The Central Area Bus Rapid Transit System consists of several components providing improved transit circulation in downtown Chicago. The project would offer priority transit service on arterial streets or dedicated rights-of-way with rapid boarding and alighting.
The project consists of a new bus or rail system designed to circulate passengers around downtown and distribute commuters from major transit centers to destinations throughout the Central Area. Routes will connect the West Loop Area with North Michigan Avenue, the eastern Loop, Illinois Center, the Museum Campus and McCormick Place. A new east-west busway could be either at-grade or below street level. A north-south route between North Michigan Avenue and McCormick Place will use the existing Lakefront Busway. The system will include features designed to make transit reliable and attractive, including exclusive busways and priority lanes on city streets.
The system will include features designed to make transit reliable and attractive, including exclusive busways and priority lanes on city streets. The Bus Rapid Transit System will enhance the Central Area as a place for business, shopping, entertainment and culture, and allow for projected growth in development.
Several key initiatives are taking place now to support the Central Area Bus Rapid Transit Project. First, studies have been prepared for the Carroll Avenue transitway element of the project, along a now unusued railroad right-of-way along the north side of the Chicago River Main Branch. These studies include conceptual plans and capital cost estimates. The City of Chicago plans to begin an alternatives analysis for the Carroll Avenue transitway element in 2009. The Clinton Street element of the project is under study as part of the West Loop Transportation proposal by CDOT and CTA. For this element, property rights necessary for the project are being sought as the adjacent properties are developed. Study of other element, including the extension to the Museum Campus and McCormick Place, is expected to begin in late 2009.
Project Information
Cost: Estimated cost of the Carroll Avenue transitway portion of the project range from $250 million to $400 million depending on the vehicle technology selected.
Connectivity: Central Area Transitway will connect with all transit services that serve Chicago’s central area.
Safety and Security: Central Area Transitway may provide redundancy (alternative route or path) in the event of incidents affecting service on other transit lines and could provide short term evacuation routing.
Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation: The line will be accessible to large number of pedestrians and bicyclists at various stops and transfer points.
Consistency with subregional plans: The Carroll Avenue portion of the Transitway project is a key transportation recommendation for an improved Near North district listed in Chapter 5 of the City of Chicago Central Area Action Plan.
Project Details and Evaluation Outcomes
Project Status
Several key initiatives are taking place now to support the Central Area Bus Rapid Transit Project. First, studies have been prepared for the Carroll Avenue transitway element of the project, along a now unused railroad right-of-way along the north side of the Chicago River Main Branch. These studies include conceptual plans and capital cost estimates. The City of Chicago plans to begin an alternatives analysis for the Carroll Avenue transitway element in 2009. The Clinton Street element of the project is under study as part of the West Loop Transportation proposal by CDOT and CTA. For this element, property rights necessary for the project are being sought as the adjacent properties are developed. Study of other element, including the extension to the Museum Campus and McCormick Place, is expected to begin in late 2009.The overall project is viewed as having a year 2020 completion time frame.
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