Overview
- The CTA kicked off construction Friday at 115th and Michigan for a four-station extension to 130th Street that will add a new rail yard near 120th.
- Nearly $2 billion in U.S. grants were frozen by the Trump administration, then temporarily restored by a Chicago judge in March, with a final ruling due in June as work moves forward.
- The price tag stands at about $5.7–$5.75 billion, and the CTA has a $2.9 billion design-build deal with Walsh‑VINCI as local sources now cover roughly two‑thirds of costs.
- Independent analyses say rising soft costs for design and management and an added $407 million in contingency have driven up expenses, pushing the per‑mile cost near $1 billion and drawing questions about the project’s return.
- CTA estimates say the extension could cut some trips by up to 30 minutes and support 12,500 construction jobs, with utility work through 2027, major builds through 2029, and service targeted for 2030.