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Originally Posted by Mr Downtown
Red/Purple Modernization project has a website (and a logo). Scoping meetings to be held the last week of January in four North Lakefront locations.
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There's been a
debate about this on the CTA Tattler website. CTA's identified 6 options, ranging from least to most ambitious.
Quote:
1. No Action Alternative: Maintains the status quo. It includes the absolute minimum repairs required to keep the lines functional. This alternative is used as a basis for comparison for the other alternatives.
2. Basic Rehabilitation Alternative: Provides strategic mix of repairs, rehabilitation and replacement for a useful life of 20 years. All stations would receive a basic level of ADA compliance.
3. Basic Rehabilitation with Transfer Stations Alternative: Same as Basic Rehabilitation Alternative plus the addition of transfer stations at Wilson and Loyola.
4. Modernization 4-Track Alternative: Provides modern amenities at station, increases speed of service, includes new transfer stations at Wilson and Loyola and major repairs, reconstruction and new construction would extend the useful life to 60-80 years.
5. Modernization 3-Track Alternative: Similar improvements as Modernization 4-Track Alternative except with 3-tracks in the North Red Line area and no reverse-commute express service. Includes many of the same station amenities with less right-of-way acquisition.
6. Modernization 2-Track Underground Alternative: Similar improvements as Modernization 4-Track Alternative except with a 2-track subway between Belmont and Loyola and a 2-track elevated between Loyola and Howard.
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Additional details were given in the comments. Alternatives 4 and 5 would entail a total reconstruction of the decaying solid-fill viaduct as a concrete aerial structure, and possible closures of South Blvd, Foster, Jarvis, Thorndale, and/or Lawrence, in conjunction with the opening of new entrances at nearby stations.
Alternative 6 would build a subway between Belmont and Loyola with a portal just north of Belmont, then running underneath Sheffield/Sheridan to Broadway, then up Broadway to Loyola where it would return to aerial structure. New stations would be built at Addison, Irving Park, Wilson, Foster, Bryn Mawr, Glenlake, and Devon.
I assume cost estimates will be given at the community meetings a week from now. If a two-track subway costs less than a new 4-track elevated, that may be a smart choice. The paring-down of stations and the smoother alignment might result in enough of a speed boost to offset the loss of express service. The life expectancy of an underground concrete subway structure is also extremely long - Chicago won't have to worry about rebuilding the damn thing in another century.
CTA might come up with new alternatives after they receive comments, too. I'd like to see them price out an option with a shorter subway between Belmont and Lawrence to eliminate the Clark Junction conflicts and the dead-man's-curves at Sheridan.