Coming soon: Faster, better and more accessible West Side rapid transit service
The Forest Park Branch Rebuild is a multi-year, multi-phased investment to make service along the Blue Line’s Forest Park Branch faster, safer, more reliable and accessible for riders.
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About the Forest Park Branch Rebuild
Much of the infrastructure along the Forest Park Branch of the Blue Line is original, dating back to 1958, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President. While we have performed routine maintenance and made modest improvements over the last six decades, the infrastructure is far beyond its useful life and needs replacement or significant upgrades to address issues impacting day-to-day service, including:
- Only 4 of the 11 rail stations along the branch are vertically accessible to people who use mobility devices.
- Overall speed and reliability of service has declined, with nearly 80 percent of the branch categorized as restricted “slow zones,” requiring trains to operate at drastically reduced speeds for safety.
Under the Forest Park Branch Rebuild, we will rebuild a total of seven (7) rail stations to make them meet modern accessibility guidelines; replace the entire trackbed and drainage system along the branch; and upgrade the traction power system to support the electrical needs of modern railcars to meet current and future ridership demands.
We continue to work on securing funding needed to rebuild the entire Forest Park Branch. As funding becomes available, details regarding future phases of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild will be announced.
Phase 1 service information
Sunday, July 23 through early October
Under the first phase of work, crews will completely rebuild the track infrastructure between the Illinois Medical District (IMD) and LaSalle stations – removing 15,000 feet or almost three miles of slow zones; demolish and rebuild the entire Racine station to meet modern accessibility guidelines; and upgrade the traction power system for improved service reliability.
Service details
To help reduce the impacts on riders, and to efficiently carry-out project work, Phase 1 work will be performed two parts:
Blue Line service will run in two sections:
- Between O’Hare and LaSalle (with main bus shuttle transfer at Jackson*) and
- Between Forest Park and Illinois Medical District, only.
Train service will not run between LaSalle and Illinois Medical District, however free shuttle buses will be provided to for connections travel through the area.
*Two shuttles will run between the Illinois Medical District and Jackson to provide accessible transfers for people riding through the entire work area (even though trains will run as far as LaSalle to continue to serve riders who live in the area and to maintain easy connection to Metra Rock Island District services at the nearby LaSalle Street Station):
- A local shuttle (route
) will run with intermediate stops at all times (24/7), and
- A peak-direction-only, express shuttle (route
) will also run—nonstop from IMD inbound to Jackson during the morning rush and nonstop from Jackson to IMD during the evening rush on regular weekdays, only.
Tips
- Forest Park-bound riders from the O’Hare branch should exit at Jackson for an accessible transfer and the easiest and most direct connection to the shuttle bus services.
- We encourage Forest Park branch riders to consider alternate routes to/from destinations, such as using local buses to the Green or Pink lines, which serve the Loop area and connect directly with Blue Line trains to O'Hare from downtown, which might allow you to avoid the shuttle bus entirely and provide a better trip.
Shuttle/work area map
Blue Line Local shuttle
Service runs between Jackson and Illinois Medical District stations, with intermediate stops as shown, daily, at all times.
Blue Line Express shuttle
Rush hour, peak-direction (eastbound in mornings, westbound in evenings) express bus service runs between Jackson and Illinois Medical District, during weekday rush service hours.
10pm, September 29 – 4am, October 2
Blue Line service will run in two sections:
- Between O’Hare and LaSalle (with main bus shuttle transfer at Jackson*) and
- Between Forest Park and Illinois Medical District, only.
Train service will not run between LaSalle and Illinois Medical District, however free shuttle buses will be provided for travel through the area.
*Shuttles will run between the Illinois Medical District and Jackson to provide accessible transfers for people riding through the entire work area (even though trains will run as far as LaSalle to continue to serve riders who live in the area and to maintain easy connection to Metra Rock Island District services at the nearby LaSalle Street Station).
Tips
- Forest Park-bound riders from the O’Hare branch should exit at Jackson for an accessible transfer and the easiest and most direct connection to the shuttle bus services.
