CHICAGO —Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Public Schools today announced the new “CTA Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund,” to provide a path for economically disadvantaged youth who want to go to college and pursue construction and engineering-related careers.
Created in partnership with Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, the contractor for CTA’s historic $5.7 billion RLE project, the new $250,000 scholarship program will provide three students a year from 2026 – 2030 with $3,000 scholarships.
“This scholarship fund is a powerful investment in our students and the development of our workforce, expanding access to the kinds of educational opportunities that open doors and change lives,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This is why investments like RLE are so important to the future of our city.
This critical support will propel high-achieving young people to pursue high-demand careers while strengthening our workforce.“
”This scholarship program embodies what the Red Line Extension is all about: creating opportunity and unlocking potential for Chicago's future,“ saidCTA Acting President Leerhsen. “This fund is about more than financial aid.
It will help to create pathways to careers for the next generation of engineers and builders who will help shape our city for decades to come.”
“Many of our students are talented and hardworking but lack the financial resources to pursue their goals of a college education,” saidCPS CEO Dr. Macquline King. “The CTA Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund helps ease the burden so Chicago young adults can better support their dreams.”
“Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners is proud to invest in students from the Far South Side of Chicago that are interested in pursuing careers in STEAM and construction engineering and management,” said Michael O’Donnell, RLE Project Manager for Walsh-VINCI. “Our vision is that this program will help young people from the project area become the industry leaders of tomorrow and shape Chicago's future.”
Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit that helps high-achieving, under-resourced, and first-generation students navigate the path to college, will administer the scholarships which are renewable for up to five years of college.
Scholarship recipients will be selected based on personal achievements and financial need. They must live and/or attend high school in CTA Red Line Extension project zip codes and plan to attend a four-year college or university and pursue a degree in engineering, architecture, construction management or similar field.
Applications are being accepted until May 31, 2026.
Winners will be announced over the summer.
For more information about our scholarships and to apply, please visit the Chicago Scholars’website.
RLE Project overview
The RLE project will:
Build a 5.5-mile extension of the Red Line starting at 95th Street Terminal to the vicinity of 130th Street.
Include four new accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue (near 116th, and 130th Street, each of which will include bus, bike, pedestrian and parking facilities.
Build a new rail yard and related rail facilities to improve operational efficiency for the entire Red Line and CTA system.
CTA awarded a contract in 2024 to Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners to design and build the RLE project.
The new extension and stations are expected to be completed and in service in 2030.
For more information about the Red Line Extension Project, visittransitchicago.com/rle.