When did the Clinton (Blue) station open?

Clinton on the Blue Line opened in 1958 as part of the Congress branch, which now operates as the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.

How deep is Clinton (Blue)?

At 66 feet below street level, Clinton (Blue) is the deepest station on the CTA system.

Is Clinton (Blue) ADA accessible?

No. Clinton (Blue) is currently not accessible. The CTA's All Stations Accessibility Program aims to make the entire legacy rail system accessible within about 20 years, but a specific timeline for Clinton (Blue) has not been published.

Is Clinton (Blue) the same as Clinton (Green/Pink)?

No — they are two different stations with the same name, two blocks apart. Clinton (Blue) is underground at 540 S Clinton. Clinton (Green/Pink) is elevated at 540 W Lake.

How do I get from Clinton (Blue) to Union Station?

Walk two blocks east on Congress, then north on Canal — about a 5-minute walk. Union Station's main entrance is at 225 S Canal.

How do I get from Clinton (Blue) to O'Hare or Forest Park?

Blue Line trains from Clinton run northwest to O'Hare Airport (about 30 minutes) and southwest toward Forest Park. Both directions are about a 30–45 minute ride end-to-end.

CTA L station

Clinton

Blue

Clinton is the CTA Blue Line stop inside the Riverside Plaza sub-area of the West Loop.

Within walking distance: Old Post Office (540 ft), Union Station (0.2 mi), and Willis Tower (0.3 mi).

Quick facts

Year opened: 1958 — Opened with the Congress branch of the West Side subway (now the Blue Line's Forest Park branch)
Lines: Blue
Accessibility: Not ADA-accessible
2024 ridership: 567,970 entries · -42% vs 2019
Full name: Clinton (Blue Line)

Clinton (Blue) is the closest CTA L stop to Chicago Union Station, two blocks east of the station entrance at 540 South Clinton. It is one of the deepest CTA stations — a long escalator-and-stair descent from the surface — and one of a small number of West Loop CTA stations that are not yet ADA-accessible.

At 66 feet (20 m) below street level, Clinton is the deepest station on the CTA system.

Ridership trend. 2024 ridership is down 42% from the 2019 pre-pandemic peak — the largest gap among West Loop stations, reflecting commuter-heavy patterns.

Planned changes

Not currently listed in the CTA All Stations Accessibility Program for elevator addition. The broader Forest Park Branch Rebuild affects this corridor with track and substation work between Racine and the IMD area.

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Common questions

When did the Clinton (Blue) station open?: Clinton on the Blue Line opened in 1958 as part of the Congress branch, which now operates as the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.
How deep is Clinton (Blue)?: At 66 feet below street level, Clinton (Blue) is the deepest station on the CTA system.
Is Clinton (Blue) ADA accessible?: No. Clinton (Blue) is currently not accessible. The CTA's All Stations Accessibility Program aims to make the entire legacy rail system accessible within about 20 years, but a specific timeline for Clinton (Blue) has not been published.
Is Clinton (Blue) the same as Clinton (Green/Pink)?: No — they are two different stations with the same name, two blocks apart. Clinton (Blue) is underground at 540 S Clinton. Clinton (Green/Pink) is elevated at 540 W Lake.
How do I get from Clinton (Blue) to Union Station?: Walk two blocks east on Congress, then north on Canal — about a 5-minute walk. Union Station's main entrance is at 225 S Canal.
How do I get from Clinton (Blue) to O'Hare or Forest Park?: Blue Line trains from Clinton run northwest to O'Hare Airport (about 30 minutes) and southwest toward Forest Park. Both directions are about a 30–45 minute ride end-to-end.

Sources

Nearby hotels

Within ½ mile of the station, sorted by walking distance.

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Nearby restaurants

Food & drink within walking distance — sorted by distance. For a curated dinner, see Best restaurants in the West Loop →.