All Clear After Clark/Lake Station Evacuated, Loop CTA Trains Halted Due To Unfounded Threat
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A threat prompted authorities to evacuate the busy Clark/Lake CTA 'L' station late Wednesday afternoon.
Loop trains were halted for about half an hour before an all-clear was given around 4:45 p.m.
Trains are standing due to police activity at Clark/Lake. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will post updates as soon as more information is available.
— cta (@cta) September 25, 2019
Police said they were investigating the viability of a threat to the Clark/Lake station. Commuters were advised that there would be a heavier-than-normal police presence.
CPD is investigating the validity of a threat to the CTA at Clark and Lake. Commuters can expect a heavier than normal police presence as crews respond pic.twitter.com/vuMkWZEwRZ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) September 25, 2019
The threat proved to be unfounded, police said.
Incident is unfounded and trains have resumed normal schedules.
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) September 25, 2019
The Clark/Lake station is composed of an elevated platform alongside the Thompson Center that serves the Pink, Green, Brown, Orange, and Purple line stations, and a Blue Line subway platform.
The CTA said trains on all those lines were left standing near Clark/Lake after the threat was received.
Blue Line service was shut down, and O'Hare-bound Blue Line riders were told to evacuate at Washington. No reason was provided to the riders.
Some CTA passengers expressed confusion on Twitter – reporting that there were no trains going into or out of the station and that they were not told why the station was evacuated.
@cta what's happening at Clark/Lake? Everyone was removed from the train and not allowed to board.
— Eloisa (@MissGeeklyChic) September 25, 2019
Clark/Lake station is being evacuated, not clear to me why.
— carter (@CarterHarms) September 25, 2019
Thompson Center workers were also told toe evacuate, CBS 2 Director of Digital Content John Dodge reported. They said they were not told why.
Following the all-clear, residual delays were expected. But CTA service was resuming on all lines impacted.