Transportation for Illinois Coalition

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Transportation for Illinois Coalition Third
Annual Meeting September 20, 2006
On the web at metraconnects.metrarail.com
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Metra Significantly Reduces Highway Congestion
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Metra

• During the 3-hour morning peak, Metra carries 50
  of the trips in the busiest expressway corridors
• Without Metra, 29 lanes of expressway would need
  to be built

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Federal Transportation Authorizations Metra
Projects

• ISTEA (1991)
• - NCS Startup
• TEA-21 (1998)
• - NCS Upgrade
• - UP-W Extension
• - SWS Extension Upgrade

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North Central Service Improvements
Grand-Cicero
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UP-West Extension
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SWS Extension Improvements
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Federal Transportation Authorizations Metra
Projects

• ISTEA (1991)
• - NCS Startup
• TEA-21 (1998)
• - NCS Upgrade
• - UP-W Extension
• - SWS Extension Upgrade

• SAFETEA-LU (2005)
• - UP-W Upgrade
• - UP-NW Upgrade
• - SouthEast Service
• - STAR Line

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Concept Development
New Starts Process
Alternatives Analysis
We are here
Preliminary Engineering
Environmental Analysis
Final Design
Construction
Service Begins
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Steps in Alternatives Analysis

• Develop Purpose Need
• Identify Initial Alternatives Screen Initial
  Alternatives
• Further Define as Conceptual Alternatives
• Screen Conceptual Alternatives
• Refine Evaluate Feasible Alternatives
• Select Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)

Public Involvement Throughout
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UP-W Upgrade Alternatives Analysis Study Area
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Union Pacific West Upgrade Primary Rail
Alternative
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UP-NW Upgrade Alternatives Analysis Study Area
Study Area
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Union Pacific Northwest Upgrade Primary Rail
Alternative
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STAR Line AlternativesAnalysisStudy Area
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STAR Line Conceptual Alternatives

• No-Build
• Transportation System Management (TSM)
• Build Alternatives
• 1. Enhanced Express Bus (I-90 IL-59)
• 2. Bus Rapid Transit (I-90 IL-59)
• 3. Commuter Rail (I-90 EJE)
• 4. Multimodal Alt. A (I-90 Rail, IL-59 Bus)
• 5. Multimodal Alt. B (I-90 Bus, EJE Rail)

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STAR LinePrimary Rail Alternative

• Nations first suburb-to-suburb commuter rail
  line
• 55-miles in length
• Operate along EJE RR and I-90
• 18 new stations
• Provide transfers with 4 Metra lines CTA Blue
  Line

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SouthEast Service AlternativesAnalysisStudy
Area
Burnham Calumet City Dolton South
Holland Thornton Glenwood Lansing Chicago Heights
Ford Heights Sauk Village Richton
Park Lynwood Hammond, IN Highland, IN Dyer,
IN Munster, IN Schereville, IN
Riverdale Harvey Hazel Crest East Hazel
Crest Homewood Flossmoor Matteson Park Forest
Crete Steger Beecher Cedar Lake, IN St John, IN
University Park Monee Peotone
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SouthEast Service Conceptual Alternatives

• No-Build
• Transportation System Management (TSM)
• Build Alternatives
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) I-394 I-94
• Commuter Rail UP/CSX

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SouthEast ServicePrimary Rail Alternative

• 33-mile radial line between Chicago (LaSalle St.)
  and south suburbs
• Operate on existing freight commuter rail lines
• Serve 9 new and 2 existing stations

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Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)

• Proposed for use on STAR Line and SES
• Single level (85-100 seats per vehicle)
• Proposed to operate in 2-5 car consists
• 30 saving on fuel maintenance costs vs.
  push-pull operations
• Use truck-type engine

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Next Steps after AA

• Preliminary Engineering
• Environmental Analysis
• Final Engineering
• Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
• Construction

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Proposed Implementation Timeline
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On the web at metraconnects.metrarail.com
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