From January, 2009 until October, 2014, I lived in Hegewisch. I did not own a car and got around by bicycle and public transportation. I have biked the area where the Red Line would be extended to and I have read the media coverage of the plan.
As proposed, the Red Line extension is--I suspect--a scam. Hard to believe the agency that brought you Ventra would figure a way to spend public money without delivering public good, but... I have a suggestion that will be cheaper than extending the Red Line and it will be better in some important ways.