- We encourage Forest Park branch riders to consider alternate routes to/from destinations, such as using local buses to the Green or Pink lines, which serve the Loop area and connect directly with Blue Line trains to O'Hare from downtown, which might allow you to avoid the shuttle bus entirely and provide a better trip.
Shuttle/work area map
10pm, August 20 – 10pm, September 29 &
4am, October 2 – early morning October 8
(see also: Customer Alert)
Blue Line service will run in two sections:
- Between O’Hare and UIC-Halsted and
- Between Forest Park and Illinois Medical District
Blue Line service will not run between UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District in this shorter work area, and only the Racine station will be fully closed.
A local shuttle bus (route ) will run between the accessible Illinois Medical District and UIC-Halsted stations.
Tips
- We encourage Forest Park branch riders to consider alternate routes to/from destinations, such as using local buses to the Green or Pink lines, which serve the Loop area and connect directly with Blue Line trains to O'Hare from downtown, which might allow you to avoid the shuttle bus entirely and provide a better trip.
Additional details, including maps of connections by area, will be provided as this page is further updated.
Shuttle/work area map
Blue Line Local shuttle
Service runs between UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District stations, with intermediate stops as shown, daily, at all times.
Racine station
Upon completion of track work in Fall 2023, the Loomis St. auxiliary entrance of the Racine station will be open for rider use. The main entrance of the Racine station will remain closed until its scheduled completion in late-2024, at which time the Loomis St. auxiliary entrance will close for reconstruction and reopen in 2025.
The map below shows local bus connections to other ‘L’ lines which may better serve your trip and provide more convenient connections, including to trains to O’Hare at Clark/Lake. Shuttles will connect to accessible stations on both ends through both parts of this work.
Forest Park Branch 'L' alternatives and bus connections map
For many Forest Park branch riders boarding the Blue Line west of the IMD Station, alternative CTA rail services will likely be the best option. The nearby Green and Pink lines run parallel to the Forest Park Branch and will have available capacity to accommodate increased ridership. There are also many bus routes on the West Side that will enable easy connections to Green and Pink Line stations.
For example, if you ride the Blue Line downtown (especially if you take a bus to the Blue Line), taking a bus up to the Green Line or down to the Pink Line will provide a direct rail connection to downtown (and continuing Blue Line service northwest toward O’Hare at Clark/Lake) and allow you to avoid transferring to or from shuttle buses altogether and potentially provide a much faster trip.
This map shows most relevant bus routes that connect between the Blue, Green and Pink lines to help guide you in identifying alternatives that work for you.
Note: Additional information will be added to this page as more details become available
Connections map
View full screen
Quick tips on trips to downtown & beyond
Travel to downtown?
Consider Green Line for direct train service to the Loop area. Trains run along the Lake and Wabash sides of the Loop before heading to Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove.
Travel to O’Hare?
Consider Green Line service direct to Clark/Lake where you can transfer to the part of the Blue Line that continues to run directly to O’Hare.
Travel to other ‘L’ lines?
Green Line trains make convenient transfers to all other rail lines that run downtown (see ‘L’ system map for complete connection info).
Travel to the West Loop?
Green Line trains serve the West Loop from the north at Ashland, Morgan and Clinton.
Travel to downtown?
Consider Pink Line for direct train service to and around the entire Loop area.
Travel to O’Hare?
Consider Pink Line service direct to Clark/Lake where you can transfer to the part of the Blue Line that continues to run directly to O’Hare.
Travel to other ‘L’ lines?
Pink Line trains make convenient transfers to all other rail lines that run downtown (see ‘L’ system map for complete connection info).
Travel to the West Loop?
Pink Line trains serve the West Loop from the north at Ashland, Morgan and Clinton.
See separate maps (above on this page) for how service will run during Parts A & B; shuttle buses will be available through the area making stops near your stations with connection to both separate sections of the Blue Line that will continue to be running, with connections to accessible stations at both ends of the shuttle routes.
