CTA Red Line Extension Project

Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners | Transit Construction | Chicago, IL

Recent News & Developments

In January 2025, CTA finalized a historic $1.9 billion federal funding agreement — the largest transit infrastructure grant in CTA history — to move forward with the Red Line Extension Project. Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with the project expected to be completed by 2030. In August 2024, CTA awarded a $2.9 billion contract to Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to design and build the extension, creating approximately 12,500 construction jobs and an estimated 59,800 indirect jobs through transit-oriented development.

About the Project

The Red Line Extension will extend CTA’s busiest rail line 5.5 miles south from 95th Street to 130th Street, adding four new fully accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and 130th Street. This $5.7 billion project will provide faster connections from the Far South Side to the rest of Chicago, reduce commute times by up to 30 minutes, and serve as an economic catalyst for communities that have been promised this extension for nearly 60 years.

Contractor Partners

Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners includes Walsh Construction, VINCI Construction, EXP, SYSTRA, and other subcontractors. Walsh Construction has built several transit projects in Chicago, including the $2.1 billion CTA Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project. VINCI Construction has completed more than $50 billion worth of design-build projects worldwide.

Mission & Culture

The Red Line Extension is a transit equity project that corrects past transportation inequity and increases access to the most affordable transportation in the city for Chicago’s Far South Side communities.

Walsh-VINCI is committed to connecting communities with pre-apprenticeship and career training opportunities through workforce development partnerships with Chicago Women in Trades, HIRE 360, and Metropolitan Family Services.

Career Opportunities

The project offers workforce training, apprenticeships, and career development opportunities. Workforce goals include 10% of total trade labor hours for career opportunities, 35% for economically disadvantaged areas, and 15% for union apprentices. The project also has 22-25% goals for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation.

Questions to Ask at the Career Fair

• “I read that the Red Line Extension will create over 12,000 construction jobs. What types of roles are available for recent graduates?”
• “How does Walsh-VINCI support workforce development and apprenticeship programs on this project?”
• “What engineering disciplines are most needed for a transit infrastructure project of this scale?”

Apply for Jobs

Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners Careers — Use Opportunity Code 749R6D when applying for skilled labor positions
RLE Workforce Job Board — Official job board for the Red Line Extension project
CTA Red Line Extension Project Page

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