Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Chicago Transit Board has approved a construction contract worth up to $39.9 million for accessibility and modernization work at the California Blue Line station, with construction scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.
F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC, was selected following a competitive procurement process to carry out the upgrades at the station, located at 2211 N. California Ave.
The project is part of the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), which aims to make the entire rail system accessible to riders with disabilities by 2038.
The station improvements will include two new elevators serving the inbound and outbound platforms, new stairs and accessible doors, updated signage and wayfinding, and extensions to the platforms and canopies.
Work will also include adjustments to lighting, railings and windbreaks, along with improvements to sidewalks, ramps, drainage and landscaping.
To maintain rail service during construction, crews will build a temporary stationhouse and entrance at St. George’s Court. Riders will use the temporary facility while work proceeds on the permanent accessible entrance.
The contract, valued at up to $39.9 million, will be funded through a combination of Illinois Department of Transportation and City of Chicago Tax Increment Financing funds.
Originally built in 1895 and renovated in 2015, the California station recorded more than 1.125 million entries in 2025, making it one of the busier stations on the Blue Line.
The CTA currently operates a fully accessible bus and rail fleet. Of its 146 rail stations, 110 are fully accessible, representing 75 per cent of the system.
Released in 2018, the ASAP Strategic Plan provides a framework for making all CTA rail stations accessible by 2038. The California station is among 15 stations that have recently opened or are funded and in various stages of planning, design or construction under the program.
“An accessible CTA gives more people the freedom to travel independently and connects them to everything our region has to offer,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen.
