The Chicago Pedway

Chicago’s underground Pedway — often overlooked but vital — began in 1951 as a simple link between the Red and Blue Line subway stations at Washington and Jackson. Over the decades, it expanded in fits and starts, evolving into a five-mile labyrinth that connects more than 50 buildings across downtown.

Originally conceived to ease street-level congestion, reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and provide climate-controlled passageways during harsh weather, the Pedway became part of larger downtown development efforts in the 1960s and 1970s, including the ambitious but ultimately unrealized Chicago 21 Plan. Its growth was rarely coordinated; instead, new segments were often added through individual building projects, resulting in a system that mirrors the changing priorities of the city itself — part transit tool, part civic time capsule.

Today, beyond serving commuters and city workers, the Pedway includes shops, restaurants, and bursts of unexpected art. American Victorian stained glass near Macy’s, student murals lining corridors, and even a nod to Chance the Rapper all give personality to this subterranean space.

Looking ahead, city planners are aiming to improve signage, enhance accessibility, and revitalize the Pedway as a more usable, visible, and vibrant piece of Chicago’s urban infrastructure.