The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced that it is taking the next step in delivering its Red Line Extension (RLE) project by seeking qualified companies to design and build a 5.6-mile extension.
The planned 3.6 billion USD RLE project will extend the Red Line from the existing southern terminal at 95th Street to 130th Street. This will include the addition of four new accessible rail stations, as well as a new modern, efficient railcar storage yard and maintenance facility.

As part of a two-step procurement process, the CTA has announced that it will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select a pool of the most qualified contracting teams to design and build the mainline infrastructure and stations.
Construction is then scheduled to commence as early as 2025. However, this work is dependant on CTA securing the required funding.
CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said:The Red Line Extension is more than just a transit project, it is a long-overdue investment for Chicago’s Far South Side that will provide benefits that extend to all corners of the City. There’s never been a better time than now to advance such a project, which is why we are full-steam ahead and beginning the lengthy process of seeking out qualified contractors for this complex project so that we can stay on course with the project timeline. The sooner we can award a contract, the sooner we are able to start extending contracting opportunities to small, disadvantaged local businesses and creating good paying jobs for Chicagoans.
Once a pool of candidate teams is finalised, the CTA will invite the potential bidders to submit proposals for designing and building the RLE project when the agency issues its Request for Proposals (RFP). This is expected to take place in mid-2023.