Jackson station (CTA Blue Line)
Jackson is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) 'L' system, serving the Blue Line within the Loop area. Positioned 46 feet below ground in the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway, it consists of a single island platform flanked by two tracks. The station is equipped with bicycle amenities and is designed to be fully accessible.
This station offers a connection to the Red Line via the adjacent Red Line Jackson stop and facilitates transfers to the Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines at the nearby Library station. Owned by the City of Chicago, Jackson has undergone major refurbishments during 1989–1991 and 2005–2007, which improved both its mezzanine levels and platform areas.
In 2024, the station recorded a total ridership of 1,090,452 passengers, marking a 6.4% growth compared to previous figures. It serves as a crucial hub in Chicago’s transit infrastructure by linking important downtown locations and functioning as a key interchange within the CTA network.
History
Jackson station commenced operations on February 25, 1951, as part of the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway project that experienced delays due to World War II. The extensive renovation carried out between 2005 and 2007 revamped its design to mirror that of the Jackson station on the State Street subway. A pedestrian tunnel connects these two stations, allowing seamless transfers to the Red Line. Additionally, farecard transfers enable access to the Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines.
This station represents the southernmost point among three stations aligned along one continuous platform beneath Dearborn Street; Monroe and Washington stations lie further north. Among stations in the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, Jackson is one of only two that are fully accessible, alongside Clark/Lake.
Bus connections
- 1 Bronzeville/Union Station (Weekday Rush Hours only)
- 7 Harrison
- 22 Clark (Owl Service)
- 24 Wentworth (Weekdays only)
- 28 Stony Island (Weekday Rush Hours only)
- 36 Broadway
- 62 Archer (Owl Service)
- 126 Jackson
- 130 Museum Campus (Memorial Day-Labor Day Only)
- 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express
- 151 Sheridan