Chicago Expands Busiest Subway Line by 9 km: New Stations and Improved Connectivity

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced a $2.9 billion contract with the Walsh-Vinci Transit Community Partners consortium, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The consortium includes Walsh Construction, VINCI Construction, EXP, and SYSTRA.

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This contract involves the design and construction of a new 9-kilometer section of the Red Line subway as part of the Red Line Extension (RLE) project.

The RLE project will include the construction of four new stations that will meet modern accessibility standards for individuals with limited mobility.

Each station will be equipped with parking for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.

Preparatory work for construction will begin in 2024, with actual construction expected to start by the end of 2025. The project is anticipated to be fully completed by 2030.

The new section of the Red Line will provide convenient transportation between downtown Chicago and the Far Southwest Side of the city.

This extension will foster economic development in the area, including support for small businesses and job creation.

Initially, the project’s cost was estimated at $4.1 billion.

However, due to increased expenses, the current estimate is now $5.3 billion.

The Red Line is the busiest line in the Chicago subway network. It operates 24/7, serving more than 93,000 passengers daily.

Photo, source: CTA

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