The Chicago Transit Authority is set to give one of the Blue Line's oldest stations its most significant upgrade in decades. In November 2026, the Chicago Transit Board approved a construction contract to modernize the California Blue Line station in Logan Square, adding elevators and a fully accessible entrance so riders with mobility devices can use the station independently. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, and the station will stay open throughout the work, with a temporary entrance and stationhouse built on adjacent St. George's Court.
California Blue Line Station: A Modernization Overview
The California station is not just old—it is one of the oldest stations on the entire Blue Line, serving the Logan Square neighborhood since its construction in 1895, according to JLK Architects, the firm providing transportation and historic preservation design services to the CTA for the project. That age is the core of the problem: like many legacy elevated stations, California was built long before accessibility standards existed, leaving riders who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices without a way to reach its platforms.
The CTA frames the project as a milestone in its All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), the agency's commitment to making the entire system 100% accessible to riders with disabilities. The board's contract approval in November 2026 cleared the final administrative hurdle before work can begin, with construction set to start in late 2027. The CTA notes the full value of the contract will not exceed $39.9 million, financed through the Illinois Department of Transportation and City of Chicago Tax Increment Financing funds.
