Judge calls for federal payments to resume this week for CTA Red Line Extension, RPM projects

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted the CTA a temporary restraining order Tuesday, ruling that a federal funding suspension was not allowed, the CTA said in a news release.

The CTA had filed a lawsuit last week against the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration, seeking the restoration of funding obligated to the CTA for the Red Line Extension and Red & Purple Modernization projects.

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The prolonged payment pause, which began last October, has threatened continued progress on RLE and RPM. Without court intervention, CTA would have been forced to stop work on both projects this Friday, the CTA said.

The ruling calls for payments to resume by 10 a.m. Friday, CTA officials said.

"Today, the CTA secured a major victory for the Red Line Extension and the residents of Chicago's Far South Side. CTA promised the community that it would fight for RLE, and this ruling is a massive step toward restoration of funding for this historic project. RLE will provide transit access and opportunity for generations to come, and we are fully committed to seeing it move forward," CTA acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement.

The FTA previously committed to providing funds for RPM and RLE, including nearly $2 billion in federal grant funding for RLE, CTA previously said.

RPM is nearing completion, and initial work for RLE began four years ago, the CTA said.

RLE will extend CTA service 5.3 miles south from 95th Street to 130th Street.

As part of RPM, the CTA has opened four new stations and reconstructed the Red and Purple Line Express track.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement:

"Today we celebrate yet another victory in the fight to protect federal dollars promised to Chicagoans from being withheld and used to advance Trump's campaign of retribution. While we are encouraged by this ruling, I am redoubling my commitment to protect Chicago from this president's reckless abuse of power and attacks on our city.

"In describing the vindictive motivations behind the illegal recission of these funds, Trump said explicitly he would slash what he called 'Democrat programs.' Today's ruling is a victory not just for Chicago, but for every local government across our country who has been caught in the crosshairs of Trump's punitive attempts to take resources away from working families and punish communities who did not vote for him.

"My administration worked intentionally to secure the federal funds necessary to get the long discussed Red Line Extension project off the ground. This transformational project will bring connectivity and opportunity to areas on the Far South Side of our city which have for decades persisted and thrived despite neglect by leadership at every level of government.

"When completed, RLE will spur newfound economic development while opening up new career and educational opportunities for residents of the Far South Side. My administration will continue to make the necessary investments to ensure every Chicagoan has access to the resources they need to get ahead and thrive.

"I want to thank our partners at the Chicago Transit Authority for leading on this lawsuit and applaud their dedicated service to Chicago.

"As long as I am Mayor of the City of Chicago, I will use every tool at my disposal to preserve every last dollar of federal funding Trump has attempted to steal from the people of our city."