Feds to award CTA's Red Line Extension project another $100 million

The Chicago Transit Authority will receive another $100 million in federal funding for its Red Line Extension project, the agency announced yesterday.

The project will receive a $100 million grant from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)/Carbon Reduction Program, after receiving $30 million from the same source in 2021, CTA officials said in a news release.

CTA expects to break ground in 2025 on the project, which calls for construction of a 5.6-mile extension of the Red Line to 130th Street.

The announcement follows the Federal Transit Administration's notification in September that the RLE project was in line to receive $1.97 billion of federal funding through the New Starts program.

The RLE project will provide a more direct connection to the Red Line. Once the extension opens, it is expected to provide up to 20 minutes time savings to riders traveling from the future 130th Station.