CTA puts its sights on the Circle Line - Transit Update - Chicago Transit Authority - Brief Article

Railway Age, April, 2002

A new "L" route to be called the Circle Line that would allow some Chicago Transit Authority riders to avoid traveling downtown to transfer to other rapid transit lines is being proposed by the CTA.

The more-or-less circular line would cost more than $1 billion and would utilize about six miles of existing track and require construction of 6.6 miles of new right-of-way, mostly in subway. There would be transfer points to every other CTA rail route, except the Skokie Swift, and to every Metra commuter rail line if that agency signs off on the bold proposal. Some passengers could save up to 20 minutes on each trip.

Building the Circle Line would be carried out incrementally, starting with an existing non-revenue connector between CTA's Blue and Green lines that would be restored to passenger service. Phase two would link the Douglas Branch of the Blue Line to the Orange Line. Once the first of these connections is completed, a truncated Circle Line would begin operating and would be expanded as new segments were finished.

The third and last phase would be the priciest and most complex, with a new subway from the Ashland/Lake station to the North/Clybourn stop. Once completed, an estimated 40,000 weekday riders would use the new service.

The Circle Line would have 22 stations, half of which would be new or rebuilt, and the project would be completed over a 10- to 15-year time span.

So far, no funding sources have been identified, although Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said he supports the idea. CTA sources indicate the agency might submit the Circle Line proposal for a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement when TEA-2 1 comes up for renewal next year.

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