Chicago Transit Authority 
YELLOW LINE EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING 
PRESENTATION BOARDS



BOARD:  NO BUILD ALTERNATIVE 

-- Existing transportation system
-- Plus committed transportation improvements in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Transportation Improvement Program including select intersection and road widening projects
-- Focus on preservation of existing bus service



BOARD:  Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternative that operates between the Yellow Line Dempster Station and Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard Mall via Dempster Street, Niles Center Road, Skokie Boulevard, Golf Road and Lavergne Avenue.
-- 1.7 miles with no intermediate stops
-- Operates in mixed traffic with traffic signal priority on the Dempster Street, Niles Center Road, Skokie Boulevard and Golf Road 
portion of the route; no exclusive lanes 
-- New Park & Ride facility at Old Orchard Road
-- Existing bus routes continue regular operation



BOARD:  MAP OF THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE  (LPA)

Map of the locally preferred alternative.  Elevated alignment begins at existing Skokie Swift terminal station at Dempster Avenue.  Alignment follows existing railroad alignment northwesterly.  At I-94, the alignment turns northeast to follow I-94 to a new terminal station at Old Orchard Road. The new station is in the parking lot area of Niles North High School and adjacent to Old Orchard Shopping Mall.



BOARD:  LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE: FIXED GUIDEWAY 

Extend Yellow Line rapid transit from Dempster Station to Old Orchard Road.
-- 1.6 miles with no intermediate stops
-- CTA and Pace bus services would be rerouted to pass through an off-street facility on the east side of the rapid transit station 
-- Two new stations: 
* Dempster Station would be rebuilt to accommodate longer length trains and support bi-directional ridership demand 
* Old Orchard terminal station would be located east of the expressway and in the northwest portion of the Niles North High School property



BOARD:  PROJECT PURPOSE 

-- Improve transit accessibility
-- Provide mobility options by better utilizing existing transportation infrastructure capacity

THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS:

-- There is a significant reverse commute to the project area that is not well served by the current Yellow Line terminal location
-- Travelers on the existing system must make multiple transfers to reach activity and employment centers in the project area
-- Transit alternatives will allow a portion of project area trips to avoid continued growth in arterial street and expressway congestion



BOARD: SUBMIT COMMENTS

-- Scoping comments due by October 27, 2009.
-- Comment on the proposed project alternatives and potential environmental effects.
-- Submit comments to Jeffrey Busby, General Manager, Strategic Planning, Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7602, Chicago, IL 60680-7602 
* Fax: 312-681-4297 
* E-mail: YellowExtension@transitchicago.com



BOARD:  STAY INVOLVED 

-- Visit www.transitchicago.com/YellowEIS
-- To join the mailing list, contact: Darud Akbar, Government & Community Relations Office, Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7567
Chicago, IL 60680-7567
* Fax (312) 681-2796
* E-mail YellowExtension@transitchicago.com