Mayor Johnson, CTA and CPS Launch Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Construction Careers (Chicago, IL) – Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Public Schools announced a new scholarship initiative aimed at helping economically disadvantaged students pursue college degrees and careers tied to construction, engineering and infrastructure development.
The new “CTA Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund” was created in partnership with Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, the lead contractor for the CTA’s $5.7 billion Red Line Extension project, and nonprofit organization Chicago Scholars.
The $250,000 scholarship program will provide three students annually with $3,000 scholarships from 2026 through 2030. Scholarships will be renewable for up to five years of college and administered by Chicago Scholars, an organization focused on supporting high-achieving, under-resourced and first-generation students through the college process.
“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,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “This critical support will propel high-achieving young people to pursue high-demand careers while strengthening our workforce.”
CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said the scholarship program reflects the broader goals of the Red Line Extension project beyond transportation improvements.
“This scholarship program embodies what the Red Line Extension is all about: creating opportunity and unlocking potential for Chicago’s future,” Leerhsen said. “It will help create pathways to careers for the next generation of engineers and builders who will help shape our city for decades to come.”
CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King said the program will help ease financial burdens for students seeking higher education opportunities.
“Many of our students are talented and hardworking but lack the financial resources to pursue their goals of a college education,” King said. “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 also emphasized the importance of developing future leaders from communities directly impacted by the Red Line Extension project.
“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, project manager for the Red Line Extension.
Eligible students must live in or attend high school within Red Line Extension project ZIP codes and plan to pursue degrees in engineering, architecture, construction management or related fields at four-year colleges or universities. Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement and financial need.
Applications are open through May 31, 2026, with scholarship recipients expected to be announced this summer.
The Red Line Extension project will extend CTA rail service 5.5 miles south from the 95th Street Terminal to near 130th Street. Plans include four new accessible stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue near 116th Street, and 130th Street, along with a new rail yard and upgraded transit infrastructure.
Construction is expected to be completed by 2030.
Mayor Johnson, CTA and CPS Launch Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Construction Careers
