CTA Completes $25.6M Austin Green Line Station Accessibility Upgrade

• The Austin Green Line station has completed a $25.6 million reconstruction focused on making the station fully accessible.
• Improvements include a new elevator and escalator, rebuilt exterior stairs, an ADA-compliant entrance ramp, and other station upgrades.
• The project is part of CTA's All Stations Accessibility Program, bringing 110 of the agency's 146 rail stations, or 75%, to full accessibility.

What The Austin Station Upgrade Delivers

The Chicago Transit Authority has celebrated the completion of the Austin Green Line station's accessibility improvements with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Congressman Danny Davis and other local officials. The roughly $25.6 million project transforms the station into a fully accessible transit hub, marking another major step in CTA's long-term effort to make its entire rail system accessible to riders who use mobility devices. CTA says the Austin station is now among 110 of its 146 rail stations that meet accessibility standards.

What Was Added To The Station

The original street-level Austin station opened in 1899 and was last rebuilt in 1962. The latest project brought a significant overhaul more than six decades after that previous reconstruction. The work included a new elevator and escalator connecting the station entrance to the platform, reconstruction of the exterior station stairs and installation of a new ADA-compliant entrance ramp. Additional station improvements were also completed as part of the project. During construction, CTA kept rail service available through an auxiliary entrance, allowing riders to continue using the Green Line while the main station area was being rebuilt.

What The Austin Station Connects For Riders

The station is more than just a Green Line stop. It also serves as a regional transit connection for West Side residents, linking riders to the No. 91 Austin bus route and Pace routes 309, 313 and 315. Those Pace routes connect passengers to several Metra stations and destinations across the region, including Midway International Airport. The improved accessibility therefore extends beyond the rail platform, making it easier for riders with mobility needs to move between different parts of the regional transit network.

What The Project Means For CTA Accessibility

The Austin station is part of CTA's All Stations Accessibility Program, or ASAP, which was launched in 2018 as a blueprint for making every CTA rail station accessible by 2038. With Austin now complete, 75% of CTA's rail stations are accessible. CTA is continuing work on other stations as part of the program, while also advancing larger infrastructure projects across the system. The agency recently secured more than $18 million for design work tied to rebuilding the Forest Park Branch of the Blue Line and making that branch fully accessible. CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen has made accessibility and broader station improvements a central part of the agency's current capital program. CTA's 2026 construction season includes additional investments intended to improve station conditions and the overall rider experience.

What The Funding Supports

The project's $25.6 million budget was funded through a combination of federal and state infrastructure programs. The federal Surface Transportation Program provided approximately $20.3 million, while Rebuild Illinois contributed approximately $5.3 million. For the Austin neighborhood, the investment means a major transit facility is now easier to navigate for seniors, people with disabilities and other riders who rely on accessible infrastructure. It also adds another upgraded station to a Green Line corridor that remains an important transportation link on Chicago's West Side.