The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced that more than 20 bus turnarounds and rail stations have already received repairs and improvements this year, as part of its cyclical facility improvement program “Refresh & Renew.” 

More than two dozen additional locations throughout the system will receive repairs and improvements before the end of the year.

“I am always so pleased when I hear riders say, ‘this is my station’ or ‘this is my bus stop’—people take ownership and pride in their touchpoint to transit,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “The ‘Refresh and Renew’ program is an investment that shows that we join them in taking pride in our shared spaces."

Since the spring, crews have been performing an estimated $6.5 million in repairs and maintenance at several rail and bus locations across the CTA service region, with work set to be completed at additional rail stations and bus turnarounds by the end of 2025.

More to Refresh & Renew

To complement Refresh & Renew, CTA also deploys power washing teams to attack grime collected during the winter months. This separate group of personnel is dispatched during the overnight hours and is tasked with scrubbing and power washing the surfaces of CTA’s stations. Each year between the spring and fall seasons, each of CTA’s 146 rail stations is power-washed at least once a month as part of routine station cleaning efforts.

Created in 2019, Refresh & Renew is intended to keep CTA’s stations in a state of good repair with routine maintenance that enhances the safety, security, and overall look and feel of facilities.

Before starting work at a location, crews perform an initial and thorough inspection of the area to identify any behind-the-scenes or customer-facing items that need repair and/or replacement — either immediately or in the near term.

Some of the more comprehensive improvements made as part of this program include concrete repairs, removal of outdated fixtures and equipment, repairs to utility and plumbing lines, and more. 

Work also includes more minor cosmetic upgrades, such as painting and replacing sheet metal or damaged signage, lighting upgrades, cleaning, and repair of surfaces (e.g., columns, walls, railings, fencing/gates, and platform fixtures), and power washing is also performed.