West Pullman Celebrates Red Line Extension Milestone as Construction Set to Begin in 2026

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/West Pullman · November 23, 2025

West Pullman residents are celebrating a significant transportation milestone as the Red Line Extension project moves forward, with construction officially scheduled to begin in 2026. The Red Ahead program, which will extend the Red Line south to 130th Street, will bring a new station at Michigan Avenue in West Pullman, with completion targeted for 2030.

The transformative project includes comprehensive improvements beyond just train service. Cottage Grove Avenue will be extended southbound from E 115th Street to E 130th Street with enhanced lighting and visual elements. Additionally, the areas around E 115th Street and S. Cottage Grove Avenue will see significant train station improvements alongside retail development. The new elevated rail line will connect 95th/Dan Ryan to a terminal station at 130th Street, serving Far South Side neighborhoods including West Pullman.

"It's more than trains and tracks — it's about opportunity," shared Marcus T., a Pullman small business owner. "With better transit, we can grow as a community and bring in more business." As the project advances, community leaders and residents are invited to learn more about the development timeline and provide input at the upcoming West Pullman Neighborhood Association meeting on November 30 at the local library branch, where representatives will discuss how improved transportation infrastructure will create new economic and social connections throughout the neighborhood.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Pullman,_Chicago
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Ahead
3. https://www.servicios-legales-ltd.com/abogados-chicago-blog/2025/03/26/red-line-extension-progress/