City, state officials break ground on CTA Red Line Extension Project on South Side
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago and Illinois officials broke ground Friday on the multi-billion-dollar CTA Red Line Extension Project.
Leaders say it means faster trips and more investment for the Far South Side.
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Many hope the CTA Red Line extension project will improve access to jobs, education and economic development on the city's South Side.
The $5.7 billion project has been in the making for a while.
It will extend the CTA Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street, including building four new accessible stations. The Red Line is the busiest rail line in the CTA.
There was a recent legal challenge over federal funding, but a judge ordered payments for the project to continue.
Once completed, the 5.5-mile project is estimated to save those who would commute from 130th Street up to 30 minutes in their travel
The project is expected to create more than 75,000 jobs.
A number of politicians attended the groundbreaking near 115th Street and Michigan Avenue.
"Sixty years in the making we made good on a promise that we're going to invest in our people," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "We can't predict the madness coming from the White House; what we can predict is our ability to fight back and win."
Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen was even in attendance. He's an investor in one of the companies involved in the project.
"Scottie, you made history for Chicago, and we're making history today. I'm glad you're here," Sen. Dick Durbin said.
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen says it will change opportunities for people living on the South Side, extending their mobility across Chicago.
"It's amazing; I have a business on 106th and Western. And just the beauty of having a station on 103rd is going to give so much access to customers," South Side resident Adenike said.
Site preparation work is already underway at some of the new locations, and the hope is for the entire project to be done by 2030.
