Chicago: CTA Celebrates Start of The Historic Red Line Extension Project by Breaking Ground at The Future Michigan Avenue Station
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CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson today joined Sen. Dick Durbin, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Acting President Nora Leerhsen and other dignitaries to break ground on the largest and most transformational capital construction project in CTA history, the Red Line Extension (RLE) Project. The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time, by extend the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including building four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan and 130th streets.

"The Red Line Extension project ensures more reliable, accessible public transit for Chicagoans while bolstering our economy," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. "My Chicago-area delegation colleagues and I have long-advocated for federal support for this project and I am thrilled to celebrate today's groundbreaking."

"No matter their zip code, all Chicagoans deserve reliable and accessible public transit to get to school, get to work and move more easily throughout their city," said U.S. Senator Duckworth. "After years of close coordination between local, state and federal officials to break ground and begin the work, I'm proud to see us closer to our goal of bringing better transit options to Chicagoans. Red Line Extension will make a real difference in the lives of so many on Chicago's South Side, not just by improving transit options for residents but with the thousands of jobs this project creates and the economic benefits it will bring. I'll keep working to ensure our transit system is safer, more efficient and accessible to all."

"Public transit is essential for connecting our communities. It helps all of us get to work, spend time with our friends and neighbors, and take care of basic necessities like visiting the doctor or buying groceries," said Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05). "This is not only a historic investment but an important step to address redlining, ensuring tens of thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago will finally have access to reliable transportation and new economic opportunities."

"Today's groundbreaking marks a victorious day for South Siders after decades of waiting and fighting for our first CTA train station in the Second District," said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02). "The Red Line Extension Project will directly connect us to downtown Chicago and create economic growth at home. The new train stations will improve our infrastructure, provide more opportunities for the Far South Side and invest in historically neglected neighborhoods."

"Today's groundbreaking demonstrates our shared commitment to transit equity and opportunity for every Chicagoan," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Far South Side residents have waited decades for this crucial rail service to come to life. My administration never wavered in our determination to finally secure this project and will continue to direct investments in housing and neighborhood development to support transit-oriented revitalization of the surrounding communities."

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"This historic CTA project finally delivers on the transit promises made to the residents of Roseland, Pullman, Washington Heights and surrounding neighborhoods decades ago," said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. "We are grateful to our many partners in federal, state and city government, who have fought alongside our agency to make this transformative project a reality. It will provide tremendous opportunity and access to employment and education for hundreds of thousands of residents on the Far South Side."

"Breaking ground on the Red Line Extension marks the latest major milestone in the ongoing revitalization of the Far South Side," said Alderman Anthony A. Beale (9th). "We're building on real momentum, more than $1 billion in investment that has already created thousands of jobs and is driving community renewal. My constituents deserve to be better connected to the rest of the city—not only through transit, but through access to jobs, training, and continued investment in their community. This project will accelerate that progress, strengthening connections for 9th Ward residents while expanding opportunity and economic growth citywide."

"The South Side has waited far too long for this project and today is a joyous day that marks the beginning of a new era for our community," said Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley (21st). "This is our vision and our collective advocacy made real. The Red Line Extension will provide critical transit access and unlock new opportunities across our community."

"The Red Line Extension is much needed on the Far South Side and will compliment innovative development happening here in the 10th Ward," said Alderman Peter Chico (10th). "The transformation that is coming, from new rapid rail service to the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, will increase our community's vibrancy and provide new opportunities for residents."

Red Line Extension Project Overview

The RLE project will:
  • Build a 5.5-mile extension of the Red Line starting at 95th Street Terminal to the vicinity of 130th Street.  
  • Include four new accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue (near 116th), and 130th Street, each of which would include bus, bike, pedestrian and parking facilities.
  • Build a new rail yard and related rail facilities near 120th Street to improve operational efficiency for the entire Red Line and CTA system.

Project benefits
  • The Red Line Extension Project will provide a new, more direct connection to the Red Line – this means an easier trip and less time commuting.  
  • Once the extension opens, it is expected to provide up to an hour of time savings roundtrip to riders traveling between the future 130th station and the Loop.
  • Stations will offer plaza areas that will include seating and other amenities to create welcoming spaces for residents
  • All stations will receive commissioned, one-of-a-kind artwork that will be developed with feedback from people in the neighborhood areas around the stations.
  • More than 12,500 construction jobs and an estimated 59,800 indirect jobs are expected to be created.  
  • Because of the improved transit options, an estimated 25,000 additional jobs to become available within an hour commute or less  

Project timeline

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Advance construction work has been underway to prepare the project for construction, including demolition of properties acquired to build the project and relocation of utility poles and other equipment where the new track will be built.

With construction beginning in spring 2026, upcoming work will include:
  • Drilling where new elevated track columns will be located
  • Pouring concrete to create the new track foundations followed by track columns
  • Station construction will begin in 2027

The new extension and stations are expected to be completed and in service in 2030.

Training and career opportunities

CTA with its design-build contractor, Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, has committed to creating pathways for Chicagoans to receive training and access to jobs on the Red Line Extension Project.
  • To accomplish that, CTA has contracted with workforce assistance agencies Chicago Women in Trades, HIRE 360 and Metropolitan Family Services to help prepare individuals to pursue their careers.
  • Walsh-VINCI's workforce goals for the contract as a percentage of total labor hours includes:
  • Design
  • Service Area Economically Disadvantaged Area (EDA): 10 percent of total design hours
  • Construction
  • Careers Opportunity Goal: 10 percent of total trade labor hours
  • Service Area Economically Disadvantaged Area: 35 percent of total trade labor hours
  • Union Apprentice: 15 percent of total trade labor hours – Goal is to develop pipeline for training, apprenticeship and jobs  

Small business participation

CTA included goals in the Walsh-VINCI contract to ensure that small businesses certified as Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) could bid on sub-contract work on the Red Line Extension Project. Those goals are 25 percent for project design and 22 percent for project construction.

CTA also has various supportive services to assist small businesses including the Driving Small Businesses the Distance monthly webinar, the Small Business Educational Series, and a financial capacity and technical assistance program, Building Small Businesses.

Station renderings

Preliminary project renderings can be found here. For more information about the Red Line Extension Project, visit transitchicago.com/rle.

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