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17 May 2026
Chicago breaks ground on $5.7B Red Line transit extension
After a decades-long process, a project that aims to transform Chicago’s transit landscape is underway.
The Chicago Transit Authority, alongside the Walsh-Vinci Transit Community Partners joint venture, broke ground on the Red Line Extension on April 24, according to an announcement from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The 5.5 mile-long extension project, which costs $5.7 billion according to a 2025 estimate, will extend rapid rail transit into the city’s Far South Side for the first time. It will provide more direct access to the 24-hour Red Line, also known as the L, according to the announcement.