Did You Know?
Long-awaited Red Line Extension moves closer to reality
After decades of anticipation, the CTA Red Line Extension (RLE) project is set to receive a nearly $2 billion injection of federal funding.
The RLE will be a 5.6-mile expansion of CTA’s Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street on Chicago’s Far South Side.
The project aims to foster thriving communities by connecting Far South Side residents to essential opportunities like education, employment, and healthcare.
The Federal Transit Administration recently pledged a remarkable $1.973 billion through the New Starts program. The project can now move forward to the engineering phase (see timeline below).
“Today is a great day for the South Side of Chicago,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “The Far South Side has been promised for 50 years that the Red Line would be extended to the city’s southern border, and today we can say that promise is significantly closer to being met. This project brings a wealth of job and training opportunities, and it enhances the quality of life for residents who will be able to access jobs and education more easily than ever before.”
This development moves beyond traditional metrics of cost and ridership, showcasing a commitment to nurturing community well-being and equitable growth. It symbolizes a step towards a future where the benefits of connectivity are widely accessible, underlining a focus on the holistic development of the community.
Active Transportation Alliance has been a staunch advocate for the project, recognizing its potential to transform lives through improved accessibility and connection to opportunities.
In the past year, we helped mobilize support for one of the project’s recent hurdles, the crucial Transit TIF funding mechanism.
We hope you’re as excited as we are with this project moving forward. Let’s continue to work towards a Chicago that not only meets — but surpasses — the expectations for connectivity and accessibility.
Stay updated on this project to bring rapid transit to the Far South Side on the project’s webpage.
Renderings and timeline courtesy of the CTA.
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