Chicago Transit Authority RED LINE EXTENSION ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS STUDY SCREEN 1 April 2007 SLIDE: Schedule for Tonight’s Meeting -- Structure of the Meeting -- Questions and answers process * Submit your comments in writing on comment cards * Comments and questions will be grouped and answered by topic * All comments and questions will be addressed on CTA’s website -www.transitchicago.com * An interpreter for the hearing impaired and a translator for the Spanish speaking community is available this evening SLIDE: Tonight’s Speakers Darud Akbar, Moderator ? Chicago Transit Authority Jeffery Busby, Strategic Planning Manager ? Chicago Transit Authority Ronald Shimizu, Red Line Study Area Manager ? Parsons Brinkerhoff SLIDE: Outline of Presentation -- Describe Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Required “New Starts” Process -- Define Alternatives Analysis Study Steps -- Emphasize Importance of Public Involvement Process -- Discuss Status of Red Line Extension Alternatives Analysis Study SLIDE: FTA’S Required New Start Process Flow chart of the New Start Process that shows progress: Concept Development, Alternatives Analysis Study (present stage), Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Impact Statement, Final Design, Construction, then Operation. SLIDE: Alternatives Analysis (AA) Studies -- FTA Requirement for federal funding for transit expansion (New Starts) -- Identifies transit opportunities and ensures all practical solutions are considered -- Ensures planning is consistent among all New Starts projects throughout the country -- Provides opportunity to gather information and receive public input -- Identifies Locally Preferred Alternative SLIDE: Alternatives Analysis Process – Key Steps -- Define Purpose and Need -- Identify all Possible Transportation Alternatives called the “Universe of Alternatives” -- Evaluate Viability of Possible Alternatives through a Screening Procedure -- Identify Locally Preferred Alternative -- Conduct Public Involvement throughout this process SLIDE: Public Involvement Process -- Key component of the Alternatives Analysis (AA) study -- Opportunity to provide information and receive public input * Your comments are needed to complete this screening process -- Community outreach * General public, elected officials, community and civic 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 public libraries NEW SECTION: STATUS OF STUDY SLIDE: Purpose and Need -- Significant Bus and Passenger Congestion at 95th Street Red Line Station -- Lengthy Bus Trips to Access 95th Street Red Line Station -- Far South Area Residents Experience 20% Longer Commute Times than Rest of City -- Traffic Congestion is expected to grow along with Study Area Population and Employment SLIDE: Opportunity for Improvement -- Extend rapid transit service south from 95th Street Red Line Terminal * Improve access to, within, and beyond study area * Stimulate economic development and job opportunities * Shorten transit travel times through faster and more direct routing SLIDE: FTA’s Evaluation Process The Purpose and Need is first defined, the evaluation criteria are applied, and options within the Universe of Alternatives are eliminated until, at the end of the process, there is a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Flow chart illustrates process of examining a universe of alternatives, application of evaluation criteria, and narrowing options during each screen of the Alternatives Analysis Process to arrive at a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) SLIDE: Evaluation Process – Screening Detail -- Screen 1 – Review Universe of Alternatives * Eliminate alternatives based on technology, corridor and profile * Advance strongest alternatives to Screen 2 -- Screen 2 –More Detailed Definition and Evaluation * Define alignments, forecast transit ridership, calculate capital costs, identify neighborhood resources along the alignment * Evaluate and reduce the number of remaining alternatives -- Screen 3 – Final Evaluation * Refine remaining alternatives * Identify Locally Preferred Alternative SLIDE: Screen 1 Process 1. Define the Universe of Alternatives 2. Evaluate all Potential Technologies 3. Evaluate all Potential Alignments (Corridors and Profiles) 4. Evaluate all Potential Combinations of Technological and Alignment Alternatives 5. Advance Strongest Combinations to Screen 2 NEW SECTION: TECHNOLOGIES EVALUATED SLIDE: Universe of Alternatives Considered – Technologies List of technologies examined: 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 SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed -- Automated Guideway/Monorail Picture: Example of a Monorail SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – Bus Rapid Transit Picture: Examples of Bus Rapid Transit system SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – Commuter Bus Picture: Example of a Commuter Bus SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed -- Commuter Rail Picture: Example of a Commuter Rail train SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – Heavy Rail Transit Picture: Example of Heavy Rail Transit vehicle SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – High Speed Rail Picture: Example of High Speed Rail system SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – Light Rail Transit Picture: Example of Light Rail Transit SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed -- Local Rail Picture: Example of a Local Rail SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed -- MagLev Picture: Example of a MagLev Train SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed – Personal Transit Picture: Example of a Personal Rapid Transit car SLIDE: Technologies Reviewed -- Streetcar Picture: Example of a Streetcar NEW SECTION: CORRIDORS AND PROFILES EVALUATED SLIDE: Universe of Corridors and Profiles Considered -- List of Corridors: I-57 Expressway, Halsted Street, Union Pacific Railroad, Wentworth Avenue, State Street, Michigan Avenue, King Drive, Cottage Grove Avenue / Metric Electric, I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway -- List of Profiles with small renderings: At-grade, Elevated, Trench, Underground SLIDE: Study Area Map: A map which displays the study area with existing CTA rail service and bus routes, Pace bus routes, and the terminus of the Red Line at 95th Street. The study area is bounded by 95th Street to