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Transportation Plan Endorsed for Cook-Dupage Corridor |
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Plan now moves on for further study and possible construction
Elmhurst -- The Cook-DuPage Policy Committee has unanimously endorsed a transportation plan that will greatly expand commute options in the western suburbs. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have led the two-year effort to develop the Cook-DuPage Corridor concept plans. A policy committee of elected county and municipal officials endorsed a scenario of eight transportation improvements to advance for more detailed analysis. Those improvements are designed to increase mobility in the heavily congested Cook-DuPage Corridor.
A broad range of potential highway, transit and multi-modal projects have been considered, including: commuter rail, bus rapid transit, high occupancy vehicle lanes, expressway expansions, and rapid transit. But today’s decision endorses eight major projects in the corridor:
- Elgin-O’Hare Expressway East Extension to O’Hare
- Mid-City Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
- Inner Circumferential Rail Line (Midway to O’Hare)
- I-290 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes
- DuPage J Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
- I-355 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
- Blue Line Extension to Yorktown
- I-290 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
“The unanimous endorsement helps our region move forward with a plan for the future – one that could give people options, lessen congestion, and hopefully make a positive impact on the air quality in the corridor,” said Leanne Redden, RTA’s Senior Deputy Executive Director of Planning & Regional Programs. She added, “These proposed solutions could lead to future economic development and better access to jobs in this important corridor.”
Over 150 people attended a series of five public meetings held throughout the corridor in March to gather feedback on the proposed transportation scenario for the Cook-DuPage Corridor. The Policy Committee took into account over 900 individual comments from the public in determining how the corridor moves forward. Those comments confirmed and supported the proposed system with a lot of attention focusing on the potential to extend the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line.
“We have truly listened to the people in our communities and have worked together to develop a plan we feel can greatly ease the traffic congestion throughout the corridor,” said Paul Fichtner, Policy Committee Chair and DuPage County Board Member. “Keeping goods, service and people moving throughout the corridor is paramount to our economy and our quality of life.”
The RTA will continue working with the Policy Committee to begin the next phase, System Alternatives Analysis. In this phase, the recommended projects will be further refined and evaluated to narrow down the best options and determine which alternatives are best. The Policy Committee will then make a final recommendation of a preferred transportation scenario to pursue for the eventual construction. More information including maps of the endorse plan can be found at www.cook-dupagecorridor.com.
About the Study
The Cook-DuPage Corridor Study is an important long-range transportation planning effort in the western suburbs. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is leading this study in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, CTA, Metra and Pace, Cook and DuPage counties, and over 50 communities in the study area. The purpose of the study is to determine a set of transportation improvements for intersuburban work trips and reverse commuters that best achieve local and regional goals.
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