The Red Line extension: It's starting

Red Line Extension

Via Block Club Chi: 

With preliminary work underway, transit officials say the long-awaited Red Line Extension is set to break ground early next year.

The $5.7 billion, 5.6-mile Red Line Extension project would move the south end of the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street. The CTA plans to build stations at 103rd and 111th streets near Eggleston Avenue, at Michigan Avenue near 116th Street and at 130th Street near the Altgeld Gardens public housing project.

Officials with the CTA and contractor Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners updated neighbors on the project Thursday during a Meet the Contractor session at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 211 E. 115th St. in Roseland.

Groundbreaking is set for early 2026, and the project will be split into six zones, said Rob Cheeseman, construction manager for the project with Walsh Construction and senior project manager for Walsh-VINCI.

The project is said to be in it's design phase and currently prep work such as demolition, utility relocation, and soil sampling is underway. A lot of buildings were condemened in the areas where the extension is to be built.

Construction will begin in the middle of the route. Crews will start from 106th Place to 118th Street — including two new stations at 111th Street and Michigan Avenue — then from 99th Place to 106th Place along Eggleston Avenue, with a new station at 103rd Street.

From there, crews will complete the remaining segments from north to south:

• The existing 95th Street-Dan Ryan terminal to the Interstate 94/Interstate 57 interchange.
• Interstate 94 to 99th Place.
• 118th Street to 120th Place, including a bridge over the Metra Electric tracks.
• 120th Place to 132nd Street, including the new 130th Street-Altgeld Gardens terminal.

 Also

Much like the North Side’s Red-Purple Modernization project, two bridges for the Red Line Extension will incorporate pre-cast segments that will be built off-site. This will allow construction to be completed in a “much faster fashion” than traditional methods, Cheeseman said.
...
One resident asked project leaders to prioritize plant life along the extension route and at the four new Red Line stations.

The CTA and construction teams will return to neighborhoods near the new stations for public input sessions later this year, and residents can share their ideas for greenery, benches and other aspects of the station developments, said Tammy Chase, CTA director of communications.

I can't believe it, it's starting and very soon! 

ABC7Chgo: 'Next-level squatting': Chicago couple says squatters moved into home, state lawmaker taking action

 

[VIDEO] Next-level squatting?

Well these people were able to get into this house, so somehow they got keys. And according to this report there is a mortgage document that shows an address in the south suburbs not this city location - which wasn't established. 

What do you all think of this situation? Should the police have kicked these alledged squaters out in this situation with the evidence presented? Should there be a simpler process for situations like this?

Current pics of Jones Hamburgers

Snapped these shots on March 11, 2025. Just decided to walk along South Michigan just south of Harlan High School. I'm just curious what caused this building to get to this state. I'd rather there was a functioning business here and people living in the apartments upstairs.

This on the west side of Michigan near 98th Street.
 

This last pic below, this is the garage to this building with a Jeep outside of it. It's been there for as long as I can remember. Who owns it? In fact who owns the property?

May 2008: Mama J's #Ward09 #tbt

UPDATE March 27, 2025 - Earlier this month I snapped some shots along Michigan Avenue and will share the shot of this place at a later time. This building is boarded up currently, which is a shame. When I was in school a classmate lived in the apartments above and I had visited him occasionally. I knew another classmate - who's since passed away - who was said to be connected with the family that owned Mama J's. I only wonder what happened to the business and the family that owned it and how the building is now basically abandoned.

Originally posted to The Sixth Ward on May 14, 2008. And with some of the shots around Roseland Heights taken over the years I wouldn't mind trying to recreate some of these shots!
 This is near 98th and Michigan. Known for their Jones hamburgers. I haven't patronized this business in years and at that this was when I was much younger. I wish I could give you a review of how good the burgers and service was here.

Perhaps I might do that in the near future. I do know that this place didn't always look like this and that this place certainly doesn't have the window lettering it does now! It's been a while since I paid attention to this place.

Here's a shot of this place now!

Chicago Transit Tours: 103rd Street/Rosemoor Station Tour

 

[VIDEO] This video from Chicago Transit Tours is only one day old of the newly refurbished 103rd Street Metra Electric station. Officially the station is 103rd St./Rosemoor and the entrance is at the east corner of 103rd & Dauphin.

