An Architourist’s CTA Adventure: From West Lafayette to Monroe and Navy Pier, with Echoes of Mumbai’s Rail Rhythms
As an architourist and devoted blogger, I find cities speak through their transit lines. Like veins coursing with movement and meaning, these systems shape urban life. Chicago’s CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) is one such lifeline, mirroring the chaotic charm and cultural pulse of Mumbai’s iconic local trains and sleek metros. My recurring route—from West Lafayette to Cumberland, Monroe, and Navy Pier—is my stateside homage to the compelling journeys I’ve experienced on Mumbai’s railway grid.
Weekends are my gateway to urban immersion. I trade West Lafayette’s academic calm for Chicago’s architectural symphony via a 2.5-hour ride on Amtrak’s Cardinal or a Greyhound bus. My first urban tether is the CTA Blue Line, which I board at Clinton station after arriving downtown.
Stepping onto the Blue Line is like emerging from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and hopping aboard a bustling local on the Western Line. Just as Mumbai’s suburban trains bridge worlds, the CTA ushers me from quiet Midwestern farmland to Chicago’s northwest edge.
Cumberland Station: A Gateway with Character
Cumberland station, set in the middle of the Kennedy Motorway (I-90), opened in 1983 with a clean, modern design. Its glass canopy and colourful mosaics give it a unique character, much like the murals in Mumbai’s metro stations. Surrounded by highway noise and city buzz, it reminds me of suburban stops like Borivali or Andheri—a place where quiet suburbs meet the rush of the city.
To Monroe: Into the Loop, Mumbai Style
From Cumberland, I ride 25 minutes on the Blue Line toward Monroe, Chicago’s central artery. The ride feels like a Mumbai local journey from Bandra to Churchgate—punctuated by scenes of residential blocks, warehouses, and commercial zones that resemble Mumbai’s own mix of chawls, office parks, and shimmering towers.
Monroe Station: A Subway Time Capsule
Monroe Station, built in 1943 for the State Street Subway, is stripped-down and efficient—white-tiled walls, narrow platforms, and stark fluorescent lights. Its design might feel austere, but to me, it’s evocative of Mumbai Metro’s early stations like Ghatkopar. Recent CTA upgrades, such as digital signage and curated art, introduce a modern sensibility, similar to Mumbai Metro’s Line 1 enhancements.
Exiting at Monroe drops me right into Chicago’s architectural theatre—the soaring Inland Steel Building and the Art Institute’s classic Beaux-Arts grandeur—all reflecting the historic-meets-modern aura of Mumbai’s Fort district. Monroe becomes a pivot, linking eras and experiences in both cities.
To Navy Pier: A Lakeside Ride with Marine Drive Echoes
Leaving the Loop, I stroll to Millennium Station to catch the #124 Navy Pier Express. This 15-minute bus ride evokes the nostalgia of a BEST bus meandering along Marine Drive in Mumbai.
Architectural Landmarks in Motion
The route is a sensory journey: the opulence of the Chicago Cultural Centre with its Tiffany dome brings to mind the David Sassoon Library in Kala Ghoda. The towering, glass-clad skyscrapers of Lakeshore East echo Mumbai’s corporate skyline in Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Navy Pier: Chicago’s Cultural Promenade
Today, it thrives as a vibrant urban hub.
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Polk Bros Park mirrors Mumbai’s Hanging Gardens with its landscaping and public installations.
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The Centennial Wheel spins with Juhu Beach-like joy.
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South Dock’s eateries and stages buzz with the energy of Colaba Causeway or Worli’s promenade.
And just as Marine Drive frames Mumbai’s dramatic skyline, Navy Pier’s vantage points showcase Chicago’s best—from the Gothic spires of Tribune Tower to the sleek geometry of 150 North Riverside and the towering Hancock Centre.
Reflections: CTA Journeys with Mumbai’s Spirit
My weekend rides along the CTA—from Indiana’s quiet to Chicago’s urban chorus—mirror the rhythm and soul of Mumbai’s local train network. These are not mere commutes but layered experiences:
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Cumberland is a gateway of modernist architecture and suburban buzz.
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Monroe offers a time-warp dive into Chicago’s historic and architectural core.
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Navy Pier celebrates the city’s lakeside splendour with echoes of South Mumbai’s grandeur.
Both transit systems—CTA and Mumbai Rail—are storytellers in motion. They connect lives, spark curiosity, and reveal the ever-changing face of the cities they serve. For me, they are moving canvases of public art, architecture, and culture.
Practical Tips for Your CTA Adventure
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Fares: A ride from Cumberland to Monroe is $2.50; the #124 bus to Navy Pier is included in the fare. A 1-day pass costs $5. Use a Ventra card or contactless payment.
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Train Frequency: Blue Line trains run every 2–7 minutes during peak hours, every 10 minutes otherwise. The #124 Navy Pier Express runs daily.
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Accessibility: Cumberland and Monroe stations have elevators. All CTA buses and Navy Pier facilities are ADA compliant.
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Planning Tools:
Sources & References
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Western Railway – Mumbai
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a weekend traveller, or simply someone curious about the heartbeat of cities, this CTA journey offers more than transit—it offers narrative. Just like Mumbai’s
Locals, Chicago’s trains and buses carry not only people but stories. So next time you ride, look up, look around, and let the city speak.
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