Citizens for Appropriate Transportation (CAT)
The Eisenhower Transportation Corridor

RTA’S CORRIDOR STUDY PHASE 2

The Cook DuPage Corridor Action Plan as of September 12, 2008 consists of two different components:

     1. Major Capital Investments

     2. Network Enhancements that are not capital-intensive

The Major Capital Investments include the following eight projects grouped into three categories: (1) Employment Center Access and Collection, (2) I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) / I-88 (Reagan Expressway) Main Line Corridor Projects, and (3) Additional North-South Transit Elements.  The I-290 / I-88 Main Line Corridor Projects have varying endpoints as noted below.  The projects vary widely in projected cost and distance.  The project with the shortest distance is the Blue Line Extension to Maywood (0.6 miles) to the J Line Bus Rapid Transit (40.4 miles).  For more information, go to the RTA’s web site for the Cook-DuPage Transportation Corridor at www.cook-dupagecorridor.com, click on Committees, scroll down to the Technical Committee, and then click on the Cook DuPage Corridor Action Plan (Updated September 12, 2008).

1. Employment Center Access and Collection

     -Elgin-O’Hare East Extension – 4.4 miles

     -J Line BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) – 40.4 miles

     -Mid-City Transitway – 25.3 miles

2. I-290 / I-88 Main Line Corridor Projects

     -Blue Line Extension (with varying end points) - 0.6 to 11 miles

     -I-290 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes (with varying end points) – 4.3 to 9.4 miles

     -I-290 BRT (Bus Rapid Transit (with varying end points) – 7.3 to 12.2 miles

3. Additional North-South Transit Elements

     -I-355 BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) – 25.9 miles

     -Inner Circumferential Rail – 21 miles

The Network Enhancements include:

1. Smart Corridors – key arterials where improvements such as better information, intersection improvements, and traffic management strategies are used to improve traffic flow

2. Connectors – new north-south and east-west bus service with limited stops to create a grid of public transportation service for work and non-work trips.

3. Employment Center Distribution / Circulation Options – improvements to the so-called “last mile” that makes transit a good commute option, to include mini-bus shuttles, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements

4. Strategic Roadway Improvements – improvements to selected arterial roadways

5. Policy Initiatives – to manage the transportation system in a more cost-effective manner

Comments about the Options

1.  The most important project is extending the CTA’s Blue Line because this will increase the people-carrying capacity in the corridor with the least harmful environmental and community impacts.  The CTA Blue Line extension will help large numbers of commuters get through West Cook suburbs with far less negative impacts than widening the Ike for HOV lanes.

2.  The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) wants to add two HOV lanes to the six lanes already there, bringing the total number of lanes to eight.  To meet projected roadway demands, the Eisenhower Expressway would need 12 to 14 lanes, so IDOT’s proposal does not really solve the problem.

3.  Oak Park has over 11,000 people per square mile, so a high performance, multi-modal corridor running through the Village is of great concern because of the negative social and environmental impacts.  Other communities in the corridor would face similar problems.

4.  Some options have HOV lanes, which would harm Oak Park because they are likely to require property acquisition.  Adding lanes to the Eisenhower Expressway will have negative impacts on air and noise pollution, and traffic flow.  Making HOV lanes work properly is difficult for the Eisenhower Expressway for at least four reasons. 

     First, the models conclude three or more passengers are needed in each vehicle in the proposed HOV lanes to achieve the intended time savings.  This requires a driver to pick up and drop off at least two other passengers, which negates the time savings advantage.

     Second, the HOV lanes would end in a general traffic lane east of Austin Boulevard, so the HOV lanes would not extend to downtown Chicago. 

     Third, congestion occurs where the Eisenhower Expressway meets the Dan Ryan Expressway near the UIC Campus.  The HOV lanes would not exist at this location. 

     Fourth, the Eisenhower Expressway ends at the traffic light at Wells Street so traffic can back-up. 

5.  HOV lanes with Bus Rapid Transit would compete with the CTA Blue Line.  The Bus Rapid Transit Line would not have any stops in Oak Park.  The I-290 Bus Rapid Transit service would run in the HOV lanes, so HOV lanes are required to make BRT work.  Adding buses to the traffic flow in the HOV lanes, reduces the number of cars that can be accommodated.

6.  The RTA’s Action Plan assumes upgrades to the three Metra commuter rail lines in the corridor: (1) Union Pacific – West Line (UP-W), (2) Milwaukee District West Line (MD-W), and (3) Burlington North Santa Fe Line (BNSF).  Adding capacity to the three Metra lines will help DuPage and Kane County Commuters get to downtown jobs with less negative impacts in West Cook County suburbs than any project that widens the Eisenhower Expressway

.CAT Home | RTA Corridor Study | RTA Corridor Study Phase 1 | RTA Corridor Study Phase 3