Chicago's commitment to innovation and economic development took a significant step forward with the City Council's recent zoning approvals. The move clears the path for two transformative projects: a $5.3 billion extension of the CTA Red Line and the establishment of a quantum computing campus on a historic Far South Side steelworks site.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Red Line extension project is poised to receive a nearly $2 billion federal grant, which represents the largest in the CTA's history. This grant is crucial, as the project's cost surged from $3.6 billion to a remarkable $5.3 billion. Meanwhile, the zoning approval enables the CTA to finally move ahead with the acquisition of properties along the 5.6-mile route which will extend the Red Line to 130th Street, connecting communities previously underserved by the city's public transit system. Nevertheless, concerns loom that federal funding could be in jeopardy upon the upcoming change in presidential administration if an agreement for the full grant amount isn't secured before the end of President Joe Biden's term.
On the technology front, a project has been greenlit that could position Chicago at the forefront of quantum computing. Sun-Times reports the zoning change that converts over 400 acres of the former U.S. Steel facility laying the groundwork for the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park. Centered around the efforts of PsiQuantum, the park aims to give birth to the world's first commercially viable quantum computer and attract other tech innovators, bolstering local economic growth and technological advancements.
Moreover, as detailed by Block Club Chicago, the broader development will not only provide access to parks but also plan to host various businesses related to the Quantum campus. There has been a commitment to the creation of 150 permanent jobs by PsiQuantum with an estimated 20,000 construction jobs over a six-year span. The anticipated project construction phase is set to commence within the first quarter of the upcoming year.
The approval for these projects was not without its controversies; concerns have been raised over potential environmental impacts on an area with a history of industrial pollution. Environmental oversight will be critical, as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, Angela Tovar, explained, assurance has been given that the development team will present their findings on site contamination to state regulators, ensuring mitigation of any environmental concerns.
Community engagement and the prospect of inclusive economic benefit have featured prominently in the dialogue surrounding these projects. Efforts to ensure residents are primed to take advantage of the job opportunities abound, with various educational and training initiatives being proposed. Among these is a 10-week course for high schoolers centered around quantum mechanics and computing, dubbed the Sunday Morning Quantum series, set to launch in the spring. As Russell Ceballos, dean of the Center of Excellence for Engineering and Computer Science at Wilbur Wright College, stated at a recent community meeting, the objective is to develop "transferable skills" in the community that are not limited to quantum computing.
