The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has selected a preferred alignment for the Red Line Extension (RLE), a project that will extend the Red Line to 130th Street from 95th Street. The Red Line Extension project will provide new access to rail service for Far South Side residents, connecting them to affordable housing, jobs, services and educational opportunities.
The proposed 8.5-km extension would include four new stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street. Each of the new stations would include bus and parking facilities.
After taking into consideration extensive public feedback, technical analysis and other factors, the CTA selected a route for the RLE project.
The preferred RLE alignment would provide all the benefits of new rail service for the area while minimizing the impact on local businesses and homes. The alignment is a hybrid of two previously considered alignments (the East and West Options, named for where they were located next to existing freight railroad tracks) and offers the best of each while limiting the number of properties CTA must purchase to build the rail extension. The selected alignment also takes advantage of several large parcels of land that are currently vacant and will allow for economic development opportunities.
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