The Chicago Transit Authority's plan to extend the Red Line an additional 5.6 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street is still years—if not decades—away. Nonetheless, the CTA has teamed up with urban planners and Far South Side residents to draft plans to guide future real estate development around the four new stations the project will create. 

The CTA on Wednesday held a community webinar to discuss what it calls a Transit Supportive Development Plan (TSDP) for the communities surrounding the Red Line stops planned at 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and 130th Street. The TSDP will also help support the CTA's application to the Federal Transit Administration for funding of the rail line extension itself, according to officials. 

CTA

"The key approach for a Transit Supportive Development Plan is to integrate land-use planning with transportation planning," said Teresa Fourcher, a senior planner with ‎Solomon Cordwell Buenz who is involved with the TSDP. "The plan will identify methods and resources needed to encourage economic development, continued affordability, private sector investment, and multimodal connectivity and bicycle access."

The draft plans incorporate public comments collected at two area-wide meetings held last year and four station-specific meetings conducted in early 2021. Using that feedback, planners identified the strengths of each community as well as their needs—such as access to jobs and neighborhood amenities like grocery stores.

CTA

  

The presentation included a "vision statement" and land-use strategy map for each of the four station areas. These plans prioritize new infill development on vacant lots and generally call for mixed-use buildings near the planned stations and existing retail corridors.

Based on neighborhood context, some areas are earmarked for medium-density multi-flat buildings and even single-family homes (click on the gallery above for a closer look at each of the four TSDP areas).

A draft land-use strategy for infill development near the proposed 103rd Street station.CTA

The hosts of Wednesday's meeting stressed multiple times that the presentation represented draft plans that are still being refined. The CTA intends to hold a follow-up meeting this summer and present a final TSDP report in the fall.

Chicago residents meanwhile are encouraged to get involved by visiting the CTA's engagement page to take the survey and submit questions, comments, and other ideas regarding the project.

The Red Line extension is still in the planning phase and its completion is "subject to the availability of funding," according to the CTA's website. The agency selected its preferred alignment for the estimated $2.3 billion project in 2018.