Accessible travel on CTA and Metra

Last verified Oct 15, 2026

Every CTA bus and railcar is accessible, but not every station is, so planning ahead matters. This guide summarizes what the CTA, Metra, Pace and the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA, formerly the Regional Transportation Authority) publish about accessible travel, and points you to our live elevator outage list.

Accessible ‘L’ stations

• The CTA says 110 of its 146 rail stations are accessible, and its All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) is the roadmap to making the whole system accessible.
• Accessible stations have elevators, audio and visual announcements, tactile strips at the platform edge, Braille and large-print signs, and gap fillers between the platform and the train.
• During rail service hours, CTA staff are available at every station. Customer assistance buttons in the stationhouse and on the platform let you call for help.
• Fare vending machines have audio and Braille features, and accessible entrances have ADA-compliant faregates.
• Inside the trains you will find priority seats, wheelchair securement areas with emergency call buttons, and automated stop announcements.

The CTA publishes the list of accessible stations for each line. Downtown, accessible transfer points include Clark/Lake, Washington/Wabash, Washington/Wells, Quincy and Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren. Our line pages (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow) show station details where the CTA provides them.

Elevators and outages

Elevators are taken out of service for repairs and for planned refurbishment, which the CTA says can take weeks or even months. Before you travel, check our elevator outages page, the CTA’s Elevator Status page, or sign up for the CTA’s free text and email alerts about elevator outages. You can also call CTA Customer Service at 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282).

On Metra, if the elevator at an accessible station is out of order, Metra provides its free P-8 shuttle to the next accessible station. Note that Millennium Station is not ADA-accessible while its South Water Street elevator is replaced, until winter 2026-2027; Metra advises using Van Buren Street or 11th St./Museum Campus instead.

Buses

• Since 2005 every CTA bus has been accessible. Today’s buses have low floors and fold-out ramps, and NITA notes that all CTA and Pace buses are accessible.
• Ramps and lifts can be used on request by anyone who has trouble with steps, even temporarily.
• Buses have priority seating, wheelchair securement areas and automated announcements with LED text displays.
• Drivers can help with the ramp, priority seating, securing wheelchairs and scooters, or paying your fare, but they do not provide physical assistance.
• Hundreds of bus shelters have arrival signs with a push button that reads out upcoming arrivals.

Metra

Metra says all 11 of its lines are accessible in compliance with the ADA. It lists 186 fully accessible stations, 13 partially accessible and 44 inaccessible. Diesel lines have at least one lift-equipped car per train, marked with the access symbol, and each accessible car has three wheelchair areas. Metra Electric cars use bridge plates to cover the gap to high-level platforms. For trips from an inaccessible station, Metra’s free P-8 shuttle can take you to the next accessible station on the same line (call 708-953-3511). See our Metra guide.

Reduced fares and free rides

• Reduced Fare Permit: NITA issues it to riders 65 and older and people with a qualifying disability (proof required). It is valid on CTA, Metra and Pace. On the CTA, the reduced fare is $1.25 on the ‘L’ and $1.10 on the bus with Ventra.
• Ride Free: older adults and people with disabilities enrolled in the Illinois Department on Aging’s Benefit Access Program can ride CTA, Metra and Pace fixed routes for free with a NITA Ride Free Permit.
• ADA Paratransit-certified riders can also ride CTA, Metra and Pace fixed routes for free.
• Apply online through NITA’s Fare Programs Portal or call NITA at 312-913-3110. More on our fares page.

ADA Paratransit (Pace)

• A shared-ride, advance-reservation, origin-to-destination service for people whose disability prevents them from using CTA or Pace buses and trains for some or all trips. Pace operates it for the entire region.
• Fare: $3.25 per ride. Book the day before your trip.
• It runs the same days and hours as fixed-route service in the area, within three-quarters of a mile of CTA or Pace bus routes or CTA ‘L’ stations.
• Eligibility is decided by NITA: call 312-663-HELP (4357), 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Decisions are made within 21 days of the interview and assessment.
• Visitors who need paratransit while in the region can call Pace Customer Service at 312-341-8000.

Service animals

Service animals trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability are permitted on CTA property and vehicles at all times, and on all Metra trains in any open car. The animal must stay under its owner’s control. Pets are a different case: only small pets in a closed carrier are allowed.

Common questions