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PURPLE LINE continues downtown weekday rush periods Linden Central Noyes Foster Davis Dempster-Skokie Dempster Main Oakton-Skokie South Blvd Howard YELLOW LINE Jarvis Morse Loyola Granville Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project Thorndale SUMMARY Chicago, Illinois | April 2015 Chicago Transit Authority Bryn Mawr Berwyn Cumberland O'Hare Harlem Rosemont BLUE LINE Argyle edzie Kimball K Lawrence Jefferson Park Wilson t Montrose Montrose r Sheridan Irving Park Irving Park aulina Southpo Addison Addison P Addison Belmont Belmont Wellington Logan Square Diversey California Fullerton Sedgwick Western Armitage y- Damen North/Clybourn Clark/Division ark ator v Division ark o eland Chicago Chicago Chicago ustin Merch edzie Grand Grand A Cicer Central P Conser Central Oak P Laramie Pulaski Harlem/Lake Ridg K Mart GREEN LINE See ornia ark gan Downtown ark o f Cali Inset Ashland Mor estern ustin edzie- W A Cicer Oak P Harlem Homan K Pulaski District Illinois Medical Forest P BLUE LINE Polk Harrison UIC- Roosevelt 18th Racine Halsted PINK LINE Cermak-Chinatown o ark ornia edzie Halsted estern ostner r Cice ORANGE LINE K Damen Pulaski K W f Cali Ashland Central P 54th/Cermak 35th/Archer Sox-35th 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Indiana 43rd Kedzie 47th 47th Western 51st Pulaski Garfield RED LINE Garfield Midway GREEN LINE 63rd GREEN LINE Ashland Branch d East 63rd Branch 69th lem-bound Halsted King Dr rove 79th e G g boarding only Har 87th June 2014 Ashland/63r Cotta 95th/Dan Ryan PROJECT SUMMARY Introduction and Project Overview The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is undertaking an initiative to completely rebuild the northern portion of the Red Line from Belmont station to Howard station and the Purple Line from Belmont station to Linden station. The Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program would fully replace old, deteriorating infrastructure and stations along Chicago’s busiest rail line, paving the way for CTA to significantly increase train capacity and improve service for generations to come. RPM Phase One This massive, multistaged program would be completed in phases and would provide riders with all the benefits of modern service and infrastructure when complete. As part of the program, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and CTA have been analyzing proposed improvements to the line. Phase One of the RPM Program includes the Red-Purple Bypass Project and the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project. Within the RPM corridor, Phase One also includes corridor signal and other interim track improvements, which are not anticipated to have any significant environmental impacts. CTA is developing preliminary designs for these interdependent projects, while each undergoes separate environmental review. This Environmental Assessment (EA) covers the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project. Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project The Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project would include reconstruction of approximately 1.3 miles of the existing rail line from Leland Avenue on the south to near Ardmore Avenue on the north. The four stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr) in this segment would be rebuilt, expanded, and modernized, while adding elevators that provide access for people with disabilities and improve convenience for the elderly and riders with carts, strollers, and bags. The proposed project would increase passenger capacity and station access along the corridor, expand platforms and stairways, and replace and modernize crumbling embankment walls and bridge structures. In 2014, over 5 million transit trips began at these stations. Despite recent station improvements, the main support structures, which were built over 90 years ago, are outdated and have never been replaced. The proposed improvements would modernize the infrastructure and also allow CTA to accommodate more riders, including riders with disabilities. Project Summary About this Summary Linden Central Noyes Foster Davis Dempster Main South Blvd Howard Jarvis FTA and CTA have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Lawrence Morse to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project. The EA is a federally mandated document that evaluates the significance of impacts of the transportation project proposal. Loyola This summary provides an overview of the content and process used to prepare Granville the EA. Thorndale Contents of this project summary include the following: Bryn Mawr • The purpose and need for the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project Berwyn • A summary of the planning process and alternatives that led to this project proposal Argyle • A description of the proposed project, identified as the Build Alternative Lawrence • A summary of the potential