The Chicago Red Line extension is finally breaking ground after fifty years of planning, promising to transform mobility for underserved communities on Chicago's far south side with a $5.7 billion investment in transit infrastructure.
• Five and a half mile extension from 95th Street to 130th Street serving Altgeld Gardens
• Four new stations bringing rail service to approximately 100,000 residents
• Project costs over $1 billion per mile, with $2 billion coming from federal grants
• Expected to reduce commute times by 30 minutes and generate $1.7 billion in development
• Construction begins 2025 with projected opening in 2029
• Debates continue about whether BRT or commuter rail alternatives could have provided similar benefits at lower costs
• Political concerns about transit funding and the potential for future administrations to target high-cost urban projects
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