In August 2005, President Bush signed a new federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, into law. Included in SAFETEA-LU are “New Starts” projects – major transit projects eligible for federal funding.
By Guest Author- June 7, 2006
Existing Full Funding Grant Agreements in SAFETEA-LU CTA - Blue Line Rehabilitation
CTA - Brown Line Capacity Expansion
Metra - Union Pacific West Line Extension
Metra - Southwest Service Extension and Expansion
Metra - North Central Service Expansion
Service Board Projects Authorized for New Starts Funding Pace - Cermak Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Pace - Golf Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
CTA - Red Line Extension
CTA - Yellow Line Extension
CTA - Orange Line Extension
CTA - Chicago Transit Hub (Circle Line & Ogden/Carroll Transitway)
Metra - STAR Line
Metra - Union Pacific West Line Upgrade
Metra - Union Pacific Northwest Line Upgrade
Metra - South East Service Line
Other Projects Authorized as New Starts Metra/BNSF Naperville to Aurora Corridor Extension and Improvements
Metra/South Suburban Airport Commuter Rail Extension
Metra/West Line Extension, Elgin to Rockford
Ottawa - Illinois Valley Comuter Rail Extension
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Metra Commuter Rail Extension