As part of its effort to rationalize the city's transportation systems and keep the Loop as free from traffic as possible, the Plan proposed to consolidate passenger traffic in new stations west of the downtown along the river and south of it along Twelfth Street, as indicated in the darkened areas on this diagram. The Illinois Central facilities would remain east of the downtown near the lake.

Union Station

One of the stations the planners wished to replace was the old Union Station, built in 1881 on the northeast corner of Canal and Adams Streets. It was designed by one of Chicago's leading architects before the advent of the skyscraper, W.W. Boyington, who also designed the Water Tower.

Union Station

The only significant fulfillment of the passenger station consolidation project came with the completion of the new Union Station in 1925, also at Canal and Adams Streets. It was designed by Graham, Burnham & Company, and, much altered, it remains in active use as a commuter terminal and as the sole remaining national railroad passenger station in the city.