Red Line Extension Project
About the Project: Alternatives
Several alternatives, which included alternative routes and alternatives to rail transit, were considered during the Alternatives Analysis process. The alternatives were then narrowed down through public and agency feedback to the four alternatives described here.
Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) Alternative – Locally Preferred Alternative
The proposed Union Pacific Railroad HRT Alternative would extend the heavy rail transit line from the existing Red Line 95th Street Station to 130th Street.
Summary:
The Locally Preferred Alternative would operate on an elevated structure that heads south from 95th Street along the I-57 Expressway for nearly one-half mile until reaching the UPRR corridor in the vicinity of Eggleston Avenue. It would then turn south along the UPRR corridor to approximately 111th Street where it would turn southeast. East of South Prairie Avenue, the alignment crosses over the Canadian National/Metra tracks near 119th Street, where it transitions to an at-grade profile and then continues southeast along the former Michigan Central/Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) railroad right-of-way to terminate in the vicinity of130th Street.
The Locally Preferred Alternative would include the following features:
- Transportation improvements that are already in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Fiscal Year 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as described in the No Build Alternative below
- Heavy rail transit line extension from 95th Street Station to 130th Street
- 5.3 mile extension with three new intermediate stops at 103rd, 111th and 115th Streets and a new terminal station at 130th Street.
- New Park & Ride and bus terminal facilities at each station
- Bus transit service from the south to serve the new intermediate and terminal stations for speed passenger travel to downtown Chicago
Two alignment options will be studied in the EIS: Tracks could be placed immediately adjacent to the UPRR right-of-way on either the west side (West Side Option) or the east side (East Side Option).
Two options for the 130th Street terminal station will be studied in the EIS: The extension line would continue south along the IHB right-of-way to either a south terminal at 130th Street close to the IHB route or a west terminal station located along the north side of 130th Street to the west of the IHB route.
Map of UPRR alternative
Red Line Extension Project - Locally Preferred Alternative Map - Union Pacific alignment(.pdf)
This map shows the locally preferred alternative for the Red Line Extension Project along the Union Pacific Railroad alignment.
Red Line Extension Project - Locally Preferred Alternative Map - UPRR alignment (text)(.txt)
This is the text-only description of the Red Line Union Pacific alignment alternative map.
Halsted Street Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) Alternative
The proposed Halsted Street HRT Alternative would extend the rail transit line from the existing Red Line 95th Street Terminal station to terminate at the Halsted Street/Vermont Avenue intersection in the vicinity of 127th Street.
Summary:
The Halsted Alternative would operate on an elevated structure between the existing Red Line 95th Street Station and the Halsted Street/Vermont Avenue intersection in the vicinity of 127th Street. The alignment would follow the median of the I-57 Expressway until reaching Halsted Street. It would then turn south onto Halsted Street and continue to Vermont Avenue.
The Halsted Alternative would include the following features:
- Transportation improvements that are already in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Fiscal Year 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as described in the No Build Alternative below
- Heavy rail transit line extension from 95th Street Station to Halsted Street/Vermont Avenue intersection
- 5-mile extension with three new intermediate stops at 103rd, 111th, 119th Streets and a new terminal station at Vermont Avenue.
- New Park & Ride facilities at intermediate and terminal stations
- Bus transit service from the south to serve the new intermediate and terminal stations
Map of Halsted alternative
Red Line Extension Project - Halsted Street alignment alternative map(.pdf)
This map shows the locally preferred alternative for the Red Line Extension Project with a Halsted Street alignment.
Red Line Extension Project - Halsted Street alignment alternative map (text)(.txt)
This is the text-only description of the Red Line Halsted alignment alternative map.
No Build Alternative
The No Build Alternative is defined as the existing transportation system, plus any committed transportation improvements that are already in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Fiscal Year 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). TIP projects within the project area consist of five bridge reconstructions and several road improvement projects that include landscaping, fencing, resurfacing, coordination of signal timing and a bicycle/pedestrian multi-use trail. All elements of the No Build Alternative are included in each of the other alternatives.
Summary:
- Existing transportation system
- Plus committed transportation improvements: bridge and road improvement projects
- Bus transit service focused on the preservation of existing services and projects
Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative
The proposed TSM Alternative is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternative that operates between the 95th Street Station and 130th Street via East 95th Street, Michigan Avenue, East 127th Street, South Indiana Avenue, and East 130th Street. The BRT would operate in mixed traffic and would not include new dedicated bus lanes.
Summary:
The Transportation System Management Alternative would extend the 95th Street terminal to the existing bus bays along State and Lafayette Streets approximately 250 feet north to 94th Street to improve circulation and safety.
The Transportation System Management Alternative would include the following features:
- Transportation improvements that are already in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Fiscal Year 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as described in the No Build AlternativeBRT that operates between the 95th Street Station and 130th Street
- 5.5 miles long with four intermediate stops at 103rd, 111th, 115th and 130th Streets
- Park & Ride facilities proposed at all new stops
- Traffic signal priority along 95th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street
- Existing bus transit service from the south to the 95th Street station