03/19/07
Chicago Transit Authority will hold public meetings next month to receive input on the proposed extension of the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line. The meetings are part of a federally required Alternatives Analysis study.
The Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program requires transit project proposals to proceed through a process of planning, design and construction. The FTA process consists of five formal steps: Alternatives Analysis, Environmental Impact Statement, Preliminary Engineering, Final Design and Construction. The Alternatives Analysis study is designed to examine all the transit options available and determine a locally preferred alternative.
Extending the Red Line from its existing south terminal at 95th Street to a new terminal at 130th Street would streamline bus-to-rail connections for 12 CTA bus routes and four Pace routes and could also connect the line with the South Shore commuter rail line and Metra's proposed Southeast service commuter rail.
Meeting dates and venues are:
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
6:00 p.m. " 8:00 p.m.
Chicago State University
New Academic Library
4th Floor Auditorium
9501 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60628
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
6:00 p.m. " 8:00 p.m.
West Pullman Chicago Public Library
830 W. 119th St.
Chicago, IL 60628
All venues are accessible to people with disabilities.
In September 2006, the Chicago Transit Board approved a
$3.5 million contract to perform Alternatives Analysis studies for the proposed rail line extensions on the Chicago Transit Authority's Red, Orange and Yellow Lines. The Alternatives Analysis study is being conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc., one of the world's largest planning, engineering, and program and construction management organizations with more than 150 offices worldwide.
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