today’s Pedway
The Chicago Architecture Center provides tours of the Pedway. The tour begins at 120 N LaSalle St. at the Pedway entrance located on the south side of the building that’s separate from the lobby entrance. According to their website, this tour is not ADA-accessible. The tour route is approximately 1.5 miles and stairs are required. There are no public restrooms available on this tour. Reservations are not required. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
