CTA releases scoping report on Yellow Line extension reflecting overwhelming opposition to proposed "LPA" rail alternative

The CTA has posted the results of its “scoping process” on the extension of the Yellow Line/Skokie Swift at: www.transitchicago.com/yelloweis/documents.aspx. The results reflect overwhelming community opposition to the “locally preferred alternative” (LPA) that would run 1.6 miles of elevated track down the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way between Dempster Street and Old Orchard Road and terminate in the north parking lot of Niles North High School at a projected cost of $270 million.

CONTENTS OF THE REPORT

The scoping report provides a detailed explanation of the process to date and a record of the public comments that the CTA received on the proposed extension during the public comment period of Sept. 1-Oct. 27, 2009.

However, the report is inconclusive in that it provides no timetable for the next step in the process, which is identified as preparation and release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Furthermore, the scoping report does not indicate which alternatives, including the LPA, the CTA will eliminate and which it will pursue.

Local media reports and independent SRT contacts with the CTA have found that at present, the CTA says that it lacks the funds to go forward with the DEIS. (However the scoping report itself does not mention this lack of funding.)

The scoping report says that the DEIS will incorporate and address comments received in the scoping process. The report states: “CTA will continue to work closely with agencies and stakeholder groups to address issues identified through scoping. … Based on the comments received during scoping, additional alternatives will be developed for discussion with the community.”

The report stated that the CTA received 189 comments during the public comment period, including from the 56 people who spoke at the meeting at Oakton Community Center on Sept. 23, 2009. The scoping report says: “An approximate total of 171 comments specifically discussed the alternatives. The majority of the comments, approximately 152, opposed the LPA. In addition, a petition with 913 signatures also expressed opposition to the LPA.” That was our Skokie Reasonable Transit petition. According to the report, 57 comments supported a bus alternative for improving transit between the Swift station and the Old Orchard area. Approximately 15 comments supported a rail alternative that would terminate either west of the Edens Expressway at Old Orchard Road or at Golf Road.

FUNDING

In 2005 U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (9th District) secured a Congressional appropriation for the CTA to conduct the three-year Alternative Analysis study for the Yellow Line extension, which was carried out from 2006 to 2009. In January 2010, a Skokie Reasonable Transit delegation met with Rep. Schakowsky to express support for bus alternatives that would use existing arterial streets and roadways. The delegation also told the Congresswoman of SRT’s opposition to any bus and rail alternatives, including the LPA, that would be routed along the UPRR right-of-way.

Currently, Rep. Schakowsky's Web site reflects no requests for appropriations to fund further CTA activity on the Yellow Line extension: www.schakowsky.house.gov.

SRT CONTINUING UPDATES

Skokie Reasonable Transit will continue to monitor developments and send updates to our e-mail list. If there is a need to re-mobilize and continue our efforts, you will receive word. In the meantime, thanks to all who helped mobilize the community and to all who signed our petition. Our message has been heard!

Links to CTA Scoping Report Files

The 30-page summary of the scoping report is at: www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/planning/Yellow_Line_Extension_Project_Scoping_Report_2010-04.pdf.

Written comments received by the CTA appear in these three files:
• Yellow_Line_Extension_Project_Scoping_Report_Appendix_L_Public_Comments_001-053.pdf
• Yellow_Line_Extension_Project_Scoping_Report_Appendix_L_Public_Comments_054-089.pdf
• Yellow_Line_Extension_Project_Scoping_Report_Appendix_L_Public_Comments_090-189.pdf
(Skokie Reasonable Transit’s letters and petition appear on PDF pages 11-36 of this file)
• Yellow_Line_Extension_Project_Scoping_Report_Appendix_A-K.pdf
The transcript of the spoken comments delivered at the meeting at Oakton Community Center on 9/23/09 appears on PDF pages 120-220 of this file (Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen's comments appear on PDF pages 213-217)