When did the Racine (Blue) station open?

Racine opened in 1958 with the Congress branch — now the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.

Is Racine (Blue) ADA accessible?

Not currently. The ongoing Forest Park Branch Rebuild includes a new ADA-accessible Racine station house with elevators and longer platforms.

What's happening with construction at Racine?

Racine is being demolished and rebuilt under the CTA's Forest Park Branch Rebuild project. The Phase 1 work covered the track stretch between Racine and Illinois Medical District; the next phase delivers a fully ADA-accessible Racine station house. Service modifications are posted by the CTA.

What's near Racine (Blue)?

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus is to the east. The Illinois Medical District is one stop west. Both are walkable in under 10 minutes.

How do I get from Racine to downtown?

Blue Line trains east toward downtown stop at UIC-Halsted, Clinton, LaSalle, Jackson, Monroe, and Washington, arriving in the Loop in 5–10 minutes.

Why has ridership at Racine dropped so much since 2019?

Racine's 2024 ridership is down 65% from 2019 — the steepest drop in the West Loop. The decline reflects both pandemic-era commuting changes and Forest Park Branch Rebuild service changes during construction.

CTA L station

Racine

Blue

Racine is the CTA Blue Line stop inside the Jackson / Van Buren sub-area of the West Loop.

Within walking distance: Little Italy (0.5 mi), UIC (0.6 mi), and United Center (0.8 mi).

Quick facts

Year opened: 1958 — Opened with the Congress branch of the West Side subway
Lines: Blue
Accessibility: Not ADA-accessible
2024 ridership: 217,531 entries · -65% vs 2019
Full name: Racine (Blue Line)

Racine on the Blue Line sits in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway at Racine and Loomis, between UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District. It is currently being rebuilt under the Forest Park Branch Rebuild to meet modern accessibility guidelines.

Racine sits in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) on an island platform, with a non-revenue connecting ramp to the Pink Line nearby.

Ridership trend. Racine has the weakest ridership recovery in the West Loop — 2024 ridership is down 65% from 2019, partly reflecting the broader Forest Park Branch Rebuild construction and resulting service changes.

Planned changes

Racine is being rebuilt as part of the CTA Forest Park Branch Rebuild to meet modern accessibility guidelines. Service modifications during construction are posted at transitchicago.com/forestpark.

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Common questions

When did the Racine (Blue) station open?: Racine opened in 1958 with the Congress branch — now the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.
Is Racine (Blue) ADA accessible?: Not currently. The ongoing Forest Park Branch Rebuild includes a new ADA-accessible Racine station house with elevators and longer platforms.
What's happening with construction at Racine?: Racine is being demolished and rebuilt under the CTA's Forest Park Branch Rebuild project. The Phase 1 work covered the track stretch between Racine and Illinois Medical District; the next phase delivers a fully ADA-accessible Racine station house. Service modifications are posted by the CTA.
What's near Racine (Blue)?: The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus is to the east. The Illinois Medical District is one stop west. Both are walkable in under 10 minutes.
How do I get from Racine to downtown?: Blue Line trains east toward downtown stop at UIC-Halsted, Clinton, LaSalle, Jackson, Monroe, and Washington, arriving in the Loop in 5–10 minutes.
Why has ridership at Racine dropped so much since 2019?: Racine's 2024 ridership is down 65% from 2019 — the steepest drop in the West Loop. The decline reflects both pandemic-era commuting changes and Forest Park Branch Rebuild service changes during construction.

Sources

Nearby hotels

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

Hyatt House Chicago West Loop / Fulton Market 0.5 mi 105 N May St 3, 14, Chicago, IL, 60607

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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 →.