Detailed bus service information
Additional information about service alternatives will be posted as it becomes available.
Free bus and reduced 'L' fares
(updated)
To incentivize use of easy alternative service options near the project area, we'll provide free rides on select CTA and Pace bus routes operating between the Green and Pink lines on the West side and reduced ‘L’ fares at West side stations on Green, Pink and Blue lines.
Free bus rides
Free rides will be available on all north-south CTA bus routes at stops between the Green and Pink lines from Ashland (Routes #9 and #X9) on the east to Austin (Route #91) on the west. Drivers will allow riders to board for free within this fare zone. Riders will be instructed not to tap or pay cash for rides on these routes at the designated bus stops.
Free rides will also be available on designated north-south Pace regular, fixed route bus service in the project area. Riders boarding Pace’s #307, #311, #315, and #318 bus routes between the Harlem/Lake branch on the Green Line and Forest Park Brach on the Blue Line will be able to ride for free. Riders boarding Pace’s #316 bus route between 54th/Cermak on the Pink Line and the Forest Park branch on the Blue Line will also be able to ride free. Drivers will allow riders to board for free within this fare zone. Riders will be instructed not to tap or pay cash for rides on these routes at the designated bus stops.
Normal fares when using Pace suburban bus services—including transfer fees between Pace and CTA—apply.
|
Route
|
Dir.
|
First bus stop name
|
Last bus stop name
|
|
#9 Ashland
|
NB
|
Ashland & Cermak
|
Ashland & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Ashland & Lake (Green Line)
|
Ashland & Cermak/Blue Island
|
|
#X9 Ashland Express
|
NB
|
Ashland & Cermak
|
Ashland & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Ashland & Lake (Green Line)
|
Ashland & Cermak/Blue Island
|
|
#49 Western
|
NB
|
Western Pink Line Station
|
Western & Lake
|
|
SB
|
Western & Lake
|
Western Pink Line Station
|
|
#X49 Western Express
|
NB
|
Western Pink Line Station
|
Western & Madison
|
|
SB
|
Western & Madison
|
Western Pink Line Station
|
|
#50 Damen
|
NB
|
Damen Pink Line Station
|
Damen & Lake
|
|
SB
|
Damen & Lake
|
Damen Pink Line Station
|
|
#52 Kedzie
|
NB
|
Kedzie Pink Line Station
|
Kedzie & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Kedzie & Lake (Green Line)
|
Kedzie Pink Line Station
|
|
#53 Pulaski
|
NB
|
Pulaski Pink Line Station
|
Pulaski & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Pulaski & Lake (Green Line)
|
Pulaski Pink Line Station
|
|
#54 Cicero
|
NB
|
Cicero & Cermak
|
Cicero & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Cicero & Lake (Green Line)
|
Cicero & Cermak
|
|
#57 Laramie
|
NB
|
Cicero & Flournoy (Blue Line)
|
Laramie & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
Laramie & Lake (Green Line)
|
Cicero & Flournoy (Blue Line)
|
|
#82 Kimball/Homan
|
NB
|
Central Park & Ogden (Pink Line)
|
Homan & Lake
|
|
SB
|
Homan & Lake
|
Central Park & Ogden (Pink Line)
|
|
#85 Central
|
NB
|
Central & Harrison
|
Central & Lake
|
|
SB
|
Central & Lake (Green Line)
|
Central & Harrison
|
|
#91 Austin
|
NB
|
Austin & Roosevelt
|
Austin & Corcoran/South Blvd
|
|
SB
|
Austin & Corcoran/South Blvd
|
Austin & Roosevelt
|
|
#94 California
|
NB
|
California Pink Line Station
|
California & Lake (Green Line)
|
|
SB
|
California & Lake (Green Line)
|
California Pink Line Station
|
|
#307 (Pace)
|
NB
|
Harlem/Garfield CTA Blue Line Station
|
Harlem/South Blvd CTA Green Line Station
|
|
SB
|
Harlem/Lake
|
Harlem CTA Blue Line Station
|
|
#311 (Pace)
|
NB
|
Oak Park Ave/Garfield CTA Blue Line Station
|
Oak Park Ave/South Blvd CTA Green Line Station
|
|
SB
|
Oak Park Ave/South Blvd CTA Green Line Station
|
Oak Park Ave/Garfield CTA Blue Line Station
|
| #315 (Pace) |
NB
|
Austin/Railroad CTA Blue Line Station
