Racine station (CTA Blue Line)
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 22, 1958 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Rapid transit services |
| Owner | Chicago Transit Authority |
Racine station is part of the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line, serving the Near West Side area and the western perimeter of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus. Situated at 430 South Racine Avenue, this station features an island platform located within the expressway median and accommodates two tracks. Since its inauguration in 1958, Racine has been undergoing modernization efforts from 2023 through 2025. In 2024, it recorded a ridership of 217,531 passengers, marking a 1.1% growth. The station lies between Illinois Medical District and UIC–Halsted stations along the Forest Park branch. Owned by the Chicago Transit Authority, Racine plays a vital role in linking prominent medical centers and educational facilities within Chicago’s transit infrastructure.
Expressway-median station
Racine station commenced operations on June 22, 1958, designed with a standard Eisenhower Expressway median layout featuring an island platform. A modest station building sits atop the Racine and Loomis overpass, housing ticketing services and turnstiles, connected to the platform by an extended ramp.
During the CTA’s skip-stop service period, Racine functioned as an AB station where all trains made stops. It acted as a transfer hub between Congress trains heading to Forest Park station and Douglas trains bound for 54th/Cermak station (designated as A and B trains during skip-stop operations). On June 25, 2006, with the introduction of the Pink Line, which incorporated much of the Blue Line’s Cermak branch alongside the Lake Street and Loop Elevated routes, Blue Line service to 54th/Cermak was scaled back to peak hours only. Subsequently, on April 25, 2008, Blue Line trains ceased serving the 54th/Cermak station altogether.
Renovation
As a component of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild initiative, Racine is undergoing extensive refurbishment from July 2023 until 2025. Planned improvements include reconstructed entrances, installation of a new elevator and stairs, an ADA-compliant ramp, and extension of the platform. The station was temporarily closed for track work between Illinois Medical District and LaSalle until October 2023 when both the station and Loomis entrance reopened. However, the Racine entrance remains closed for reconstruction until 2025; following its reopening, the Loomis entrance will close briefly before all work concludes.
Service
Positioned at the base of the Loomis ramp—a double-track viaduct that links the expressway to the Douglas Branch north of Polk—Racine played a key role in routing Blue Line trains until April 25, 2008. Prior to that date, trains bound for Forest Park continued westward along the Congress Expressway while others took the Loomis Ramp toward the Douglas branch serving 54th/Cermak. After this date, service on the Douglas Branch was replaced by the Pink Line. Although no longer utilized for passenger service, the Loomis Ramp remains as the only rail connection between the Blue Line and other CTA lines, primarily facilitating non-revenue equipment movements. During maintenance or service interruptions on the Pink Line between Polk and Ashland stations, trains are rerouted via this ramp to Racine where they terminate.
Location
Located at 430 South Racine Avenue, this station caters to the University Village area as well as the western section of the UIC campus. Positioned at ground level within the median of the Eisenhower Expressway, its entrance on Loomis Street is in close proximity to Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and Andrew Jackson Language Academy.
Bus connections
- 7 Harrison (operates on weekdays only)
- 60 Blue Island/26th (provides Owl Service)
- 126 Jackson
- 755 Plainfield/IMD Express (available during weekday rush hours only)