CTA reports near‑completion of Red Line Extension property acquisitions; agrees IGA with MWRD with multimillion dollar mitigations

CTA infrastructure staff told the Finance Committee the Red Line Extension (RLE) property acquisition program has reached a major milestone: nearly all identified parcels have been acquired or are in final settlement, and staff sought board approvals for several property purchases, relocation payments and an intergovernmental agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).

Acquisitions and relocation payments: Bill Mooney, Chief Infrastructure Officer, reported the RLE acquisition program originally identified just over 200 parcels under Ordinance 022‑118 (passed in October 2022) and that continued design refinement reduced the count to about 193 parcels; with the ordinances presented at the committee the project is essentially "bought out" except for one remaining parcel under final agreement. Staff briefed three specific property approvals and one relocation payment request: - Relocation expenses for property at 11900 South Cottage Grove (uniform relocation act expenses) — CTA confirmed relocation expenses of $5,573,470; board approval required because amounts exceed the $100,000 delegated authority. - Purchase of 411–413 W. 105th Street: negotiated purchase price $1,175,000; relocation expenses estimated not to exceed $580,000 (additional board approval required because purchase price exceeded delegated limit). - Purchase of 12200–12256 S. Cottage Grove: negotiated purchase price $5,600,000 (board approval required). - Purchase of 401–407 W. 104th Street: negotiated purchase price $1,400,000; the owner will retain possession under a post‑possession agreement until June 1, 2026 and indemnify CTA during that period. Mooney said all costs associated with these acquisitions and relocations were accounted for in the existing project budget.

MWRD intergovernmental agreement: Mooney described an IGA to acquire MWRD fee property needed for the RLE alignment and to reimburse MWRD for mitigation and infrastructure work. The IGA includes: - A CTA acquisition of fee property with reserved and reciprocal easements for both parties to maintain access to Kensington Marsh and relocated access roads. - A not‑to‑exceed acquisition cost for the land of $4,490,000. - A reimbursement commitment by CTA for an agreed portion of MWRD work (new pumping station, pipeline connection, relocated gatehouse and security fence) with a not‑to‑exceed value of $45,510,000; eligible reimbursement costs must be submitted before 12/01/2029. - Reciprocal indemnifications for construction and operations.

Board and director discussion: Director Raquel asked for a status update on the acquisition effort and what staff had learned. Mooney said the project had substantial risk due to the size of property takings compared with other CTA projects; acquisitions required negotiations and, in some cases, eminent domain filings to clear title, but staff emphasized they had avoided forcible physical takings. Mooney said maintaining neighborhood equity and protecting generational property value were priorities during negotiations. Directors asked about the remaining parcels and Mooney said only one or two parcels remained outstanding and were moving toward final agreements.

Formal action: The committee placed the purchase and relocation ordinances and the MWRD IGA on the omnibus for board approval. Committee roll calls recorded unanimous yes votes to place those ordinances on the omnibus and to recommend the omnibus for board approval; the full board omnibus later recorded the approvals as part of the omnibus.