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CTA, Mayor's Office: Local Community Will Work On 95th Street Red Line Station Rehab

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Emanuel Administration says the $20 million project to rebuild and expand the CTA Red Line's 95th Street station will have local community participation from beginning to end.

As WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), who has led protests over what he says is Metra's failure to adequately include minorities in the Englewood flyover rail project, was cautioning the Chicago Transit Authority Monday to make sure minority contractors get work and local people get jobs building the 95th Street station.

CTA Chairman Terry Peterson says absolutely, they will.

"The job fairs that we're going to hold will be on the South Side. One of the locations is going to be at 43rd and Cottage (Grove)," Peterson said. "Whoever the prime contractor, it's going to be in the contract. He has to open up an office on the South Side. The money that he gets, he's got to put it in an African-American bank on the South Side."

Peterson has already held two community meetings on the South Side. He says he and CTA President Forrest Claypool are specifically looking for professional services or other contracts that can be separated out for smaller bidders.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel was blunt on the subject. He told reporters Monday, "We're not going to have a Metra on our watch."

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

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