Citizens for Appropriate Transportation (CAT)

Terraces at East Avenue

CAT Home | Previous Photo | Next Photo | Photo Index

The landscaped terraces between the through lanes are a political compromise from the 1950’s. The original plan was to construct ramps at East Avenue. The state agreed not to construct ramps and the Village of Oak Park agreed to a design that would allow ramps to be constructed in the future. So far, the ramps have not been needed. Ascension Church with its copper dome is in the background.

The ramp stubs are only on the east side of the because the Traditional Commute (inbound to the Loop in the morning and outbound from the Loop in the evening) was dominant in the 1950’s. The Reverse Commute was very small in the 1950’s, so there was no need for ramp stubs on the west side of East Avenue. Residential areas in Oak Park are very close to the Expressway.