New shade of rapid transit
South Side resident proposes CTA-Metra initiative
Pedro Castro
Issue date: 11/19/02 Section: News
|
Payne, a 53-year-old South Side typewriter repairman, wants the companies to cooperate and adopt his proposal for the creation of what he's dubbed the Gray Line.
The line would be a combination of CTA and Metra services that would follow the CTA's color-coded rail lines.
Payne spoke Nov 6 during the Metra budget hearing to state his case for the $1 million plan. The proposal he calls for is the conversion of the in-city Metra lines into a CTA elevated railway operation.
The line would operate on the existing Metra Highliner Electric tracks from the downtown station at Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue and used during Metra's off-peak hours.
During that time, the CTA would take over those lines and operate them like its el trains. CTA would pay Metra to operate the Highliner trains during the Gray Line's use.
Payne said the Gray Line would create a new 22 mile regional el line along the southeast Lakefront Corridor — the only section of the city without CTA rapid transit services — and thousands of subsequent jobs and economic development. The new line could be supported by up to 70,000 riders each weekday, he said.
Each double-decker Highliner car seats 156 —the equivalent of three el cars, which have 48 to 49 seats each. That capacity does not include standees, which is common on busier rails.
The goal is to create a service to existing facilities such as Grant Park, the Museum Campus, Solider Field and McCormick Place. The line also would provide service to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago.
Closer to home, it would ease students' commute to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Students from UIC would be able to ride the Blue Line from the UIC-Halsted stop to the Washington stop and walk through the pathway to get to a Gray Line train. Students would not have another fair deducted and from there could ride anywhere on the South Side.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
darrius_frazier12686
darrius_frazier12686
posted 7/24/04 @ 2:10 PM CST
A good idea for this proposed Gray Line is after the Van Buren stop, have it go elevated beginning with the Randolph stop, connected with the Lake Street 'L' and go to the North Side on the elevated tracks alongside with the Purple and Brown lines. (Continued…)
james allen
posted 8/29/07 @ 5:08 PM CST
I think the proposed gray line would be a great idea for the two agencies to work together on,i have rode on ME many times and noticed that it would gretly benefit the southeast communities. (Continued…)
Post a Comment