The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) knows residents and potential Red Line riders have questions about this proposed extension. Click on the questions below to view answers.
FAQ
Red Line Extension Project
How would CTA fund this proposed project?
When would the extended Red Line be open for use?
When would construction begin on the proposed Red Line extension?
What will be the operating hours for the proposed extension?
Would CTA need to buy private property because of the location of the proposed extension?
Will there be places to park near the new stations?
How would this proposed extension affect the natural environment and the community?
How would this proposed extension impact noise in the community?
What is the economic impact of this proposed extension?
How would the proposed Red Line extension effect current CTA services, both during construction of the new service and during operation of the new service?
Is it possible that at some point this proposed Red Line extension could go even farther to the Gary Airport and South Bend, Ind.?
If the CTA already has a Locally Preferred Alternative, why is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) still studying three other alternatives?
For the Locally Preferred Alternative near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, has CTA talked with Union Pacific representatives?
Can you do Preliminary Engineering at the same time you are drafting the Environmental Impact Statement?
How does work on the other Your Red projects affect progress on the Red Line Extension?
What portion of the extension would be elevated?
Can this extension connect to existing Metra Electric or South Shore services?
Is CTA coordinating with Metra on the Red Line Extension?
Red Line Extension Project
Q:
How would CTA fund this proposed project?
A:
Two types of funding are needed for the proposed extension – capital and operating. Capital funding (construction funding) for the proposed extension is provided partially by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), through its “New Starts” grant program. This program provides funding for major public transit infrastructure projects throughout the United States through a highly competitive process. CTA is currently in the second phase of that process that will allow the agency to apply for funding. Upon successfully advancing through the FTA’s process, a project would be qualified to receive a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the Federal Government. The FFGA typically covers about half of a project’s capital cost. Other non-federal funds will comprise the remainder of capital funding. Once the proposed extension is built and operational, CTA’s operating budget would support day-to-day service and determine the frequency and hours of service for the proposed extension.
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Q:
When would the extended Red Line be open for use?
A:
No timeline has yet been established. Project schedule is dependent on federal reviews and approvals and funding availability.
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Q:
When would construction begin on the proposed Red Line extension?
A:
No timeline has yet been established. Project schedule is dependent on federal reviews and approvals and funding availability.
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Q:
What will be the operating hours for the proposed extension?
A:
The operating hours for the proposed extension have not yet been determined.
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Q:
Would CTA need to buy private property because of the location of the proposed extension?
A:
At this stage in the planning process, CTA cannot determine how much private property, if any, would need to be acquired in order to construct and operate the selected alternative. The effect on private property will be determined in detail as a part of the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement and the Preliminary Engineering phase of project development.
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Q:
Will there be places to park near the new stations?
A:
The preferred alternative includes adding new Park & Ride lots at each of the four proposed stations.
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Q:
How would this proposed extension affect the natural environment and the community?
A:
Potential effects to the environment will be studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS will:
- Identify and evaluate measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts
- Describe the potential environmental effects of the proposed Red Line extension improvements and the steps that will be taken to alleviate them.
Typically, environmental reviews for proposed transit projects address:
- Transportation
- Land use
- Zoning and economic development
- Secondary development
- Land acquisition
- Displacements and relocations
- Cultural resources (including historical, archaeological and paleontological resources)
- Parklands and recreational facilities
- Neighborhood compatibility and environmental justice
- Visual and aesthetic impacts
- Natural resources (including air quality, noise and vibration, wetlands, water resources, geology/soils and hazardous materials)
- Energy use
- Safety and security
- Wildlife
- Ecosystems
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Q:
How would this proposed extension impact noise in the community?
A:
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate the potential for noise impacts to the surrounding community. If it is determined that there could be noise impacts, then mitigation measures to reduce those impacts would be proposed in the Draft EIS. During the public review of the Draft EIS, you will have an opportunity to review and comment on the analysis and the proposed measures.
