Austin Green Line Reopens After $25.6M Upgrade, Pushing CTA to 75% Accessibility

AUSTIN— A West Side CTA station that dates back more than a century has completed one of its most significant upgrades yet.

The Austin Green Line station at 351 N. Austin Blvd. reopened its main entrance on August 7, 2026 following a $25.6 million reconstruction that added an elevator, escalator, ADA-compliant entrance ramp and other improvements. More importantly, the project pushes the CTA past a major systemwide milestone: 110 of its 146 rail stations, or 75%, are now accessible to riders using mobility devices.

A Station Dating to 1899 Gets a Major Modernization

The Austin station originally opened at street level in 1899 and had not undergone a comparable modernization since it was rebuilt in 1962.

The latest reconstruction included:

A new elevator providing step-free access to the platform
A new escalator
Reconstructed exterior stairs
A new ADA-compliant entrance ramp
Platform and station improvements

The station remained in service during much of the construction period through its auxiliary entrance, allowing Green Line riders to continue using the stop while the main stationhouse was rebuilt.

The project was funded with $20.3 million from the federal Surface Transportation Program and $5.3 million from Illinois' Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, bringing the total budget to $25.6 million.

“Public transit is about connecting people to opportunity,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said during the station's reopening.

Austin Is More Than a Green Line Stop

One reason the upgrade matters locally is the station's role as a regional transportation connection, not simply a neighborhood 'L' stop.

The Austin station connects directly with CTA Route #91 Austin and Pace routes #309, #313 and #315.

Those routes extend the station's reach well beyond the immediate neighborhood:

Pace Route 309 connects the Austin Green Line station with the Metra Union Pacific West Line station in Elmhurst.
Pace Route 313 travels west through communities including Oak Park, River Forest, Maywood, Melrose Park, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard and Downers Grove, including service to Yorktown Center.
Pace Route 315 provides daily service between the Austin Green Line station and Midway Airport, while also serving the Austin Blue Line station, Morton College and other destinations.

That makes the station particularly important for riders moving between Chicago's West Side and the western suburbs, as well as residents whose trips require transfers between CTA, Pace and Metra.

CTA Has Now Reached 75% Rail Accessibility

The Austin reconstruction is part of CTA's larger All Stations Accessibility Program, or ASAP, which was introduced in 2018 with the goal of making every CTA rail station vertically accessible by 2038.

With Austin complete, 110 of 146 CTA rail stations are accessible, representing 75% of the system. CTA's buses and rail vehicles are already accessible for riders requiring step-free service, but older stations remain one of the major challenges.

Austin was part of Phase One of ASAP, which is fully funded at approximately $423.5 million and also includes accessibility projects at stations such as Montrose, California and Racine on the Blue Line, along with the State/Lake reconstruction and stations addressed through the Red and Purple Modernization program.

CTA says 14 stations have recently opened or currently have funding and are in various stages of planning, design or construction for accessibility improvements.

The next challenge is funding the remainder. CTA reports that Phase Two is only partially funded, while stations included in later phases still require additional resources.

What the Upgrade Means for Austin Residents

The most immediate benefit is straightforward: more people can now independently use the Austin Green Line station.

That includes riders using wheelchairs and other mobility devices, parents with strollers, travelers carrying luggage and anyone who may have difficulty navigating stairs.

But the value of the project goes beyond the elevator.

Austin now has a modernized station connecting residents to the Green Line, Downtown Chicago, CTA buses, suburban Pace service, Metra connections and Midway Airport from a single transportation hub.

For homebuyers and renters considering Austin or nearby West Side communities, transit access is one factor worth evaluating at the individual property level. Distance to an 'L' station, bus connections and commute options can significantly change the day-to-day convenience of two homes located within the same neighborhood.

The reconstruction does not guarantee higher property values or new development around the station. What it does provide is a tangible, $25.6 million infrastructure improvement that makes an established transit connection substantially more usable for a wider range of residents.

Explore Chicago Homes With Better Transit Connections

For buyers and renters who rely on public transportation, the right address is about more than the home itself. Distance to CTA, bus connections, accessibility, commute time and nearby everyday destinations can all shape whether a property truly works.

Connect with The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier to compare homes and neighborhoods based on both the real estate and the transportation connections around them, whether you're considering Austin, the West Side, Downtown Chicago or another Chicagoland community.

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