Tax Increment Financing District Proposed for Chicago's Big Flyover Transit Project

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is looking for ways to raise local funds to help secure the federal funds necessary for the CTA's Red-Purple Bypass Project.

1 minute read

August 12, 2016, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Thomas Barrat / Shutterstock

"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to propose a special taxing district to secure $600 million in federal loans to pay for the CTA's massive Red-Purple Line modernization project, which includes a controversial flyover north of the Belmont station," reports Mary Wisniewski. The special taxing district would make use of recently approved legislation allowing the creation of new tax increment financing districts.

The necessary funding for the project remains a significant hurdle for the project. "The first phase of the project costs $2.1 billion," according to Wisniewski, but "the CTA can access $1.1 billion in federal funds if it can find a local match for the remainder." Hence the proposed tax increment financing district.

The Red-Purple Bypass project was first pitched in April 2014 as a way to unclog a mid-North Side rail junction of hundreds of Red, Brown and Purple line trains every day. Since then, the project has also received its fair share of criticism.

Infrastructure Transportation Illinois Chicago Red-Purple Bypass Project CTA Chicago Transit Authority Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tax Increment Financing View More

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