Fund the project extending ctas red line from the existing terminal at 95TH street/DAN ryan to the vicinity of 132ND street

The federal Formula Grant award of $37,500,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA Federal Transit Formula Grants, CFDA 20.507) will fund the design and construction of a 5.5-mile extension to the existing Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line rail system. The project will extend the line from the 95th Street/Dan Ryan terminal to the 130th Street area, adding four new accessible stations and improving mobility, economic opportunity, and sustainability for historically underserved communities on Chicago's far South Side. Key activities include building the rail line extension, constructing multimodal stations with parking, installing new traction power substations, and procuring 78 new rail cars. The project is expected to be completed by April 1, 2029 and will provide up to 30 minutes of travel time savings for riders between the 130th Street terminal and downtown Chicago.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to fund the project extending ctas red line from the existing terminal at 95TH street/DAN ryan to the vicinity of 132ND street. The 5.5-mile extension would include four new accessible stations that will reduce commute times by up to 30 minutes from 130TH street to chicagos loop central business district; increase economic opportunity; improve access to regional transit affordable housing jobs services and educational opportunities. Converting single-occupancy vehicle operators to transit riders will also reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the northwestern indiana northeastern illinois and the southeastern wisconsin region. Finally the project will provide a modern efficient rail car storage yard and shop facility.

Activities

Funds in this grant will be used to design and construct the project a 5.5-mile heavy rail extension to the existing red line DAN ryan branch on chicagos far south side from the present 95TH street terminal to the 130TH street area that will include four new fully accessible stations multimodal connections at each station parking facilities new traction power substations a new yard and maintenance shop facility and the purchase of 78 rail cars.

Expected outcomes

The project will provide affordable rapid transit to historically underserved communities on chicagos far south side. The project will improve mobility for transit- dependent residents in the project area where over 22% of households lack access to an automobile. The project will help reverse decades of disinvestment in local business districts by catalyzing station area redevelopment and enhancing economic opportunity through connections to employment educational opportunities housing and other services. The project will provide up to 30 minutes of time savings to riders traveling from the 130TH street terminal station to the loop (chicagos central business district).

Intended beneficiaries

New and existing transit riders will benefit from the funded project along with the region experiencing reduced carbon and other GHG emissions after converting single-occupancy vehicle operators to transit riders.