CTA approved for $120-million TIFIA loan for Blue Line improvements

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) has secured a $120-million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for major improvements to the Blue Line, which will upgrade tracks and stations between the downtown Loop and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

 

“Every Chicagoan knows how important it is to be able to take a convenient, reliable trip on the L to and from O’Hare,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “By upgrading the Blue Line, this project will improve access to 21st century transportation for the entire region. Going forward, we want to bring these opportunities to other parts of the country, working with Congress to develop a long-term funding solution for transit, roads, bridges and other crucial infrastructure.”

Significant upgrades to the track, power supply and signal system along the 19-mile stretch of the Blue Line will reduce and eliminate “slow zones,” resulting in faster, more reliable service. The more than 80,000 riders who use the Grand-O’Hare branch daily will also see improvements to stations along the line to enhance accessibility and comfort, from brighter lights and cleaner tunnels to new elevators and artwork.

“By modernizing the Blue Line, we are investing in Chicago’s future, as it not only serves as a vital transportation link connecting O’Hare and downtown but it serves as a key economic engines for scores of Chicago neighborhoods,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This federal funding will help us ensure that we build the infrastructure Chicago needs to succeed economically in the 21st Century.”

In addition to the $120-million TIFIA loan, the four-year, $408.7-million Blue Line renovation (known as “Your New Blue”) will be supported by $16 million in U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funds awarded to CTA in 2012, with the remainder coming from state, local and other sources. The project represents the largest upgrade of the Blue Line since it was extended to O’Hare in 1984.

 

 

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