Chapter 2 Transportation Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Page 2-2 Chapter 2: Transportation August 2009 TRANSPORTATION FINDINGS he Central Area is the primary As of the 2000 Census, over 578,000 Temployment center of the region. people traveled into the Central Area Work Process This, along with the development of to work each weekday. More than The Transportation Task Force, new cultural and educational facilities half of these people (52%) used tran- a group of transportation pro- and nearly a decade of unprecedent- sit. fessionals, business leaders and ed growth in residential development, agency representatives working While the Central Loop and West has resulted in significant increases in in the Central Area, reviewed Loop contain the most employment trips into and within the Central Area. and helped to better define and the highest share of transit rid- In addition, numerous completed the strategies and projects en- ers, single-occupancy vehicles pro- or under-construction projects have visioned by the 2003 Plan. In a vided access to the majority of jobs changed transportation patterns in series of four meetings over six in the South Loop, Near South, Near the Central Area. This is reflected in months, the Task Force updated West and Near North districts. Each the most updated transportation and development and transportation of these districts contains a growing ridership data. These findings and trends, reviewed the set of trans- number of jobs. project updates are summarized on portation goals and needs, and the following pages and provide the conducted a comprehensive CTA Ridership basis for the conclusions and recom- rating exercise of the project op- mendations in this Plan. Total weekday boardings at Central tions for the Central Area. Area CTA rail stations grew during the early 2000s, reaching an aver- The results of the rating process Central Area Trends age of more than 200,000 per day. were used to offer guidance on The stations with the most boardings the priority projects and imple- Central Area Work Trips in the Central Area are Clark/Lake mentation strategies needed to During the 1990s, work trips into, (Blue, Loop elevated), Chicago (Red), accomplish the growth and im- out of, and within the Central Area Jackson (Red), Lake (Red), and Grand provement goals of the Plan. increased. Daily work trips within the (Red). Central Area grew by 25% to nearly Comparing 2001 with 2006 data, the 50,000. Metra Ridership CTA rail segments with the highest in- creases in weekday ridership include Weekday ridership on the Metra sys- the Blue Line between LaSalle Street tem grew by 14% overall between Figure 2-1: Central Area Work Trips 2003 and 2008, reaching an average Year 2000 (Change from 1990) and UIC-Halsted (+41%) and the Red Line between Harrison Street and Cer- of more than 325,000 trips system- mak Road (+35%). These correspond wide. with the neighborhoods experiencing the significant residential development Roughly three-quarters of all Metra during the same time period. trips are peak period/peak direction (i.e., a.m. inbound, p.m. outbound), There are nearly as many bus board- but there has been growth in the pro- ings in the Central Area as rail, with portion of reverse commute, midday, an average of more than 160,000 per and evening trips. weekday (this has grown in recent years). The routes with the highest Most Metra trips either begin or end average boardings within the Central at one of the Central Area terminals. Area are: More than 163,000 passengers travel to a Central Area station on an aver- • Route 151 - Sheridan age weekday. • Route 20 - Madison • Route 66 - Chicago Union Station remains the busiest sta- • Route 29 - State tion in the Metra system. Each week- • Route 156 - LaSalle day more than 54,000 people use the Source: U.S. Census station to reach the Central Area. Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Chapter 2: Transportation Page 2-3 August 2009 TRANSPORTATION FINDINGS Amtrak Ridership Ridership at Chicago Union Station reached over 3.1 million during fiscal year 2008, an increase of more than Figure 2-2: Metra System RidershipMetra System Ridership* 50% since 2002. Average Weekday Average Weekday, July-September 350,000 Overall ridership levels are up on Evening each of the train lines in Illinois. In 300,000 Midday particular, increases in service levels 250,000 in the St. Louis and Milwaukee corri- 200,000 dors have driven corresponding rider- Peak Period/ Reverse Direction ship increases on these lines. 150,000 100,000 Peak Period/ Peak Direction River North Resident and Office 50,000 Worker Surveys 0 More than two-thirds (68%) of the 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 residents surveyed as part of the Source: Metra Ridership Reports 2007 River North Multimodal Analy- sis work within the district that would Figure 2-3: Central Area StationCentral Boardings Area CTA Boardings be served by the Carroll Avenue Tran- Average Weekday Average Weekday sitway. Forty percent claimed that the 350,000 proposed Transitway project would lead to a high or very-high increase in 300,000 their transit usage. 