Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement With FTA To Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project

Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement With FTA To Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)'s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually obligate $1.9 billion in federal funding to the project, solidifying the federal government's commitment to the project.

"The announcement of a $1.9 billion full funding grant agreement is a significant milestone for the City of Chicago as it moves forward with the Red Line Extension Project," said Durbin. "Thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago have been waiting for this project to become a reality. This extension will improve transit access for Chicagoans while creating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. I'm heartened to see this firm commitment, with significant buy-in, from the federal government, which my Chicago-area delegation colleagues and I have long-advocated for."

"No matter their zip code, all Chicagoans deserve reliable and accessible public transit to get to school, get to work and more easily move throughout Chicagoland," Duckworth said. "After my efforts alongside Senator Durbin and our Chicagoland House colleagues to push for this, I'm grateful to help announce this nearly $2 billion funding commitment from Biden Administration for the Red Line Extension Project, which 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 also with the thousands of jobs this project will create and the economic benefits it will bring. I'll keep working with Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to make our public transportation more efficient, safe and accessible for all of Chicago."

"South Side residents have been waiting a long time for the Red Line Extension, and my colleagues and I have long fought for this project. Today's announcement of $1.9 billion in federal funding is a huge and encouraging step toward the very first CTA train station in the Second District, connecting people to the greater Chicago area. This investment in public transportation will provide direct transportation options downtown for South Side residents and create economic growth at home," said Kelly.

"Extending the Red Line to Chicago's South Side is not just an investment in transit infrastructure-it's an investment in connecting our communities and in economic equity for neighborhoods that have been historically neglected," said Ramirez. "This $1.9 billion in federal funding brings us closer to a future where every resident, regardless of zip code, has access to reliable transportation, good-paying jobs, and economic opportunity. I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in the Illinois delegation to deliver for Chicago."

"For too long, residents of the Far South Side have faced lengthy commute times to get where they need to go," said García. "This $1.9 billion investment improves their access to schools, jobs, and other daily necessities. I am also happy to see that the project will prioritize bus, bike, and pedestrian connections to ensure a safe and seamless experience when transferring onto the system. As a senior member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I'm proud to have helped secure the federal funding to finish this project and I thank my Chicago-area colleagues for moving this project forward."

"Chicago's South Side communities have long lacked adequate access to public transit. The extension of the CTA red line will better connect these communities to the rest of our city and increase economic, educational, and countless other opportunities for tens of thousands of Chicagoans," said Quigley. "I'm proud to have worked with my colleagues in the congressional delegation and the federal government to secure this historic funding for Chicago and look forward to seeing this project move forward."

"Today's announcement of $1.9 billion in federal funding for the Red Line Extension Project is a monumental step toward improving equity and accessibility in public transportation for Chicago's South Side communities. This historic investment will connect neighborhoods that have been underserved for far too long, ensuring that residents have better access to jobs, education, and essential services. I am proud to join my colleagues in advocating for this transformative project, which underscores our collective commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable transportation system for all Chicagoans," said Davis.

"This $1.9 billion funding grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the Red Line Extension Project invests in the fundamental infrastructure that keeps our communities connected," said Schakowsky. "Public transit is an essential service and this extension project will provide access to transit for tens of thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago. I look forward to continuing our work to improve our public transit and make it safe and efficient for all. All aboard a new and improved CTA!"

"Today, we fulfill a promise to the Far South Side of Chicago to extend the Red Line to the city's edge, bringing transit equity and enhancing the quality of life for residents," said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. "I thank the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Biden administration and countless others who made this moment possible. For more than 50 years, this day was a dream deferred, but now, it is finally a reality."

This announcement follows a letter Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago-area delegation sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Office of Management and Budget in February 2023 requesting the maximum federal share for which the project was eligible due to its equity components to improve movement and livelihood for Chicago's South Side.

In September 2023, FTA and the members announced that the project entered the engineering phase with a 50 percent federal funding share of $1.9 billion. In July 2024, the members also announced that the project would receive a first-year federal funding total of $746 million, an additional $396 million over the $350 million originally planned.

The 5.6 mile extension of the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line to Chicago's southern border is the first rail transit extension in Chicago in 30 years. It will serve roughly 100,000 people, most of whom are from low-income households on Chicago's South Side, and will benefit tens of thousands of working families and individuals in surrounding suburbs and communities. The project will also provide an economic boost, making an estimated 25,000 additional jobs accessible to South Side residents within a 45-minute commute in the coming years, and generating $4.4 billion in economic activity in the County during the construction phase. The City of Chicago also has targeted areas near future RLE stations for significant local investment.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Durbin, Duckworth, and members of the Chicago-area delegation supported, designated $89.9 billion in transit funding, and Illinois will receive the fourth-highest amount in direct transit funding at $4.1 billion.

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