Chicago, federal officials sign nearly $2B funding agreement for CTA Red Line Extension Project
Project will extend CTA's Red Line by 5.5 miles, from 95th Street to 130th Street
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Local and federal officials signed a funding agreement Friday for the CTA's Red Line Extension Project.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and CTA President Dorval Carter, Jr. were among those at the signing ceremony at a South Side church.
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"The Red Line Extension Project is transformational for our city, especially for the South Side," Johnson said. "This project demonstrates the power of investing in people, and I am thrilled that we are taking a significant step forward in actualizing equitable transportation options for our city. I am grateful to the many partners from all levels of government who championed this effort and made this historic moment possible - together, we are working to achieve economic vibrancy and stability for all communities, regardless of socioeconomic status."
The federal funding agreement pledges more than $1.9 billion for the estimated $5.75 billion project, which will extend the CTA's Red Line by 5.5 miles, from 95th Street to 130th Street, in Altgeld Gardens at the Dan Ryan Expressway.
One lifelong resident of that community has been pushing for this for years.
"So, it's a huge deal; it's a very big deal, and a good economic engine for our community," Altgeld Gardens resident Cheryl Johnson said.
Four new Americans with Disabilities Act accessible stations will also be added, a news release from Durbin's office said.
"We are here today to celebrate a journey, a journey from a dream to implementation and execution," Federal Transit Administration Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said.
The project includes connections that will have bus, bike, pedestrian and park-and-ride facilities.
"This is about much more than an extension of a rail line. It's about the future on the Far South Side of Chicago, and it is one of the biggest, boldest equity investments in the history of this great city," Carter said.
A railcar storage yard and maintenance facility at 120th Street is also included.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, with service expected to begin in 2030.
"Thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago have been waiting for this project to become a reality. This extension will improve transit access for Chicagoans while creating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. I'm heartened to see this firm commitment, with significant buy-in from the federal government, which my Chicago-area delegation colleagues and I have long-advocated for," Durbin said.
The Red Line Extension project has been in the works for a number of years and is the largest single transit project in CTA history, a news release from the White House said.
"The project will address inequalities in access and economic investment in predominantly Black and disadvantaged neighborhoods in the city and improve transit connections between destinations such as the Rosalind Medical District, Pullman National Monument, Chicago State University, and the Chicago Housing Authority's Altgeld Gardens housing development," the release said.
CTA estimates the project will generate more than 25,000 jobs in Cook County and bring in $1.7 billion in real estate activity through 2040, along with planned transit-oriented development around the 95th Street Corridor.
"The Red Line Extension project will undo nearly 60 years of racial inequity in transit," Carter said. "Residents of the Far South Side of Chicago deserve the same access to rapid CTA transit and the numerous quality of life benefits that come with it. I am proud to deliver on the promise I made to the community years ago and deliver access to affordable transportation in the city."
The federal funding was pushed through before President Joe Biden leaves office to ensure the money will be there.
The mayor praised the project, which has been 50 years in the making.
"This connection means that Far South Side residents have more job opportunities, more educational opportunities, more opportunities to access services and to explore this beloved city," Johnson said.
The new stations will cut 20 to 30 minutes or more off the commute times for residents on the South Side coming downtown.
"We come from 130, and sometimes we have double buses. And it may take up to 45 minutes or hour just to get from 130th to 95th Street," resident Cheryl Johnson said.