250,000 Thirteen percent of the office workers surveyed lived in the immediate area. 200,000 Thirty-two percent claimed that the 150,000 project would lead to a high or very- high increase in their transit usage. 100,000 Both residents and office workers 50,000 rank the same factors as the most important to increasing their transit 0 usage: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 • Increased service frequency; Rail Bus* • Reduced travel time; and * Detailed bus boarding data unavailable prior to 2007 Source: CTA • More convenient routes. Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Page 2-4 Chapter 2: Transportation August 2009 proJECT statUS UPDatE he 2003 Central Area Plan iden- Streetscape and Lighting Program: Ttified a range of transportation CDOT’s Streetscape and Lighting projects. Progress has been made on Program has primarily targeted pe- many of these projects, described as destrian streets in the Central Loop, follows. expanding and upgrading sidewalks and crosswalks, as well as installing decorative lighting, street plantings Completed Projects and furniture. Recently completed (2001-2006) streets include: Rapid Transit Station Moderniza- • Washington Street tion: This CDOT program continues • Randolph Street to upgrade key CTA rapid transit sta- tions in the Central Area, creating a East Wacker Drive Reconstruction: more pleasant and functional envi- Both levels of Wacker Drive were Image 2-1: Jackson/State/Dearborn CTA Subway Station Modernization ronment for transit customers. Up- reconstructed between Michigan grading stations to include ADA-com- Avenue and Lake Street to include pliant access is also included. Station improved traffic operations and more upgrades in the Central Area since public open space adjacent to the Riv- 2001 include: er. (Note: A second phase is planned for the north-south portion of Wacker, • Lake/State south of Lake Street) • Jackson/State/Dearborn • Chicago/State Installation of Signal Interconnects Metra Millennium (Randolph) Sta- and Cameras: Interconnected signals tion Modernization: The terminal enable the City to coordinate traf- station for the Metra Electric and fic movements on the existing street South Shore commuter rail lines was grid and improve traffic flow. Recent upgraded to include new access and installations have been completed in Pedway connections. the Loop and River North, and instal- lations are underway in Streeterville Metra North Central Service (NCS) and the West Loop. Expansion, Union Pacific-West and Image 2-2: Metra Millennium (Randolph) Riverwalk Expansion: The recon- Station Modernization Southwest Service Line Extensions: Metra has continued to expand its struction of Wacker Drive and con- service levels and regional coverage tinued residential development along area. Recent upgrades of the NCS the North branch of the Chicago Riv- increased the number of daily trains er have allowed for the construction into Chicago Union Station, and ex- of portions of the Riverwalk through tension projects were recently com- these areas. pleted on the Southwest Service to Manhattan and the Union Pacific- Millennium Park Bicycle Station: West Line to Elburn. Service levels The new bicycle station at Millenni- were also expanded on the South- um Park includes parking and locker west Service, increasing the number facilities for commuters. The success of trains from 15 to 30 per day. of this station indicates the need for additional bicycle commuter stations CTA Pink Line Upgrades: An upgrade in other portions of the Central Area. of this elevated branch on the City’s west side was completed in 2005, with new stations and expanded train Image 2-3: Washington Street Streetscape capacity to the Loop. Chicago Central Area ACTION Plan Chapter 2: Transportation Page 2-5 August 2009 proJECT statUS UPDatE Projects Under Construction or Nearing Completion (2007-2008) Rapid Transit Station Moderniza- tion: Reconstruction of the CTA Grand/State Red Line subway station began in 2008. Streetscape and Lighting Program: Projects underway include Wa- bash Avenue (from Wacker Dr. to Roosevelt Road), Michigan Avenue (from Roosevelt Rd. to 24th Place), and DesPlaines Street (from Roosevelt Rd. to Polk St.). Metra Roosevelt Station: The Metra Electric and NICTD South Shore Line station located at the south end of Image 2-4: Expansion of the Riverwalk System - New Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Wabash Plaza Grant Park is being rebuilt by CDOT to improve aesthetics and accessibility. CTA Brown Line Reconstruction: The ongoing reconstruction of the Brown Line will improve stations along the line and expand capacity for eight-car trains. Airport Express Terminal: A transit terminal at 108 North State (north- west corner of State and Washington) ProposedImagesProposed Mezzanine2-5 Mezzanine and 2-6: CTA Rapid Transit Station ModernizationProposedProposed Platform Platform Grand/State Subway is the future location of dedicated ex- press service to O’Hare and Midway Proposed BRT Corridors Airports.