Red Line extension

The money will be used to study ways to encourage mixed-use development near the new stations, as well as other strategies to maximize the benefits of improved transit access.

"Out of all the big ideas," said Cole, "I think it should be free, and it should be extended.

Residents discussed whether they'd accept the Metra solution as a cheaper, quicker way to get rapid transit.

Residents discussed the plan to extend the Red Line to 130th, and weighed in on whether converting the Metra Electric line to rapid transit would be an adequate substitute.

Trump may eliminate federal funding for transit, and a transit TIF wouldn't raise anywhere near enough money for the project.

Yesterday the CTA announced a new $75 million investment towards the $2.3 billion Red Line Extension on the South Side transit.

The Chicago Transit Authority published its Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Red Line extension from 95th St. to 130th St. in the Riverdale community area last month, and it includes a couple of good and bad surprises. An EIS is a study that federal law requires before the United States Department of Transportation fund any highway or transit infrastructure.

[Last fall the Chicago Reader launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership allows Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We syndicate a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website or in print. The paper hits the streets on Thursdays.]

A new bill that passed the Illinois Senate last week would create a new class of tax increment financing district that could only be created around Chicago transit stations and lines to capture the property value that being near transit generates. Most of the revenue generated by these TIFs would be earmarked to pay for construction of rapid transit lines, stations, and other transit-related facilities.