California station (CTA Pink Line)

For other 'L' stations on the Chicago Transit Authority named California, see California (disambiguation) § CTA stations.

California   2100S 2800W
Chicago 'L' rapid transit station
General information
Location	2011 South California Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60608
Coordinates	41°51′15″N87°41′41″W / 41.854109°N 87.694774°W / 41.854109; -87.694774
Owned by	Chicago Transit Authority
Line(s)	Cermak Branch
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes
History
Opened	March 10, 1902;123 years ago (1902-03-10)
Rebuilt	2002–2004;21 years ago (2004)
Passengers
2024	342,322 [1]   6.8%
Services
Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Kedzie toward 54th/​Cermak Pink Line Western toward Loop (Clark/Lake)
Former services Preceding station Chicago "L" Following station Kedzie toward 54th/​Cermak Blue Line Cermak branch Western toward O'Hare   Douglas Park Closed 1952 toward Oak Park Douglas branch Western toward Marshfield
Track layout Legend Pink to the Loop Fairfield Ave. California Ave. Pink to 54th/​Cermak
Location

California is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, serving the Pink Line and the Little Village neighborhood. The station opened on March 10, 1902, as part of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad's Douglas Park branch. ^{[2] [3]} It is the closest station to Cook County Jail.

Structure

The station consists of a single elevated island platform with two entrances: a primary accessible full-service entrance with ticket vending machines on the east side of California Avenue, and a secondary farecard-only non-accessible entrance on the west side of California Avenue. Immediately to the west of the station, the tracks ramp up to cross over the BNSF Railway and associated Metra line.

Bus connections

CTA

• 94 California

References

1. "Annual Ridership Report – Calendar Year 2024" (PDF). Chicago Transit Authority, Ridership Analysis and Reporting. January 22, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
2. "More Trains on Alley "L": Use Old Congress Station". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 9, 1902. p. 3.
3. California (Douglas) Station Page

External links

• California Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View