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Posted: Wednesday, 12 August 2009 7:14AM
CTA staff says extend Orange, Red lines
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CHICAGO (STNG) -- The Chicago Transit Authority's staff on Wednesday will recommend to the CTA board that the Red, Orange and Yellow rapid transit lines be extended.
The staff proposes completing the original Orange Line plans by extending the line beyond Midway Airport to Ford City shopping center, 76th Street and Cicero Avenue, and extending the Red Line south to 130th Street from its current southern terminus at 95th Street.
Also suggested is continuing the Yellow Line/Skokie Swift beyond the Dempster Street station, north to Old Orchard shopping center.
The CTA's staff has been studying the proposed extensions for three years. The now-completed first phase of the study included looking at "all possible options," including using bus routes instead of rail for the extensions, according to CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney.
Even if the CTA board approves the recommendations, it would be years before the three el lines could be extended.
First, the CTA would go to the Federal Transit Administration to seek funding. The cost of the proposed Red Line extension alone is an estimated $1.1 billion, according to a preliminary CTA study.
The next phase would be to complete an environmental impact study. That would be followed by a preliminary engineering study, then design work and finally construction.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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