Published by: Chicago Transit Authority Publishing date: 2002 Editor's Note: Please note that the plan presented below was (as listed above) published in 2002 and is highly conceptual in nature. Like many transportation proposals, it mentions corridors, locations, routes, and modes, but does so in the interest of suggesting options to be explored. As with all federally-funded projects, the CTA® will undertake an extensive alternatives analysis process, including community and inter-governmental input, before deciding on a final plan. (To read CTA's® press release on their Circle Line alternatives analysis, click here.) All alignments, routings, station locations, modes, and timetables discussed below are conceptual and subject to change from when the concept below was first released in 2002. Plan Summary: The Circle Line is an ambitious new proposal for linking all of CTA® and Metra's existing rail lines in Chicago with a single new line that would encircle the city's growing central area. The Circle Line proposal is designed to provide convenient shortcuts for CTA® and Metra customers making cross-town trips, while also improving access to the periphery of Chicago's central area. In addition, the Circle Line's improved connections between CTA® and Metra would create efficient rail transit linkages between the city and the region. The Circle Line proposal achieves all of these goals largely by using CTA's® existing rail infrastructure more effectively. The proposal calls for adding three short segments of new tracks and 11 new or rebuilt stations to the CTA® system. These 6.6 miles of new elevated and subway tracks would allow CTA® to operate a new Circle Line route which would significantly reduce travel times between existing CTA® and Metra stations throughout the city and region. Connections are the essence of the Circle Line. Eight of the proposed 11 new stations would create connections between CTA® and/or Metra lines where none presently exist. These transfer stations would be designed to maximize customer convenience and comfort. Climate-controlled passageways, shared platforms, and moving sidewalks would make changing trains simple and seamless. The Circle Line proposal represents a unique opportunity to transform how CTA® and Metra are used -- and significantly increase the value of CTA® and Metra's existing transit infrastructure. The Circle Line would significantly reduce travel times between many existing CTA® and Metra rail stations while fundamentally solving long-standing service connectivity problems between Metra and CTA®. Greatly enhanced access between the expanding Central Area and the entire region would strengthen the region's position as a primary center of employment and commerce, while also increasing Chicago's competitiveness as a business location among world cities. The proposed Circle Line will amplify the benefits of other rail system expansion proposals, such as O'Hare and Midway Express service and plans to extend existing "L"TM lines further into city neighborhoods and the suburbs. Faster central area journeys will encourage travel on both existing and extended CTA® lines alike. Proposed extensions to the existing Metra system will benefit similarly from the Circle Line. A circular rail transit line is not a new or untested concept -- although it has yet to be implemented in the United States. In many world cities circular lines are the backbone of the transit system. Just as Chicago was the first American city to bring rail transit access to two major airports, we again have the opportunity to be first in the U.S. with another internationally proven transit technique. Our whole region will reap the benefits.   Expansion and Addition Projects: The Circle Line can be built in three discrete, practical phases with tangible benefits to CTA® customers after each phase. Depending upon funding availability, all three phases could be completed over a 10 to 15-year period. Note: The routings described below are conceptual only. The Authority has not made a final decision regarding routings, phasing, station locations, or a timetable for implementation.			. . . . . . . Conceptual routing plan. Click for larger view. (Courtesy of CTA) . Phasing plan. Click for larger view. (Courtesy of CTA)
. Phase 1: Paulina Connector Restoration Description The first step is to rebuild the 0.75 mile "Paulina Connector" on Chicago's near west side. This section of existing but underutilized elevated structure connects the Blue Line at Harrison Junction with the Green Line at Lake Street, but is presently only able to handle out of service train movements for repositioning equipment. Two new CTA® stations are proposed in Phase 1: Madison-United Center and Van Buren-Medical Center (which would be a transfer station with the existing Blue Line Medical Center station on the Congress Branch). One new Metra station is proposed: Ashland Avenue on the BNSF Line in Pilsen (transfer station with existing 18th Street station on the Douglas Branch)   Benefits CTA® customers would benefit from improved service levels and increased operational flexibility. The Douglas Branch, now under reconstruction, could be operated as an independent line to the Loop (Option 1: Douglas-Loop operations). This would allow for: Significantly improved service frequency on both the Douglas and Congress Branches, benefiting the entire west side. Frequent CTA® rail service to the West Side Medical Center from both the Loop Elevated and Dearborn Street Subway. In addition, CTA® rail service on the Loop Elevated could be restructured allow: Through-routing Orange and Brown Line trains between Midway Airport and the Southwest Side and Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Ravenswood and Albany Park on the North Side. Reroute Purple Line Express service through the State Street Subway (see also Phase 2). Through-route trains between the Douglas branch and the Brown Line (Option 2: Douglas-Ravenswood operations). The United Center would join Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field with direct "L"TM access. A new Metra-CTA® rail transfer station would be created in Pilsen. . Phase 2: Cermak-Archer Connector Description The second link involves building 1.5 miles of new elevated track connecting the existing Douglas Branch at Wood Curve (near Cermak/Ashland) with the existing Orange Line station at Ashland/Archer. One new CTA® station is proposed on the new link: Blue Island/Paulina One new CTA® station is proposed on existing Orange Line track: Wentworth-Chinatown (which would be a transfer station with existing Red Line station at Cermak-Chinatown) One rebuilt CTA® station is proposed: Ashland/Archer (which would be a transfer station with the existing Orange Line) Two new Metra stations are proposed: at Archer Avenue on the Rock Island Line in Chinatown (transfer station with Red and Orange Lines), and on the Heritage Corridor Line at Ashland/Archer (transfer station with Orange Line).   Benefits Customers would benefit from improved system connectivity and added operational flexibility: Direct service could be initiated between the State Street Subway and the near southwest and near west sides via the rerouting the Purple Line Express via the subway, 13th Street Incline, Orange Line, Cermak-Archer Connector, Douglas branch, and Paulina Connector. Faster rail trips would be possible between the south, southwest, and west sides. South and southwest side neighborhoods would gain direct access to the Medical Center and the United Center. Access to Midway Airport from the west side would be improved significantly. Two new Metra-CTA® rail transfer stations would be created: one in Chinatown and one in Bridgeport.		.		.
