Dive brief:
- The Chicago Transit Authority is in line to receive $1.97 billion from the federal government to help its $3.6 billion Red Line extension project. It has shortlisted three contractors for the work.
- If finalized through the federal New Starts program, the funds would constitute the largest grant in the agency’s CTA history. announced on September 8. The project will extend the Red Line 5.6 miles into Chicago’s South End, from 95th Street to 130th Street. The funding commitment brings it one step closer to innovation, according to CTA.
- The transit agency has yet to choose a prime contractor for the job. Last week, CTA issued an RFP to three contracting teams shortlisted earlier this year: the Joint Venture FH Paschen, Ragnar Benson, Milhouse and BOWA; Kiewit Infrastructure; and Walsh VINCI Transit Community Partners, according to a News release of September 14 of the agency.
Diving knowledge:
In addition to the expansion, the project also contains a new rail yard and related rail facilities, and four new accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street.
Each station would include facilities for buses, bicycles, pedestrians and parking, according to the release. Funding for the remaining project will come from a $950 million transit tax increment financing plan approved by the Chicago City Council last year, as well as other sources, according to CTA.
The project can now begin the engineering phase, which allows for more planning work, identifies more potential grant money and will continue through 2024, the release said. CTA anticipates a funding grant at the end of next year, following federal review and approvals.
Pre-construction work will begin in 2024 and major construction will begin in 2025, CTA said.
“The Far South Side has been promised for 50 years that the Red Line would extend to the city’s southern border, and today we can say that promise is much closer to being fulfilled,” said Dorval R .Carter, Jr., CTA President.
Infrastructure projects throughout the country are increasing as the flood of money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act reaches municipalities and ends up in the hands of builders. Some of these projects include:
Chicago transit has also been the subject of previous expansion projects in recent years. In December 2021, Walsh and Fluor teamed up to offer a $1.3 billion major improvement of the red and purple lines.
