The CTA’s RLE team invites Far South Side union contractors and community members to learn about the project and plans for the project office that will open later this year
The Chicago Transit Authority today said it will hold a public meeting at its future Red Line Extension (RLE) Project office site in the Pullman neighborhood, encouraging contractors from the Far South Side and beyond to attend and learn more about contract opportunities to build out the office space this summer. The CTA and the RLE Construction Manager, REDefine Southside Partners Joint Venture (RSPJV), are committed to maximizing opportunities for certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms and local residents to build this office.
“The Red Line Extension Project is an equity investment in the Far South Side that will transform transit for residents and is already benefitting the region through workforce and small business opportunities,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “We encourage local firms to bid on the work that will build out the first project office for RLE because we believe that this transit investment is a catalyst for economic development that benefits the residents in the project footprint.”
CTA earlier this year leased a 19,000-square-foot property at 11203 S. Corliss Ave. to house CTA Red Line Extension Project staff, the first project office to be opened by the RLE Project. The office buildout work needs union contractors with expertise in demolition, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and other disciplines.
Meeting details
Date and time: Tuesday, May 7 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Red Line Extension Project Office, 11203 S. Corliss
Register in advance: Click here
What to expect: Presentation on RLE project office buildout
CTA has begun outreach to contractors including businesses located in the RLE project footprint on the Far South Side to discuss the packages of work that will be available to bid on. The agency said it expects the office buildout work to begin this spring and be completed in the fall. CTA anticipates opening the office in November 2024.
This office is in addition to the RLE Community Office at 401 W. 111th St. in Roseland, which will officially open to the public later this year.
Red Line Extension Project Overview
The RLE project will:
- Build a 5.6-mile extension of the Red Line from 95th Street Terminal to the vicinity of 130th Street.
- Include four new accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and 130th Street, each of which would include bus, bike, pedestrian, and parking facilities.
- Build a new rail yard and related rail facilities to improve operational efficiency for the entire Red Line and CTA system.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide a new, more direct connection to the Red Line – this means an easier trip and less time commuting. Once the extension opens, it is expected to provide up to 30 minutes time savings to riders traveling from the future 130th Station to the Loop.
Project benefits for surrounding communities:
- The RLE Project will foster economic development in the project area, as new stations could serve as catalysts for neighborhood revitalization, spur the development of transit-supportive communities, and help reverse decades of disinvestment in local business districts. An award-winning RLE Transit-Supportive Development (TSD) Plan in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is a proactive effort to guide the future development of the long-disinvested communities located near the RLE project area, and it reflects the vision of those who currently reside and conduct business in these communities.
- The Extension is expected to bring more than 25,000 jobs to Cook County in future years.
- The Project is also expected to result in a 46% increase in newly accessible jobs within an hour commute of the RLE Project area.
- Includes opportunities for workforce training and jobs and participation in the project by small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)-certified small businesses.
- CTA supports DBEs through efforts including the Building Small Business program and partnerships with its construction contractors.
For more information about the Red Line Extension Project, visit transitchicago.com/rle.
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