August 2024
Chicago Transit Authority selects Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to design and build Red Line Extension Project
CHICAGO – The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has selected Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners for a $2.9 billion contract to design and build the Red Line Extension project, a 5.6-mile extension of the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street, including four new Red Line stations.
Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners includes Walsh Construction, VINCI Construction, EXP, Systra, and other subcontractors.
The Red Line Extension (RLE) is the largest project in CTA history and will provide faster connections from the Far South Side to the rest of the city while serving as an economic catalyst to one of the most disinvested parts of Chicago. The RLE is a transit equity project that fulfills a commitment to the Far South Side by significantly improving transportation to this part of the city with 5.6 miles of new track and four new fully accessible rail stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan near 116th and 130th Street.
Currently, the Far South Side is the only area where CTA’s rail rapid transit service stops short of the city border. Communities here are largely populated with low-income, minority residents.
“The Red Line Extension corrects past transit inequity and increases access to the most affordable transportation in the city. Hiring the contracting team that can provide the best value to the CTA to construct the RLE is a consequential step that demonstrates our vow to build this project,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “The CTA’s Red Line Extension Project is an example of how transportation dollars can be distributed to have lasting impact on the Far South Side including workforce and small business opportunities that create jobs and support families.”
Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners will be responsible for building the Mainline project, which includes:
- Extension of the Red Line 5.6 miles from the 95th Street to south of 130th Street
- Building four new, accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street, each expected to include bus, bike, pedestrian and parking facilities.
The project will also generate long-lasting economic benefits for the Far South Side via small business and workforce/career opportunities with RLE and CTA, as well as new economic development in the project area.
Walsh-VINCI’s workforce goals for the contract as a percentage of total labor hours includes:
Design
- Service Area Economically Disadvantaged Area (EDA): 10 percent of total design hours
Construction
- Careers Opportunity Goal: 10 percent of total trade labor hours
- Service Area Economically Disadvantaged Area: 35 percent of total trade labor hours
Union Apprentice: 15 percent of total trade labor hours – Goal is to develop pipeline for training, apprenticeship and jobs
Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners has committed to actively talking with union trades, workforce assistance agencies and other transit peers to establish partnerships and pipelines to connect individuals to training and career opportunities.
CTA assessed DBE goals on the contractor for including DBE-certified contractors, including 25 percent for project design and 22 percent for project construction.
Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners will host targeted outreach events with CTA to educate potential-DBE firms on the certification process and inform the DBE small business community and career-seekers on upcoming opportunities. CTA and Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners will hold public meetings as design and construction planning begins on the project. Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners will work closely with local communities and CTA customers on construction impacts to neighborhoods and service.
Construction is expected to start in late 2025 and be completed by 2030.
Click here to read the full press release from the Chicago Transit Authority.