Chicago Sun-Times: Blue Line extension to Lombard in RTA's sights; Also looking at linking ORD-MDW

[marmar]

Blue Line extension to Lombard in RTA's sights
TRANSIT | Also looking at linking O'Hare-Midway
February 22, 2008
BY MARY WISNIEWSKI Transportation Reporter [e-mail]


A Blue Line extension as far west as Yorktown Mall in Lombard is just one proposal from an RTA planning committee charged with improving public transit in the western suburbs.

"There's a large suburban and reverse commute travel market that is not well served by transit options right now," said William R. Lenski, the RTA's manager of corridor planning studies. "We want to find some better options."

Besides extending the Blue Line from Forest Park, other improvements could include:

• • New bus routes on Interstate 355, Interstate 290, the Elgin-O'Hare Expy., Route 83 and Cicero Avenue in Chicago

• • A north-south rail line that would connect Midway and O'Hare airports

• • An Elgin-O'Hare Expy. extension.

The committee is also looking at high occupancy vehicle lanes on I-290. The Blue Line extension could possibly run in the expressway median, Lenski said.

"We have to look at what's physically possible," Lenski said. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/807783,CST-NWS-RTA22.article