. . Phase 3: North-Ashland Subway Description The final step would be to complete the circle by building 3.35 miles of new track linking the Paulina Connector with the Red Line at North/Clybourn (via the Blue Line O'Hare branch station at Division). A subway alignment via Ashland and North avenues is preferable for customer convenience, efficient railway operations, and neighborhood aesthetics. The existing elevated Brown Line would be rerouted into a new one mile tunnel between Sedgwick and Armitage stations to serve a new "super station" with the Red and Circle Lines at North/Clybourn. The new alignment for the Brown Line would also eliminate several sharp curves around North and Halsted that slow Brown Line operations, an easement project the CTA® has looked at since the 1950s. Four new CTA® stations are proposed on the new link: Ashland/Lake (which would be a transfer station with the existing Ashland Green Line), Chicago/Ashland, Division/Milwaukee (which would be a transfer station with the existing Blue Line O'Hare branch station at Division), and North/Elston One rebuilt CTA® station is proposed: North/Clybourn (which would be a transfer station with the existing Red and Brown Lines) Two new Metra stations are proposed: Milwaukee District, UP-West, and North Central Service at Ashland/Lake (transfer station with Green and Circle Lines), and UP North and Northwest Lines at North/Elston (transfer station with Circle Line).   Benefits An entirely new CTA® route -- the "Circle Line" -- could begin service in both directions, using all three new track segments as well as parts of the existing Red Line, Orange Line, and Douglas Branch. The Circle Line would connect nearly all of Chicago's major employment and special event destinations with every existing CTA® and Metra rail line. Increased system connectivity and simplicity would reduce transit travel times across the city and region. Circle Line destinations would include: the Loop, North Michigan Avenue, the Medical Center, United Center, Grant Park, Millennium Park, Museum Campus, Soldier Field, River North, South Loop, Pilsen, Gold Coast, Clybourn Corridor, Near West Side, Bridgeport, Chinatown, West Town, and Old Town. The Circle Line would serve an area six times greater than the present-day Loop. The area now within a half-mile walk of any Loop station is 1.8 square miles. The area within a half-mile walk of any Circle Line station would be 10.8 square miles. The Circle Line would support the ongoing revitalization of neighborhoods adjacent to the Central Area by bringing a higher level of transit access and operating flexibility to these areas (by both Metra and CTA®). The Circle Line could bring an increased customer base and variety of urban destinations to Metra's doorstep, thereby spreading benefits throughout the entire Chicago region. Full operational flexibility and excellent system connectivity would improve CTA's® security and incident response capabilities. .		.		.
The Results: As the Circle Line plan was just unveiled in early 2002, the plan has not yet been funded let alone started in a bricks and mortar sense. But, the CTA® has begun thinking about funding issues for the project. The entire Circle Line project would top $1 billion, CTA® officials say, but by how much isn't yet clear. Many details still need to be worked through, but CTA® leaders are confident enough in the Circle Line concept that they said it might be among those projects for which funding is pursued in 2003 when the federal government's main transportation funding package is revisited. Any funding solution, because of the size of the Circle Line endeavor, would involve the next two federal transportation packages, according to CTA® President Frank Kruesi, though he doesn't see the project "having any impact at all on fares." Mayor Daley has stated that he "is interested in having this explored." Mayor Daley has not stated how the new circular rail line would be financed but said he's willing to put his lobbying muscle behind the search for funds. "That's the only way," he said. "It's better for the taxpayer, it's better for the commuter." Since the project will require widespread political support on a local, state, and national level, the best thing that Chicago commuters and railfans can do to help the Circle Line project is to call or write your elected officials and tell them how the Circle Line would benefit you!   CTA floats Circle Line plan Date of Publication: March 11, 2002 Source: Chicago Sun-Times . Daley likes L proposal, would help find funds Date of Publication: March 12, 2002 Source: Chicago Sun-Times   Circle Line plan (.asx, 250k), (.asx, 56k) Source: FOX News Chicago Air Date: March 11, 2002 Courtesy of Tony Coppoletta . (Thanks to the Chicago Transit Authority for supplying information and selected graphics for this page.)		.		.