Austin opened on April 15, 1899, as part of a surface level extension of the Lake Street Elevated Railroad, along with Central.

It temporarily served as the terminal for the Lake Street Elevated[1] until the line was extended further west later that year.

On February 18, 1973, the Mason entrance was reduced to functioning only as an auxiliary exit due to budget cuts.

The platform is located on the south side of the right of way of Metra's Union Pacific West Line to the east of Austin Boulevard.

Fare controls and a customer assistant booth are in the station house, alongside the railroad embankment at street level.

[14][15] Additionally, Pace operates three bus routes to the station: the 309 Lake Street, 313 St. Charles Road, and 315 Austin Boulevard.