CTA to upgrade trains from O’Hare, downtown

The Chicago Transit Authority is planning a $492 million upgrade to a portion of the agency’s rail lines that could cut 10 minutes off the time to travel between O’Hare International Airport and the city’s downtown.

The four-year project announced Thursday includes improvements to a 12.5-mile stretch of the CTA’s Blue Line, which runs to the airport and downtown. The project also includes repairs or major renovations to 11 stations as well as the elimination of certain slow zones.

City officials say the project would be the biggest investment on the rail line since it was extended to reach the airport 30 years ago.

Authorities say passengers took 25 million rides last year along the section of the Blue Line that runs between downtown and O’Hare.