Chicago Transit Authority 
ORANGE LINE EXTENSION ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS STUDY
SCREEN 2 BOARDS


BOARD:  FTA’S Required New Start Process

Flow chart of the New Start Process: Concept Development, Alternatives Analysis Study (present stage), Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Impact Statement, Final Design, Construction, then Operation.


BOARD: Purpose and Need

-- Transportation Needs
* Relieve roadway, bus and passenger congestion at Midway Airport Orange Line station
* Better accommodate tremendous growth in employment opportunities along Cicero Avenue and air travel at Midway since the opening of the Orange Line in 1993
* Reduce lengthy bus trips to access Orange Line 
* Alleviate traffic congestion due to expected growth in study area population and employment

-- Opportunity for Improvement
* Extend rapid transit service south from Midway Airport Orange Line Terminal  
* Improve access to, within, and beyond study area
* Support economic development and job opportunities
* Shorten transit travel times through faster and more direct routing


BOARD:  Study Area

Map:  Map that highlights the study area.  The study area is bounded by 79th Street in the south, 59th Street / Midway Orange Line Station in the north, Pulaski road to the east, and Laramie Avenue as the western boundary.


BOARD:  Community Participation 

Community participation is one of the key components of the alternative analysis

-- Community Outreach
* General Public
* Elected and Appointed Officials
* Community and Civic Organizations
* Faith-based organizations
* Local and state Agencies

-- Ongoing Public Involvement / Input
* Meetings announced through public notices and advertisements
* Project updates on the CTA web site: www.transitchicago.com.  Accessible at local libraries


BOARD: Universe of Corridors and Profiles Considered

List of corridors Identified: Cicero Avenue, Belt Railway / Cicero Avenue, Belt Railway / Kostner Avenue, Pulaski Road

List of Profiles:  At-grade, Elevated, Trench, Underground

List of technologies:   Automated Guideway/Monorail, Bus Rapid Transit, Commuter Bus, Commuter Rail, Heavy Rail Transit, High Speed Rail, Light Rail Transit, Local Bus, MagLev,
Personal Rapid Transit, Streetcar


BOARD:  Screen 1 Findings

-- Bus Rapid Transit,  Cicero Avenue Corridor, at-grade
-- Heavy Rail Transit, Cicero Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor, elevated and trench
-- Heavy Rail Transit, Kostner Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor, elevated and trench


BOARD:  Screen 2 – Step 1:  Alternatives Definition 

-- Transportation System Management (incorporate BRT), Cicero Avenue  , at grade, no exclusive lanes, 1 station and 2.3 route miles
-- Heavy Rail Transit, Cicero Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor, elevated and trench, 1 station and 2.2 route miles
-- Heavy Rail Transit, Kostner Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor, elevated and trench, 1 station and 2.2 route miles


BOARD:  Screen 2 – Step 2:  Evaluation Findings 

Table illustrating the Step 2 Detailed Evaluation

-- The TSM alternative offers benefits in capital costs and operation and maintenance costs, but is less advantageous under the transportation criteria analysis 
-- The HRT Belt Railway/Cicero corridor offers benefits in transportation and ridership
-- The HRT Belt Railway/Kostner corridor offers benefits for transportation and ridership, but is not beneficial for physical and capital costs.

The Heavy Rail Transit, Cicero Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor is the Locally Preferred Alternative.



BOARD:  Screen 2 recommendation:  Locally Preferred Alternative 

-- The Heavy Rail Transit, Cicero Avenue  / Belt Railway Corridor, elevated and trench, 1 station and 2.2 route miles  is the Locally Preferred Alternative
-- Map illustrates the aforementioned corridor.  



BOARD:  Aerial Map Board – Heavy Rail Alternative

The HRT alternative begins at the Midway Station and continues south on the Belt Railway right-of-way.  The tracks cross under 59th Street and then return to grade level.  Near 62nd Street, the tracks begin to go into a trench to cross under 63rd Street.  North of 64th Street, the tracks return to grade level.  Near 66th Street, an elevated structure begins for the HRT extension.  The tracks are elevated over 67th Street and afterwards, near Hurley School, veer southwest to cross the BRC Clearing Yard.   There is an elevated structure over the BRC Clearing Yard.  South of the yard, the HRT joins up and travels in the center median of Cicero Avenue, remaining elevated.  The southern terminal is on Cicero Avenue near 7600 South Cicero Avenue.

Also drawn is an alternative alignment where the HRT corridor veers east south of 67th Street to cross the BRC Clearing yard.  South of the BRC Clearing Yard, the HRT corridor is above Kostner Avenue and terminates at or around 7600 South Kostner Avenue.