Federal Funds Unfrozen for CTA’s RLE and RPM Projects

CTA’s Red Line Extension (RLE): 103rd Street Station Main Stationhouse rendering.

CTA

CHICAGO - Funds for CTA's Red Line Extension (RLE) and Red & Purple Modernization Project (RPM) have been unfrozen.

Recently, RT&S reported that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) had filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to restore funding for the Red Line Extension and Red & Purple Modernization projects. Federal funding for the projects had been paused in October 2025. The CTA had provided more than 1,000 pages of information in response to federal requests, but it said the USDOt had not “communicated with CTA regarding this matter or resumed funding.”

Now, a U.S. District Court judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order last week that directs the USDOT and FTA to end its funding suspension as of Friday, March 27. The ruling wa that suspension of federal funds for the projects was “impermissible.” The FTA then reopened the reimbursement portal to “allow CTA to submit invoices, effective immediately.” It has submitted $114.5 million in invoices for project expenses. CTA says it is expecting funds within the next week “consistent with ordinary processing timelines.” Work on the projects can now continue.

CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said, ““Today’s news means that the Red Line Extension project is truly full steam ahead. . . For 50 years, Chicagoans have fought for this project, and today’s development is the latest success story in CTA’s commitment in making this project a reality. With the federal funds now unfrozen, the Red Line Extension project will proceed uninterrupted, on a path to creating a transformative enhancement of opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans.”