|
Austin Ave/South Blvd CTA Green Line Station
|
|
SB
|
Austin Ave/Corcoran CTA Green Line Station
|
Austin CTA Blue Line Station
|
|
#316 (Pace)
|
NB
|
Laramie/54th St Pink Line Station
|
Cicero CTA Blue Line Station
|
|
SB
|
Cicero CTA Blue Line Station
|
Laramie/54th St Pink Line Station
|
| #318 (Pace) |
NB
|
Forest Park CTA Blue Line Station
|
Harlem/South Blvd CTA Green Line
|
|
SB
|
Harlem/Lake
|
Forest Park CTA Blue Line Station
|
CTA and Pace routes not listed here are not included in the free fares for this project.
Special, reduced 'L' fares
We'll also be offering reduced fares for 'L' riders using Ventra Cards boarding the Green Line between Harlem/Lake station to Ashland station; the Pink line between 54th/Cicero station to Ashland station; and the Line between Forest Park station to Illinois Medical District Station.
Reduced 'L' fares:
- $1.25 special full fare
- 50¢ special reduced fare
- 25¢ special student fare
Riders using a Ventra Card (including both physical, plastic cards and "virtual" cards loaded into Apple Pay or Google Pay) and contactless payment methods (including physical contactless bankcards and those loaded into a device's Pay app) can take advantage of these special fares through pay-as you-go fares or transit value.
Riders using tickets from Ventra Vending Machines or passes on Ventra Cards will not be able to receive the reduced rate as the prices to purchase these tickets and passes remain the same at the time of purchase.
Additionally, pass prices will remain unchanged, though passes will be accepted just the same at these stations. Riders who have passes and registered Ventra Cards will have the opportunity to call Ventra Customer Service to convert remaining pass values to transit value to take advantage of the reduced/free benefits, if desired.
Feedback and questions regarding the free and reduced rides being provided as part of the project work should be directed to CTA Customer Service (1-888-YOUR-CTA, feedback@transitchicago.com).
Frequently asked questions
Trains will run every about 10 minutes on the Blue Line during Phase I work of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild. This is to allow for safe operations as trains are departing LaSalle and need to cross over to head back towards O’Hare.
The online schedules will be updated to reflect this change which feeds the various apps the public real time information and provide trip planning.
Bus shuttles will be scheduled to align with rail service frequency and will operate as “load and go”, which means that as soon a bus fills up it will depart. Once customers exit the train, a bus shuttle should be there waiting for you. This allows the buses to be synced with train arrivals and be available in case a train gets behind schedule.
We can’t provide a specific time, because we don’t know your specific travel pattern or if you will be taking alternative service options. What we do know is that the train headways will change from every 6-7 minutes to approximately every 10 minutes during project work. Riders are encouraged to allow extra travel time and to also try out alternative service options BEFORE project work begins.
Yes, during Phase I project work (July 23 through early October) CTA will provide free rides on select bus routes operating north-south between the Green and Pink lines from Ashland (#9 and #X9 routes) on the east to Austin (#91 route) on the west. Bus operators will allow riders to board for free within this fare zone.
CTA will also be offering reduced fares (50% reduction) for rail customers using Ventra Cards boarding at Ashland/Lake and all stations west on the Green and Pink lines, as well as those boarding at Illinois Medical District and all stations west on the Forest Park Blue Line branch.
These free and reduced rides are in addition to the free shuttle bus routes being provided as part of project work.