A phone showing high speeds on a wifi speed test at Grand on the Red Line

Fast, free Wi-fi

High-speed Wi-Fi now available in all downtown subway stations!

You can now rely on free, high-speed Wi-Fi service at all Red and Blue line subway stations in the downtown area!

The new service is available at 18 stations and is the latest investment in technology to enhance the travel experience for residents and visitors commuting to jobs, school and activities.

This is the latest investment in technology to enhance the travel experience for CTA customers. In 2015, we became the largest public transit system in North America to provide transit riders with full 4G wireless coverage throughout its entire system, having added wireless coverage throughout our entire 22 miles of subway and tunnels.

Get connected

Locations

Station platforms now equipped with the new Wi-Fi service include:

Blue Line: Division, Chicago, Grand, Clark/Lake, Washington, Monroe, Jackson, LaSalle and Clinton
Red Line: North/Clybourn, Clark/Division, Chicago/State, Grand, Lake, Monroe, Jackson, Harrison and Roosevelt

How to connect

Simply connect to the network with the network name (SSID) CTA-PUBLIC-WIFI when waiting at any of these stations.

Before accessing the Internet, you'll need to accept our policy agreement, which is valid for a 24-hour period (many devices will prompt you to do this automatically after you connect).

Using public networks

Our Wi-Fi network is a public network, just like you’d find at Chicago’s parks and libraries, as well as all sorts of stores, coffeehouses and restaurants around the world.

Because it's a public network, we can't guarantee a right of privacy to information you send and user information may not be protected. We encourage people to use the same practices recommended for any such network, like only sharing private data thru encrypted (HTTPS on the web, etc.) connections.

Many of the apps you use encrypt information that's sent and received automatically, but you can check with individual app makers to be sure that they encrypt data you send to/from their servers.

If you're not familiar with accessing public Wi-Fi networks, we recommend reviewing the FCC's tips and information on using public Wi-Fi before connecting to public networks.

More information

The Blue Line’s Belmont and Logan Square stations will be equipped with Wi-Fi by late May.

You can find information on these stations, including locations by clicking a stop on the route information page for either the Red Line or Blue Line.

See also: Learn more about the expansion to all downtown stations in this May 8, 2019 press release.

Wifi terms and conditions

FREE PUBLIC WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

This is a free public wireless internet access system (“System”) established by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The system is available at certain CTA facilities.

SYSTEM ACCESS IS AT USER’S RISK. THERE IS NO GUARANTEED RIGHT OF PRIVACY.

INFORMATION MAY NOT BE PROTECTED

The System is not secure. The CTA cannot guarantee the safety of your information or traffic across the System. The CTA has no liability for viruses, computer worms, loss of data, corruption, hacking, damage, the configurations, security, or files on the user’s device connecting to the System. Information sent to or from the user’s device can be captured by anyone else by any means.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEED RIGHT OF ACCESS OR ASSISTANCE

The CTA cannot guarantee access to the System, or assist you with any problem you are having with the System. There is no guaranteed use of the System. If you need assistance, please call the manufacturer of your device. The CTA is not responsible for any changes to the device’s settings as a result of your use or access of the System. The CTA has the right to restrict use and access of the System at its sole discretion.

UNLAWFUL USE OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW

Unlawful use or unauthorized access of the System may subject violators to criminal and/or civil action in a court of law and will be punishable by law. All information on this System may be intercepted, recorded, read, copied and disclosed by and to authorized personnel for official purposes, including criminal investigations.

UNLAWFUL OR UNACCEPTABLE USES NOT ALLOWED

The following are representative examples only and do not comprise a comprehensive list of unlawful or unacceptable uses:

Spamming and invasion of privacy
Infringing or misappropriating intellectual property rights of others
Export Control Violations
Distribution of pornographic materials to minors
Child pornography
Obscene, defamatory or abusive or indecent speech, language, or materials
Facilitating a Violation of these Terms of Use
Hacking
Distribution of Internet viruses, Trojan horses, or other destructive activities
Advertising, transmitting, or otherwise making available any software product, product, or service that is designed to violate these Terms of Use, which includes the facilitation of the means to spam, initiation of pinging, flooding, mail-bombing, denial of service attacks, and piracy of software.