I like the more inviting entrance which is right off of Dauphin, as opposed to having the reach the platform under the viaduct as was the case for most of the Metra Electic stations on the south side. A platform where you can wait for a train in inclement weather, though you can also wait in an enclosed space on the platform or wait at street-level where you can either take an elevator or stairs to the platform.

Per another video about these Metra Electric station improvements shared on this blog earlier this month, these same improvements are coming to 95th and 87th. The necessary work at 79th Street had already been completed.

I have some other comments which I would share at a later date. However, these improvements might be great for those who prefer to take the Metra Electric for their commutes to and from downtown Chicago.

Block Club Chi: 1 In 5 Chicagoans Will Lose Access To CTA, Pace, Metra If State Doesn’t Fund Public Transit, RTA Says

transitchicago.com

Any concerns about this current transit fiscal crisis? 

The Regional Transit Authority oversees Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transit Authority and they're sounding the alarm over funding gaps. In what ways could this affect the CTA?

The RTA contends this impending crisis was caused by “decades of underfunding” from the state. Seventeen percent of the agency’s operating budget comes from the state — a significantly lower portion than in other major transit systems. In New York, 28 percent of its regional transit authority’s operating revenue comes from the state. It’s 44 percent in Boston and 50 percent in Philadelphia, according to the RTA.

The lack of state funding, combined with the end of federal aid provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left the system in a precarious position, the RTA said.

If the cuts occur, the most drastic changes would be felt in Chicago, where the CTA would be forced to shut down half the city’s “L” lines and eliminate nearly 60 percent of bus routes, cutting bus access for 500,000 Chicagoans and leaving “260,000 city workers without a reliable way to commute,” according to the RTA release. The frequency of both train and bus service on remaining lines would be reduced by 25 percent.

If this happened, the CTA would go from the third-largest transit system in the country to having fewer bus routes than Madison, Wisconsin, or Kansas City, Missouri, according to the RTA.

“Public transit is what helped shape the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs as we know it today — it is why and how millions of us call this region ‘home,'” CTA acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement. “The results of a 40 percent service reduction are unconscionable, and no decisions about our service future will be made without community input.”

It seems, the state and city finds a way to make it work financially and service resumes under current levels. Of course, there are other issues I would like CTA to address such as safety and even how some riders are smoking on the trains.

Having to rely on transit at the current time cutting services would be inconvenient for me. Of course what bus routes would be cut if CTA isn't funded. And I already take for granted (at least over the years) the headways of the Red Line during the day at least. How infrequent would service on the L be once it's budgeted accordingly?

Chicago Like a Local: These overpriced box homes are taking over Chicago

 

[VIDEO] Sometimes I enjoy the local commentary of the YouTube channel Chicago Like a Local. He takes aim at a recent trend in modern residential architecture.

He calls the homes you see in this video  blocky or "Minecraft" homes. I may lament the construction of housing that doesn't fit the style of a particular neighborhood. At the same time perhaps you may have a neighborhood where the housing isn't in great condition.

In fact homes like these could be one sign of gentrification. Chicago Like a Local does refer to these homes as overpriced.

Lately I've been taking aim at Roseland and I wonder how many people wouldn't mind seeing homes like these built in Roseland, for example?

Also will this YouTuber ever go to the far south side?

Chicago Yimby: Finalist Revealed For Roseland RFQ Along Red Line Extension

Check out the two proposals to develop the long vacant lot on the southwest corner of 115th & Michigan which used be home to a retail strip back in the day. The development would be perfect for the soon to come CTA Red Line extension where a stop would be located nearby.

A grocery store would be a good pick-up for that corner and certainly a cafe or restaurant. In addition to whatever retail that may come there will be some housing with some green space. And then of course a park & ride for those who will be taking the Red Line.

When you see these proposals what are your thoughts? What would like to see at 115th & Michigan?

Checkers on 95th

Closed Checkers in March 2025

What's going on here? I've noticed this for a few months and had the inclination to do a post about it.

This is a great spot for a business, particularly a food business. It's walkable for those who want to get food nearby and of course there are commuters with all the buses that go by 95th & Michigan on a daily basis and then let's not forget about the CTA Red Line.

Back in 2017 it was last a KFC which has been in this spot for as long as I could remember, however, they closed down and a Checkers took over not too long after that. Now to see it vacant and abandoned again.

At least we still have the Burger King across the street on 95th Street.