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Q:
What is the economic impact of this proposed extension?
A:
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate the fiscal and economic benefits and potential impacts of the proposed extension. During the public review of the Draft EIS, you will have an opportunity to review and comment on the economic analysis. Numerous transit studies suggest that transit investments result in economic development. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that for every $1 billion invested in transit projects, 47,500 jobs are created or sustained. Specific projections for the proposed extension would be developed in later studies.
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Q:
How would the proposed Red Line extension effect current CTA services, both during construction of the new service and during operation of the new service?
A:
The specifics of construction for the proposed Red Line extension have not been established yet. CTA’s general guideline is to minimize the effects of construction on existing transit services. However, bus reroutes are possible. Once the proposed extension is complete, existing bus routes may be changed to complement the new high-capacity transit service. Depending on the specific route of the service, the number of routes feeding into the 95th Street Station may be reduced, which would reduce congestion in and around this facility.
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Q:
Is it possible that at some point this proposed Red Line extension could go even farther to the Gary Airport and South Bend, Ind.?
A:
At this point CTA’s proposal for the Red Line extension is limited to the project's defined study area. Any initiative to further expand service to the Gary Airport and South Bend, Ind., would merit further investigation and its own planning study.
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Q:
If the CTA already has a Locally Preferred Alternative, why is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) still studying three other alternatives?
A:
The federal National Environmental Policy Act process requires that we evaluate a range of alternatives in the EIS along with the Locally Preferred Alternative and a No Build Alternative, which looks at the existing transportation system, plus any committed transportation improvements that already are in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Fiscal Year 2007 to 2012 Transportation Improvement Program. Other alternatives that would be evaluated in the Draft EIS would include a Transportation Systems Management Alternative (which would include a Bus Rapid Transit system on Michigan Avenue) and an elevated transit line along Halsted Street (which would not impact any parklands). Federal law protects parklands from use by transportation projects unless there are no feasible or prudent alternatives that avoid the use of parklands. Project planning must include all possible planning to minimize harm to parklands and therefore, the Halsted Alternative will be evaluated in further detail through the EIS process.
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Q:
For the Locally Preferred Alternative near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, has CTA talked with Union Pacific representatives?
A:
CTA has had preliminary conversations with Union Pacific Railroad and will continue to coordinate with the railroad as plans proceed.
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Q:
Can you do Preliminary Engineering at the same time you are drafting the Environmental Impact Statement?
A:
Preliminary Engineering can occur either concurrently with the Environmental Impact Statement development process or it can follow it. The timing for Preliminary Engineering is subject to funding availability and federal approvals.
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Q:
How does work on the other Your Red projects affect progress on the Red Line Extension?
A:
Red Line Extension project is one part of the Your Red Program to extend and enhance the entire Red Line. The Your Red program consists of separate projects with their own separate sources of potential funding and timelines. These projects are mutually beneficial and are combined into the Your Red Program to ensure that they are coordinated efficiently.
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Q:
What portion of the extension would be elevated?
A:
The Locally Preferred Alternative would operate on an elevated structure from approximately 99th Street up to 119th Street, where it would transition to an at-grade profile and then continue at grade before terminating in the vicinity of 130th Street.
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Q:
Can this extension connect to existing Metra Electric or South Shore services?
A:
There is potential for connection of the proposed Red Line extension to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) South Shore Commuter Rail Line in the vicinity of 130th Street, where the two lines would be adjacent to each other. This potential connection will be explored in further detail during Preliminary Engineering. A connection between the Red Line Extension and Metra Electric District at Kensington/115th Street station is not possible, as the proposed Red Line Extension routing crosses the Metra Electric District Line approximately one-half mile to the south of the Kensington/ 115th Street station.
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Q:
Is CTA coordinating with Metra on the Red Line Extension?
A:
CTA is coordinating with Metra on our progress with the Red Line Extension project. Metra is a participating agency in the environmental review process for the Red Line Extension.
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