Additional funding has been rewarded for the upcoming CTA Red Line Extension across the South Side. The news of an additional $100 million comes after the Chicago Transit Authority announced $1.973 billion in funds earlier this year from the federal government. Led by the CTA itself, currently three teams are working on their proposals to build out the expansion and stations.
Project context for the Red Line Extension via CTA
The 5.6-mile extension will utilize a mix of elevated and grade level tracks stretching from the current terminus at 95th Street down to 130th Street. The fully accessible expansion will bring four new stations at 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and a new terminus at 130th Street. The work will also include new bus, bike, pedestrian, and park & ride facilities, along with a new train yard and shop on 120th Street near the Metra KYD facility.
Conceptual rendering of 103rd Station via CTA
The additional $100 million comes from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement/Carbon Reduction Program, who also pledged $30 million in 2021 to the project. The money will help move forward the project currently being bid on by three teams made up of Walsh VINCI Transit Community Partners, Kiewit Infrastructure, and a joint venture between BOWA, FH Paschen, Ragnar Benson, and Milhouse.
Conceptual rendering of 103rd Station via CTA
With an overall cost of $3.6 billion, the project is expected to select a winning team from the above in the first half of 2024. This will be after they outline a schedule, workforce goals, and involvement of the DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Reaching over 100,000 Chicagoans with no train access, the project is scheduled to start construction in 2025 and be completed by 2029 if all goes to plan.
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It’s really something to see a $5b boondoggle coming from so far away and moving so slowly yet nobody in power had the will to stop it. The ~12 people that will use this extension will appreciate it, sure, but there are big swaths of the southwest/west sides that are 5-10x more dense that also lack adequate transit. I just feel bad for the political leaders 20 years from now that need to answer for it.
You lost me at “boondoggle”, but thanks for the down Rush Limbaugh Memorial Drive.
He’s absolutely correct…not a right or left issue…just one of common sense which all involved in this project possess none of.
* drive down
Wonderful news, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding adds value to the regional hope to make air quality improvements are critical part 〽️ of Redline Extension Planning. Now is the time to shore up a community team to help select the project construction firm. Equity in Transportation matters!
Does anyone have the analysis of why this would cost $4B?. I’m in favor of extending and building new lines, but am surprised that they couldn’t find a route that would avoid it coming to almost $1B/mile. Is there a diamond mine that they’re going to have to run this through or something?
A total waste of taxpayer money for a project to extend the CTA to an extremely impoverished and crime-ridden area of the city that will not promote economic growth or housing development.
I’m a left winger myself, but man oh man this is the most irresponsible allocation of funds since Daley’s parking meter deal.
BIG waste of money
I believe a big chunk of the cost is the buildout of a new railyard and maintenance facility.
What I wish was being considered in this project was adding in an express line – A 3rd set of tracks that can be used for an express train to go in and out of downtown during rushour periods. They do this in NY (and arguably on the north side with the purple line) – Trains could stop only at major stations and use the middle third lane of tracks while the outside lanes remain local.
And yet the western part of the city still doesn’t have an L line going from north to south….