When did UIC-Halsted open?

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

Is UIC-Halsted ADA accessible?

Yes. The station has elevator access from both sides of the Eisenhower Expressway median.

What's near UIC-Halsted?

The University of Illinois Chicago east campus, the UIC Pavilion, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, and Little Italy / Taylor Street are all within a 5–10 minute walk.

How do I get from UIC-Halsted to the West Loop restaurants?

Walk north on Halsted into the heart of Greektown (Halsted between Adams and Madison), about a 10-minute walk. Continue north for Restaurant Row and Fulton Market — roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, or a 5-minute Blue Line ride to Clinton (Blue) for a closer Union Station hand-off.

How do I get from UIC-Halsted to O'Hare?

Blue Line trains from UIC-Halsted run northwest to O'Hare Airport — typical ride is about 30 minutes.

Are there construction impacts at UIC-Halsted?

Phase 1 of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild completed the track stretch between UIC-Halsted and IMD. Subsequent phases continue west; specific weekend service changes are posted at transitchicago.com/forestpark.

CTA L station

UIC-Halsted

Blue

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

Within walking distance: UIC (0.3 mi), Old Post Office (0.6 mi), and Union Station (0.6 mi).

Quick facts

Year opened: 1958 — Opened with the Congress branch of the West Side subway
Lines: Blue
Accessibility: ADA-accessible
2024 ridership: 1,010,950 entries · -42% vs 2019
Full name: UIC-Halsted (Blue Line)

UIC-Halsted is the main CTA L stop for the University of Illinois Chicago campus. It sits in the Eisenhower Expressway median at Halsted Street, with the UIC east campus, the UIC Pavilion, and Little Italy all within a 5–10 minute walk. It is also the southern gateway to the West Loop for travelers coming from the Forest Park branch.

UIC-Halsted sits in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway and uses a single island platform; it is the main CTA L stop for the University of Illinois Chicago campus.

Ridership trend. 2024 ridership is down 42% from the 2019 pre-pandemic peak — recovery has been steady but still well below the heavy student/commuter volumes of the late 2010s.

Planned changes

Phase 1 of the CTA Forest Park Branch Rebuild completed a 1.3-mile track renewal between UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District. Further phases continue west toward Forest Park.

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Common questions

When did UIC-Halsted open?: UIC-Halsted opened in 1958 with the Congress branch — now the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.
Is UIC-Halsted ADA accessible?: Yes. The station has elevator access from both sides of the Eisenhower Expressway median.
What's near UIC-Halsted?: The University of Illinois Chicago east campus, the UIC Pavilion, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, and Little Italy / Taylor Street are all within a 5–10 minute walk.
How do I get from UIC-Halsted to the West Loop restaurants?: Walk north on Halsted into the heart of Greektown (Halsted between Adams and Madison), about a 10-minute walk. Continue north for Restaurant Row and Fulton Market — roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, or a 5-minute Blue Line ride to Clinton (Blue) for a closer Union Station hand-off.
How do I get from UIC-Halsted to O'Hare?: Blue Line trains from UIC-Halsted run northwest to O'Hare Airport — typical ride is about 30 minutes.
Are there construction impacts at UIC-Halsted?: Phase 1 of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild completed the track stretch between UIC-Halsted and IMD. Subsequent phases continue west; specific weekend service changes are posted at transitchicago.com/forestpark.

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 →.