FACT SHEET | Winter 2017

FOREST PARK BRANCH Vision Study

CTA Blue Line Forest Park Branch Vision Study Approaching Conclusion

The Transit Authority (CTA) initiated the Blue Line Forest Park Branch Vision Study as an opportunity to examine the branch as a whole and determine the best way to serve future ridership. CTA looked at the needs of the transit corridor, specifi cally evaluating existing infra- structure conditions, transit markets and service patterns to provide recommendations for the branch going forward. CTA Blue Line Vision Study Area

64 North Ave OAK PARK BERKELEY RIVER UP-N

FOREST Metra MD-N 1st Ave 1st

Vision Ave 25th CHICAGO

5th Ave 5th 50

Pulaski Rd Pulaski

Austin Blvd Austin Laramie Ave Laramie 43 Ave Park Oak

171 Ave Western

La Salle St. State St State BELLWOOD Ave Ashland Prairie Path MAYWOOD

Study Process Madison St 294 290 STEP ONE: 290 HILLSIDE Rd Mannheim

17th Ave 38 Roosevelt Rd St Canal Data Collection and Existing Ave 94 FOREST CICERO Ogden Ave

Wolf Rd Wolf PARK

WESTCHESTER BERWYN Ave Cicero Conditions Assessment BROADVIEW Racine 90

Cermak Rd

Central Ave Central Harlem Ave Harlem This stage of the study development Ave Ridgeland process included: Assessing Legend North existing conditions and defi ciencies Existing CTA Rail/Station Access Pink Line IL Prairie Path Multi-Use Trail River within the study area corridor; Green Line Metra Line/Station Study Area Boundary reaching out to local stakeholders and other interested parties about Starting in 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) began its I-290 (Eisenhower the study; and hosting a public open house to identify study area issues/ Expressway) Phase I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Study within the multimodal concerns. corridor adjacent to the CTA Forest Park Branch of the Blue Line. When CTA began the Vision Study in 2013, CTA and IDOT coordinated planning eff orts as well as CTA participation in IDOT

STEP TWO: project outreach along the corridor. Develop Conceptual Alternatives This stage of the study consisted of the development and analysis of project alternatives. The goal of this step was to identify a series of SPRING 2013 FALL 2013 alternatives and potential solutions Station Concepts Corridor Service Development Evaluation that are suitable to meet study and stakeholder goals that were Study Completion identifi ed in Step One. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

STEP THREE: Data Station Concepts Evaluation Evaluate and Refi ne Alternatives Collection The process continued with the evaluation and refi nement of CONTINUOUS STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH the remaining corridor service Public Meeting/Public Hearing IDOT Corridor Advisory Group Meetings (CAG) alternatives.

CTA BLUE LINE VISION STUDY FACT SHEET | WINTER 2017 | Page 2 FACT SHEET | WINTER 2017 | Page 3 Current Recommendations: Conditions Shaped by Stakeholder Outreach On an average weekday the Blue Line Forest Park Improve Customer Experience: Conceptual Rendering Branch carries over 32,000 passengers - nearly 10 Based on the fi ndings of the Blue Line Forest Park Branch Vision Study, million passengers per year. the CTA recommends reconstructing the entire Forest Park Branch.

> ■ More than 20% of the branch operates under Rehabilitate infrastructure, starting with track work (addressing GOALS OF THE slow zones because of track conditions – more persistent slow zones and the need for continual maintenance in VISION STUDY track miles than any other branch in the order to delay increases to slow zone totals) system. Slow zones cause delays, unreliable The Forest Park Branch of the Blue > service and longer travel times for daily Propose wider station platforms and elevator access for each Line is nearly 60 years old and beyond commuters. station on the branch its useful life. The goals of the Forest Park Branch Study include: ■ Only 10% of the track system has been > Propose design features to improve customer experience, replaced, leaving 90% from the original including improved noise and weather protection and Draft Conceptual Rendering • WiderThe Platforms specifi c • Shelter/weatherservice protection installation in 1958. The age of this infrastructure consistent aesthetics between stations • Improve travel times and recommendations are: minimize slow zones leads to poor drainage and the gradual 9 • Bring service back up to design speeds. deterioration to rail ties, tracks and ballast. > Include a turn-back track at Illinois Medical District to • Maintain existing two track confi guration. • Improve station access, ADA accommodate construction phasing ■ Many stations are antiquated and are not • Continue to perform interim slow zone access, safety, comfort and maintenance work on branch as needed accessible to customers with disabilties. > Redesign the Forest Park Branch Terminal, Yard and Shop convenience (short-term). within the current parcel to modernize the maintenance areas ■ Many stations and bridges are approaching the as well as bus and pedestrian connections Specifi c station designs will be developed as • Attract additional ridership end of their useful lives. the project advances. In general, the study ■ The design of the station platforms adjacent to recommends keeping existing station layouts • Spur transit-friendly development I-290 highway leaves customers exposed to for double entry stations. Auxiliary entrances will be added to single entry stations, including throughout the corridor, vehicle noise and harsh weather elements. Cicero, Pulaski and Western, to increase especially as it relates to Pedestrian access to the station access is access to those stations. community interests and needs constrained by the highway access and narrow sidewalks. As the Forest Park Branch shares the right-of- • Improve the customer experience way with I-290, operating within the median ■ The CTA Yard and Shop at the end of the branch at the stations by limiting noise and directly to the south of the expressway are approaching the end of their useful lives and throughout the corridor recommended and weather impacts do not effi ciently support operations necessary to improvements for the Blue Line Forest meet current demand levels on the Blue Line as a whole. Park Branch will continue to be planned in • Provide low-maintenance and coordination with IDOT’s current planning and cost-effective solutions. future phases for the reconstruction of I-290.

Comprehensive Stakeholder Outreach The extensive outreach effort over the last few years has resulted in valuable 2 6 6 2 Numerous Public Stakeholder CTA I-290 Corridor Public CTA stakeholder feedback at each step of the Blue Line Forest Park Branch Vision Meetings* Briefi ngs* Advisory Group Hearings* City of Chicago Stakeholder Open House Study process. Stakeholder comments have informed CTA recommendations and Meetings* Briefi ngs all Public Meeting comments were addressed by CTA. Individuals on the study mailing list received invitations in the mail or via e-mail announcing upcoming meetings and website updates. * with IDOT CTA BLUE LINE VISION STUDY CTA BLUE LINE VISION STUDY FACT SHEET | WINTER 2017 | Page 4

CTA BLUE LINE FOREST PARK BRANCH Vision Study

PROJECT COST ESTIMATES FOR POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Construction start is contingent Next Steps on identifying funding. Costs are based on conceptual planning This study utilized planning funds obtained by CTA, in partnership with study which will be refi ned in the the Village of Oak Park and IDOT. project development process and are estimated at $1.7B in 2016. The CTA will continue working with elected offi cials, local, state, and federal agencies to secure the necessary funding to keep this project progressing. In order to move from study to construction, the project will COSTS INCLUDE: need to transition from the planning phase to the project development • Track and related phase, which includes environmental analyses in compliance with the infrastructure; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and preliminary engineering. Through that process, stakeholders will have additional • Reconstruction of Forest opportunities to provide feedback in regard to improvements to the Park Yard, Shop and Terminal; CTA Blue Line Forest Park Branch. • Upgrade stations from UIC-Halsted to Forest Park; and

• Six power substations.

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