By Stella Delatorre
@redlineproject
Summary: The Chicago Transit Authority is extending the Red Line from 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street to improve transportation access for residents on the Far South Side. This 5.6-mile extension will provide reliable access to jobs and opportunities and is estimated to generate 25,000 jobs and $1.7 billion in real estate and construction. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and finish by 2030. The project is estimated to cost $5.3 billion, with funding coming from a federal grant. Critics are concerned about the high budget and suggest redeveloping existing Metra rail lines as a cheaper alternative. Dr. Joe Scwieterman, a professor at DePaul University, supports the project but expresses concerns about ridership and performance, emphasizing the need for community development around the new stations.
The Chicago Transit Authority provides public transportation for the city of Chicago. The Red Line “El” provides 24/7 service between Howard on the North Side and 95th/Dan Ryan on the South Side. This train is used by a diverse group of people ranging from all backgrounds. The high popularity of this train has called for it to be the city’s main trunk line.
History
The most recent portion of the three major segments is the Dan Ryan, built in 1969. Nine stations serve this portion in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway. In February 1993, the Red Line line was finalized with the route.
Back in 2013, the CTA launched the Red Line South Reconstruction Project. This project aimed to replace the tracks between 18th and 95th streets and upgrade stations between Cermak-Chinatown and 95th/Dan Ryan. The Dan Ryan branch was closed for five months as the improvements were being reconstructed. This process was set to save $75 million, which was set to be invested in station upgrades, creating a more accessible stop.
Inaccessibility
A popular complaint about the Red Line is that it does not reach the Far South Side. This causes inaccessibility for potential riders who do not have the same transportation opportunities. A lack of transportation strains one’s job opportunities in downtown Chicago.
Updates on the project
In recent news, the CTA announced extending the Red Line from 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street. This totals a 5.6-mile south extension to reach a new group of riders. New stations will be fully accessible by bus and bike.
Project benefits
The CTA has predicted many project benefits once complete.
- Transit experience: 30-minute time saving for travelers riding between 130th Street to the Loop
- A better system: Far South Side members will have reliable access to jobs and opportunities outside the neighborhoods.
- New opportunities: Estimated to generate 25,000 jobs throughout Cook County.
- Connecting and investing in neighborhoods: Estimated to catalyze $1.7 billion in real estate and construction through 2040.
Construction
The CTA has picked the contracting team Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to move forward with this project after reviewing three proposals in a two-year-long bid process. Walsh-VINCI’s proposal included an innovative design with a minimum-impact construction approach. Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners is made of Walsh Construction, VINCI Construction, EXP, Systra, and other subcontractors.
Construction is set to take place in late 2025 and be finished by 2030.
Two types of prep work will occur as this project begins: Property demolition and advanced utility relocation. The CTA has stated that this will slightly impact the community, yet they are still committed to updating residents and local businesses on such updates through the end of this year to the next. These updates will include what to expect, when to expect, and what the CTA will do to minimize the impacts. Properties existing on the future track are to be set to demolition from now to going into 2025.
Expected impacts include
- General construction noise
- Truck traffic
- Street and alley closures
- Sidewalk closures
- Dust
Funding
The federal government announced the Red Line Extension initially set the project budget of $1.937 billion in critical grant funding needed. This would result in the largest award to the CTA in its history. CTA has been in its engineering phase, which includes design and engineering necessary for the project and for federal grant dollars once approved.
The budget has increased to $5.3 billion, covering construction materials, labor, and financing increases. Any delay in this product could increase the budget by billions of dollars.
According to the CTA, factors affecting the Red Line Extension project are
- 60% increase in construction labor and material costs between 2020–2023
- Increased interest rates
- Uncertainty around material delivery
- A large pipeline of projects
Controversies
- Critics have expressed concern about the following.
- The budget is extremely high and could be the most expensive transit deal in history.
- There are already existing rails from the metra, and it would be cheaper to re-develop the existing ones.
- The city should provide the Far South Side with resources to help the community thrive, including express bus service and regular basis bus service.
Dr. Joe Schwieterman, a professor in the School of Public Service at DePaul University and director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, expressed his opinion on the Red Line Extension Project.
Once again, addressing the costly concerns,
“The city of Chicago felt that the CTA needed to be the push ahead with this plan, which is the red Line extension, which is very exciting, but very costly,” said Schwieterman.
Schwieterman also acknowledges concerns with ridership and performance.
“I support the Red Line Extension, but I’m nervous about its performance. The area needs better service, and with part of our commitment is to provide that, but it’s a really long “El” ride from the part of the city, so I hope the ridership meets its goal,” said Schwieterman.
He emphasized that community is essential within this project, hoping that the Red Line extends, but it will be a fresh start for the Far South Side. Creating new communities as developed as the city’s North Side.
“They can’t just build a station and expect ridership to be huge. They’ll have to hopefully some magnet for new developments in the area hasn’t been much down there, so we’re hoping that little neighborhoods form around these new stops and become, you know, some of the magic we see on the north side will spread that part of the city, walkable neighborhoods, things, but we’re going to have to be really patient because the line is going to take, you know, quite a few years before it’s over,” Schwieterman said.