the north, the Cal-Sag Channel/Little Calumet River and 134th Street to the south, Stony Island Avenue to the east, and Ashland Avenue to the west. SLIDE: I-57 Expressway Corridor Map: A map illustrates the I-57 Expressway Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It continues along the I-57 right-of-way to a new terminus at 127th Street. SLIDE: Halsted Street Corridor Map: A map illustrates the Halsted Street Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It follows I-57 southwest to Halsted Street. The corridor joins Halsted Street and extends south to the intersection of Halsted and Vermont Streets. SLIDE: UP Railroad Corridor Map: A map illustrates the UP Railroad Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It follows I-57 southwest to the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. It joins the UPRR right-of-way, following it until about 120th Street, then continuing south to 130th Street near the intersection of I-94. SLIDE: Wentworth Avenue Corridor Map: A map illustrates the Wentworth Avenue Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It briefly follows I-57 southwest to Wentworth Avenue, where it turns onto that street. It follows Wentworth Avenue south to a new terminus at 127th Street. SLIDE: State Street Corridor Map: A map illustrates the State Street Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It continues straight south from 95th Street along State Street to 127th Street. SLIDE: Michigan Avenue Corridor Map: A map illustrates the Michigan Avenue Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It briefly follows I-94 southeast to Michigan Avenue. It turns onto Michigan Avenue, following it until its southern terminus at 127th Street. SLIDE: King Drive Corridor Map: A map illustrates the King Drive Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It heads east on 95th Street to King Drive. It turns right and heads south on King Drive to its southern terminus at 130th Street. SLIDE: Cottage Grove / Metra Electric Corridor Map: A map illustrates the Cottage Grove / Metra Electric Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street. It heads east along I-94 to Cottage Grove Avenue. At Cottage Grove Avenue, the corridor turns south. At approximately 117th Street, the corridor leaves Cottage Grove to use the Metra Electric right-of-way. It continues south along the Metra Electric to 130th Street. SLIDE: I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway Corridor Map: A map illustrates the I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway Corridor. The corridor begins at the Red Line terminal station at 95th Street and continues south / southeast along the I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway right-of-way. The corridor reached is southern terminus near the intersection of 130th Street. SLIDE: Corridors in the AA Study Map: A map illustrates all nine corridors and the Red Line Extension Alternatives Analysis study area. SLIDE: Universe of Alternatives in the Alternatives Analysis Study Flow chart that illustrates the eleven technologies plus nine corridors plus four profiles equals the Universe of Alternatives. The Universe of Alternatives is 398 combinations including No-Build and Transportation Systems Management (TSM). Note that not all technologies can be applied to each alignment. NEW SECTION: SCREEN 1 EVALUATION SLIDE: Screen 1 Evaluation Criteria -- Technologies Evaluation Criteria: Speed, Station Spacing, Customer Capacity, Proven Reliability -- Corridors and Profiles Evaluation Criteria: Social Factors, Transportation Factors -- Technologies, Corridors and Profiles Evaluation Criteria: Effects on Neighborhoods, Physical and Operational Constraints, Opportunities to Access Other Transit Services. SLIDE: Screen 1 Evaluation Process Preliminary Findings -- Technologies that meet the criteria of the Screen 1 evaluation process: * Bus Rapid Transit * Heavy Rail Transit -- Technologies that do not meet the criteria of the Screen 1 evaluation process * Automated Guideway/Monorail * Commuter Bus * Commuter Rail * High Speed Rail * Light Rail Transit * Local Bus * MagLev * Personal Rapid Transit * Streetcar SLIDE: Screen 1 Evaluation Process Preliminary Findings -- Corridors that meet the criteria of the Screen 1 evaluation process: * Halsted Street * Union Pacific Railroad * Michigan Avenue -- Corridors that do not meet the criteria of the Screen 1 evaluation process: * I-57 Expressway * Wentworth Avenue * State Street * King Drive * Cottage Grove Avenue / Metra Electric * I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway SLIDE: Screen 1 Evaluation Process Preliminary Findings -- Bus Rapid Transit, At-grade -- Heavy Rail Transit, Elevated -- Heavy Rail Transit, Underground -- Heavy Rail Transit, Trench SLIDE: Screen 1 Evaluation Process Preliminary Findings Flow chart that illustrates two technologies plus three corridors plus two profiles equals the Universe of Alternatives moving forward. The Universe of Alternatives is 10 combinations including No-Build and Baseline. Note that not all technologies can be applied to each alignment. Moving to Screen two are: the two technologies, Bus rapid Transit and Heavy Rail Transit; three corridors, Halsted, UPRR and Michigan; and four profiles, at-grade, elevated, trench, and underground. NEW SECTION: NEXT STEPS SLIDE: Next Steps -- Incorporate public comments -- Confirm "Screen 1” preliminary findings -- Refine the alternatives -- Continue public involvement * Sign-in cards will be used to create a contact list to send notices and updates * Meetings announced through car cards, customer alerts, local media, and contact list * Project updates on CTA web site – www.transitchicago.com SLIDE: Screen 1 Meeting Schedule -- Tuesday April 10, 2007 6 – 8 pm Chicago State University New Academic Library 4th Floor Auditorium 9501 South King Drive Chicago, Illinois -- Wednesday April 11, 2007 6 – 8 pm West Pullman Branch Chicago Public Library Community Room 830 West 119th Street Chicago, Illinois SLIDE: Questions and Comments -- CTA representatives are available to answer additional questions -- Written comments and questions accepted through May 11, 2007 -- Contact information: Mr. Darud Akbar, Chicago Transit Authority, Government and Community Relations P.O. Box 7567 Chicago, IL 60680-7567 dakbar@transitchicago.com CTA Customer Service: 1-888-YOUR-CTA TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY1