$1.9 billion funding agreement approved for Red Line Extension

Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval R. Carter, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and other elected officials today signed and finalized a $1.9 billion funding agreement that will allow the CTA to move forward with the transformational Red Line Extension Project. 

“The Red Line Extension Project is transformational for our city, especially for the South Side,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This project demonstrates the power of investing in people, and I am thrilled that we are taking a significant step forward in actualizing equitable transportation options for our city. I am grateful to the many partners from all levels of government who championed this effort and made this historic moment possible – together, we are working to achieve economic vibrancy and stability for all communities, regardless of socioeconomic status.”

The CTA and the FTA signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), which guarantees the project will receive the funding pledged by the federal government. With this agreement, the Red Line Extension will advance toward groundbreaking, expected by early 2026. The project will extend by 5.5 miles the CTA’s Red Line, the busiest of its eight rail lines, from 95th Street to 130th Street, including building four new Red Line stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street.

The federal grant is the largest transit infrastructure grant awarded to CTA in the agency’s history and is the final step in securing the funding needed for the $5.7 billion Red Line Extension Project. 

The RLE is a transformational South Side project that will improve access to rapid rail transit and provide faster, more convenient service to residents. Extending service will also improve access to jobs, educational and health care institutions and promote economic development. 

CTA awarded a contract in August 2024 to Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to design and build the RLE project. The new extension and stations are expected to be completed and in service in 2030.