Chicago Transit Completes 80% of ‘Refresh & Renew’ Rail Station Improvements

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) completed more than 80% of the work outlined for nearly 30 rail stations scheduled to receive extensive improvements, and more than 90 stations slated to receive painting and lighting improvements this year — all as part of the agency’s cyclical station and facility maintenance program Refresh & Renew.

Work performed as part of Refresh & Renew not only improves the customer experience, it is also an investment in CTA employees by providing a safe and comfortable transit experience — key pillars of the recently unveiled “Meeting the Moment: Transforming CTA’s Post-Pandemic Future” — a multi-pronged Action Plan for improving rider experiences to ensure that public transportation is the first choice of travel throughout the region.

“As the Chicago Transit Authority celebrates its 75th year of operation, important and critical investments such as this help ensure that we are good stewards to the communities we serve,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. “Not only does routine maintenance help prolong the life of our facilities for decades to come, it also lends the opportunity to make improvements that create a safer transit environment for both our customers and employees.”

Throughout 2022, Refresh & Renew crews have been performing extensive improvement work valued at $2.1 million. Among the internal and external improvements made at 23 of 28 rail stations are:

• Power washing of entire facility.
• Graffiti removal.
• Re-painting of painted surfaces.
• Converting the entire facility to new, brighter, and more efficient LED lighting.
• Removal of obstructions from windows for improved natural light and line of sight.
• Repair of facility surfaces such as cracked or crumbling concrete.
• Replacement of outdated and damaged/faded signage and more.

Crews are on track to complete all remaining work by year’s end, which includes the remaining five stations receiving extensive improvements, as well as the remaining 17 (of 92) stations slated to receive $1.4 million in painting and lighting improvements.