CTA Kicks Off 2026 Construction Season
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Federal Transit Administration
CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen celebrated the 2026 construction season, which includes CTA's Refresh & Renew program.
The program Refresh & Renew program seeks to create “welcoming spaces for riders of all ages and now includes jobs for returning citizens,” says CTA. The program was launched in 2019 and will undergo expansion efforts. During the construction season, the expansion includes child sized benches at 10 rail stations and landscaping at nine rail and bus stations. This is in addition to regular maintenance of said stations. Along with CTA’s Refresh & Renew program, the CTA says it will launch seasonal power washing teams throughout the winter to clean stations overnight.
Crews will perform $6.5 million in improvements at locations across CTA’s network from the time of reporting through November. Before any necessary work, CTA says crews will perform an initial inspection to identify any issues in need of immediate repairs or replacements. Regular maintenance and upgrades of the stations include removing outdated equipment and fixtures, repairing concrete, replacing sheet metal or damaged signage, painting, cleaning, power washing, and upgrading lighting among others.
The 28 rail stations that will receive improvements are as follows:
Red Line: Sox- 35th, Loyola, Chicago, Addison
Blue Line: Forest Park, Cicero, Harlem (Congress Branch), Addison, Cumberland, Montrose, Damen (O’Hare Branch)
Green Line: Harlem/Lake, Pulaski, California, Central, 51st, 35th/Bronzeville, 47th, Garfield
Brown Line: Wellington, Diversey, Kedzie
Orange Line: Western
Pink Line: Central Park, Western
Purple Line: Central, South Boulevard
Yellow Line: Dempster-Skokie
“When we invest in our transit system, we invest in our CTA workers and the residents across our city who rely on this system to get to work, school, and opportunities throughout Chicago,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “Riders from Bronzeville to Rogers Park will benefit from the work CTA crews are doing this construction season to deliver a quality transit system that connects Chicagoan to opportunities and community.”
“Our vision for the CTA is rooted in people, and this is brought to life with this year’s expansion of the Refresh & Renew program, which goes beyond basic improvements, and adds elements that let’s our riders know they are welcome and we are proud to be a part of their communities,” CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said. “Further, our collaboration with Greencorps Chicago to include landscaping is more than just beautification, it’s reaffirming our commitment to creating opportunities to the communities we serve, particularly those facing barriers to employment.”
“Through CDOT’s Greencorps Chicago program, we’re investing in both our public spaces and our people,” said CDOT Acting Commissioner William Cheaks, Jr. “This partnership with CTA connects residents to real-world training and career pathways while supporting improvements that will make stations more welcoming for riders across the system.”
