Blue Line Renovation Focus Of New CTA Study

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 21, 2013 2:20PM

The Halsted/UIC Blue Line Station was renovated a decade ago. A new study could pave the way for the first modernization of the rest of the Forest Park Blue Line. (Photo credit: Stephanie Barto)

The Chicago Transit Authority commissioned a feasibility and vision study to assess the future needs of the Blue Line from Clinton Street to its termination at Forest Park. The study, which is being paid for with federal and local funds, could pave the way for a full-scale reconstruction of the Forest Park branch, similar to the ongoing Red Line South reconstruction project.

The Blue Line Forest Park Branch was built in 1958 and riders who rely on it to get to and from the Loop can offer an endless stream of tales about slow zones, equipment failures, decrepit stations and Hobo Corner surprises. Tribune transportation reporter John Hilkevitch writes that the branch’s tracks are long overdue to be replaced. Population shifts in the West side neighborhoods the line services over the decades have been blamed for the slow trips on the branch.

The study is being performed in coordination with the Village of Oak Park and the Illinois Department of Transportation. It will look at short- and long-range plans for modernizing the segment, including Park & Ride access along the Eisenhower expressway, customer access points station and terminal needs and immediate repairs. IDOT is already working on its Circle Interchange Rehabilitation Project to modernize the worst bottleneck area in Chicago’s expressway system. The Forest Park branch shares right of way with I-290.

Even though the study is underway, don’t look for CTA to announce a full-scale reconstruction immediately. They currently don’t have the funds to undertake a project on this scope. For now, they’ll continue to use the spit and bailing wire approach that’s been in place for year.