The City of Chicago has officially broken ground on the long-awaited Red Line Extension project, marking the start of a major transit expansion aimed at improving connectivity and economic opportunity on the city’s Far South Side.
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City officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and federal and local leaders, gathered to launch construction on what is being described as the largest capital project in the history of the Chicago Transit Authority. The project will extend the Red Line by 5.5 miles, connecting the existing 95th Street terminal to 130th Street and adding four new stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street.
The expansion has been promised for decades and is expected to bring rapid rail service to communities that have historically lacked direct transit access.
Leaders emphasized the project’s role in addressing long-standing disparities in transportation access while supporting economic development.
“The Red Line Extension project ensures more reliable, accessible public transit for Chicagoans while bolstering our economy,” said U.S. Sen. 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.”
Officials said the extension will significantly reduce commute times, with riders expected to save up to an hour on round trips between the future 130th Street station and downtown Chicago.
“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. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “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.”
The project is also expected to improve access to employment opportunities, with estimates suggesting that approximately 25,000 additional jobs will become reachable within a one-hour commute once the extension is complete.
Construction is set to begin in spring 2026, with initial work including drilling for elevated track columns and pouring concrete foundations. Station construction is expected to start in 2027, with the full project slated for completion in 2030.
The initiative is projected to create more than 12,500 construction jobs and nearly 59,800 indirect jobs, making it a significant economic driver for the region.
“Today’s groundbreaking demonstrates our shared commitment to transit equity and opportunity for every Chicagoan,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Far South Side residents have waited decades for this crucial rail service to come to life.”
CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen emphasized the project’s long-term benefits for underserved communities. “This historic CTA project finally delivers on the transit promises made to the residents of Roseland, Pullman, Washington Heights and surrounding neighborhoods decades ago,” she said. “It will provide tremendous opportunity and access to employment and education for hundreds of thousands of residents on the Far South Side.”
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the project includes workforce development initiatives. The CTA and its design-build contractor, Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, have committed to hiring goals focused on economically disadvantaged areas, union apprenticeships and local workforce participation.
Small business participation is also a priority, with contract goals set for disadvantaged business enterprises to account for 25% of design work and 22% of construction work.
Local leaders said the project represents more than just a transit upgrade.
“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,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley.
As construction begins, officials say the Red Line Extension will serve as a catalyst for broader neighborhood revitalization, supporting housing, economic development and improved quality of life across the South Side.
Originally reported by Mayor's Press Office in Chicago Government.
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