Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week the $1 billion reconstruction of the Chicago Transit Authority’s busy Red Line.
Illinois committed $646 million more for the project, which will come from the state’s partially bond-financed $31 billion capital program. The contribution comes in addition to $56 million in state funding already earmarked for the project. Federal funding will cover $255 million and the city will cover the rest.
Tracks and stations will be upgraded in the long-awaited makeover, which is expected to take three years to complete and to improve service by reducing delays.
“Since I became governor, I have focused on creating jobs and improving transportation service for our citizens,” Quinn said in a statement. “This major investment in the CTA’s Red Line does both.”
