Completion of the $25 million station reconstruction project is the latest milestone for the ‘All Stations Accessibility Program’
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) welcomed Congressman Danny Davis, Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with other dignitaries, today to unveil the fully accessible Austin Green Line station. The $25 million project delivers a fully accessible transit hub for the community— achieving a key milestone in CTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) and advancing the shared goal of making public transit in Chicago accessible to everyone.
CTA’s ASAP Strategic Plan was released in 2018 and serves as a blueprint for making all rail stations fully accessible by 2038. With the opening of the Austin station, 110 of CTA’s 146 rail stations (75%) are accessible to those who use mobility devices. Austin is among the 14 stations recently opened or currently funded and in various stages of planning, design or construction to become fully accessible.
“Making our CTA stations accessible to all riders is an important goal,” said U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin. “I have long supported federal funding for the Surface Transportation Program, which helped make today’s ribbon cutting a reality. I will continue to work with Senator Duckworth, Representative Davis, and others to secure the resources CTA riders deserve.”
“As someone who uses public transportation a little differently than most, I know accessibility isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. “The newly rebuilt Austin Green Line station is more than just a beautiful new station, making these essential accessibility upgrades opens doors for more Chicagoans to use public transportation confidently. Alongside Senator Durbin, Governor Pritzker and our state leaders, I’ll keep fighting for the resources our transit systems need and deserve in order to make every CTA station fully accessible so that every rider can travel safely and efficiently.”
"It is good to know that the Green Line has been upgraded at Austin and Lake to modernize the station and make it easier for residents with accessibility challenges to use public transportation,” said Congressman Danny K. Davis. “As a resident of the Austin Community and Congressman of the 7th District, I was pleased to help generate the funds that made this project possible for Oak Parkers and the Austin Westside Communities.”
Funding for this critical infrastructure project was sourced through the federal government’s Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. STP provided $20.3M in funding and Rebuild Illinois provided $5.3M for a total budget of $25.6M.
“Investing in Illinoisans means investing in the public transit that connects them to jobs, schools, businesses, and opportunity,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The renovated Austin Green Line station delivers the safe, accessible, and reliable experience every rider deserves. And together with our passage of NITA, it represents our broader commitment to building a stronger, more equitable transit system for communities across the region.”
“Building the safest, most affordable big city in America means investing in accessible public transportation that serves the needs of every Chicagoan,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “When we remove barriers to transportation, we expand access to employment, education, healthcare, and the everyday opportunities Chicagoans need to thrive. I'm proud to join our partners at the CTA and across local government to welcome my neighbors in Austin to this brand-new, state-of-the-art station—the latest investment we’ve made to advance equity and opportunity on the West Side and throughout all of Chicago.”
“Public transit is about connecting people to opportunity, and every accessible station brings us one step closer to a Chicago where everyone can travel freely,” said CTA Acting President Leerhsen. “Reaching 75% accessibility—along with recent breaking ground on the historic Red Line Extension—is a huge milestone for our city and the surrounding communities. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s dedication, but we won't stop here. We’re fully committed to working with our partners to secure the funding needed to reach 100% accessibility for every rider over the next decade.
The Austin station serves as a regional transit hub, providing connections to the #91 Austin route, as well as three Pace bus routes (#309, #313 and #315), which connect to several Metra stations and popular destinations including Midway Airport.
The original street level Austin station opened in 1899 and had not been upgraded since it was rebuilt in 1962. Work included the installation of a new elevator and escalator connecting to the platform; reconstruction of the outside station stairs and a new ADA compliant ramp to enter the station; plus, other station enhancements. During construction, riders were able to access rail services using the station’s auxiliary entrance.
Currently, CTA has secured funding for all four remaining stations identified in Phase One and five of the eight stations in Phase Two of the ASAP Plan. CTA has secured $37 million in funding for elevator replacement and/or modernization efforts, which were also part of the ASAP Plan.
Funding remains the biggest impediment to achieving a fully accessible rail system. Since the launch of the ASAP Plan, CTA has secured $740.8 million in funding, with design and construction underway for nearly all non-accessible stations identified in the first two phases of the Plan. CTA continues to seek out additional sources of funding for the remaining stations in Phase 2 as well as funding for stations in phases three and four of the program.
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