benefits and impacts of the Build Alternative, along Wilson with proposed mitigation measures for adverse impacts • An overview of the public outreach and process Sheridan • Project commitments and next steps Addison Belmont Purpose of the Environmental Assessment (EA) Process The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 The EA provides a detailed assessment of social, (NEPA) is a federal law that mandates the economic, and environmental impacts of the Fullerton consideration of environmental impacts before proposed project and recommends measures to Sedgwick approval of any federally funded project that may address the identified impacts. have significant impacts on the environment or Following public feedback on the EA, FTA will issue where impacts have not yet been determined. a finding on the proposedNo rtprojecth/Cly bbasedourn on the Clark/Division The NEPA process provides a decision-making significance of impacts identified during the NEPA framework to consider the purpose and need for a process. The finding will guide future planning and Chicago Chicago proposed action, potential design solutions, project implementation of the project. costs, and relative benefits. Merch Grand Mart 2 Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project See Downtown Project Summary Project Purpose and Need Project Purpose Need for the Project The purpose of the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr • Peak ridership demand exceeds existing Modernization Project is to provide continued infrastructure capacity, both on the line and at high-speed transit service connecting Chicago’s stations. North Side and northern suburbs to the Loop • A substantial number of transit customers rely and the rest of the Chicago metropolitan area. on the existing train line to connect Chicago’s The project will expand capacity to meet growing North Side and northern suburbs with the Loop ridership demand, while reducing train travel (Chicago’s central business district) and the rest times and improving access to the system for of the metropolitan area. people with disabilities. • Passenger crowding is common on trains and The capacity expansion would have the added platforms. benefit of bringing the aging rail infrastructure • Existing infrastructure is substantially past its into a state of good repair, thereby improving expected lifespan. efficiency and service reliability. Providing modern amenities at all stations, expanding of passenger • Station improvements are needed to ensure capacity, and enhancing speed and reliability ADA accessibility. would address safety and accessibility concerns • Maintaining safe operating conditions becomes and extend the useful life of the system. more difficult and costly as the infrastructure ages. Red Line – Over 90Years of Service Lawrence station, 1940s, looking east. Chicago Transit Authority Argyle station, 1940s, looking west. Photo Courtesy of Chicago Berwyn station, 1957, looking east. Chicago Transit Authority History Museum Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project 3 Project Summary Alternatives Development Process The proposed project evaluated in this EA was developed and evolved through a multiyear planning process that began in 2009. From 2009 to 2013, CTA has continued to refine the Build Alternative based on technical analyses and through continual dialogue with the community. 2009–2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Research and RPM Phase One NEPA Scoping Alternatives RPM Vision Study Concept Design Definition and NEPA Process Refinement Process Reviews • 2009–2010: CTA conducted a vision study • 2012: CTA held two community update meetings between fall 2009 and fall 2010 to understand in early 2012, which allowed attendees to the public’s priorities and concerns, conduct an learn about refined alternatives for the RPM existing conditions analysis, and frame project corridor based on public scoping, review project alternatives. This analysis helped define the information, and clarify their understanding of the purpose and need for the project and included a project and environmental process. high-level evaluation of potential improvements • 2013: During 2013, CTA conducted additional to the corridor. The process included four public research and a conceptual design process to look meetings attended by over 300 people, a website, at ways to further minimize environmental impacts. a comment period, and a direct mail survey sent In late 2013, FTA and CTA developed a tailored out to over 11,000 residents and businesses along approach for phased improvements to the RPM the corridor. corridor • 2011: In January 2011, the NEPA scoping • 2014: CTA announced the Lawrence to Bryn process began. The purpose of this process Mawr Modernization Project to the public in April was to inform the public about the project and 2014. Throughout spring 2014, CTA held a number gather input on the scope of the environmental