The document summarizes a feasibility study for adding a Yellow Line station in Evanston, Illinois. It recommends Asbury Avenue as the preferred location over Dodge Avenue. Key findings are that an Asbury station would improve local access and mobility, support community and economic development along Howard Street, and have fewer physical and environmental constraints than a Dodge station. The estimated capital cost is $23 million, and the station is projected to serve 840 passengers daily. Next steps include pursuing state and federal funding and identifying local financing options.

1. EVANSTON YELLOW LINE STATION ENGINEERING
FEASIBILITY STUDY
City Council
Meeting
April 16, 2012

2. Project Overview
CTA Yellow Line (Skokie Swift)
► Line opened March 1925 as Niles Center Branch
► Line closed March 27, 1948*
► Skokie Swift began operation in April 1964
► Change to CTA Yellow Line in February 1993
Only the CTA Niles Center Local trains stopped running in 1948. North Shore Line (NSL)
interurban trains (to Waukegan, Mundelein and Milwaukee) continued to run until late January
1963, when that service was abandoned (without replacement). After about 1950-51, CTA
consolidated all rapid transit heavy maintenance work at Skokie Shops (approximately Oakton
and Hamlin), so CTA non-revenue trains operating to/from the shop also ran on the section of line
between Howard Street and Hamlin Avenue in this timeframe.
Note:

3. Feasibility Study Purpose
► Market Demand Study completed 2007
► Parsons Brinckerhoff selected in 2010
► Understand physical design and construction issues
► Recommend a preferred location at
Ridge, Asbury or Dodge
► Project budget of $275,000
► $220,000 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
(CMAQ) funding
► $55,000 in City funds

4. Technical and Advisory Committee
►Technical Advisory Committee
 CMAP , CTA, RTA and PACE
►Advisory Committee
 Alderman
 CityStaff
 Saint Francis Hospital
 Residents

5. Advisory Committee Members
► Alderman Ann Rainey, Alderman, 8th Ward
► Alderman Melissa Wynne, Alderman, 3rd Ward (Chairman, Transportation & Parking Committee)
► Linda O'Dwyer, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Saint Francis Hospital
► Ben Schapiro, Resident
► Tom Kepler, Resident
► Suzette Robinson, Director of Public Works
► Steve Griffin, Director of Community and Economic Development
► Matt Swentkofske, Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator
► City Staff
 Rajeev Dahal, Senior Traffic Engineer
 Paul Schneider, City Engineer
 Susan Guderley, Neighborhood Planner

6. Public Involvement Process
 Public Meeting #1, Evanston Levy Center – June 2, 2011
• Introduce project, website and online survey #1
 Public Meeting #2, Saint Francis Hospital - September 15, 2011
• Concept plans, preliminary evaluation and online survey #2
• Ridge removed from further analysis
• Asbury and Dodge recommended for detailed evaluation
 Public Meeting #3, Evanston Levy Center - January 24, 2012
• Asbury recommended as preferred location

7. Online Survey #1 Respondents
95% from Evanston
Dodge and Oakton
had 55 responses

8. Online Survey #1 Responses
► Would Use a NewStop on the YellowLine:
 Ridge 90
 Asbury 137
 Dodge 228
73% of the 454 survey responses indicated a station
location preference at one or more location

9. Online Survey #2 Respondents
85% from Evanston
Dodge and Oakton
had 66 responses
426 Responses

10. Online Survey #2 Responses
► Which Station Location Do You Prefer:
 Asbury 126
 Dodge 249
12% (51) of the 426 survey responses indicated a station
location preference at both Asbury and Dodge

11. Study Area
Dodge
1.5 Miles from
Howard Station
Dodge
1.5 Miles from
Howard Station
Asbury
1.0 Miles from
Howard Station
Asbury
1.0 Miles from
Howard Station
Ridge
0.7 Miles from
Howard Station
Study AreaStudy Area
Oakton Historic District
Oakton Historic District
Saint Francis Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital
James Park
and Levy Center
James Park
and Levy Center
Home DepotHome Depot
Target
Dawes, Chute and Oakton
School
Dawes, Chute and Oakton
School
Removed from
consideration at PM
#2

12. Project Goals
► Local Access and Mobility
 Provide improved local access to the Yellow Line
► Community and Economic Development
 Revitalize Howard Street commercial area
 Increase access to local and regional employment
► Regional and Local Transit System Performance
 CTA and Pace Bus, CTA Howard Red and Purple Lines
► Neighborhood Cohesion
 Maintain and improve quality of life in Evanston

13. Ridge Station Evaluation Findings
► Local Access and Mobility
 Bicycle route/lane on Ridge is not feasible due to
narrow road lanes
 Traffic, operational and safety impacts on Ridge
► Community and Economic Development
 Land use along Ridge is established and developed
► Regional and Local Transit System Performance
 CTA Howard and South stations arewithin walking
distance
► Neighborhood Cohesion
 Located within theOakton Historic District
Ridge location removed from further
consideration at PM #2 on 9/15/11
Oakton Historic District
Saint Francis Hospital
Oakton School
Historic Building
CTA #97 and Pace #215
CTA #201 and #206

14. Asbury Avenue
• CTA #97 and #206 - most riders at
Howard/Asbury –Western, according to CTA
October 2010 data
• Pop. ¼ mile 2,348
• Pop. ½ mile 11,435
Chute School
Oakton HD
Oakton School
Historic Building
CTA #97 and Pace #215
CTA #206
Howard /Western
Shopping Area

15. Asbury Avenue Station Plan
Side platform configuration
Ramp access also considered
No property acquisition required

16. Asbury Avenue Station House

17. Asbury Station Platform

18. Dodge Avenue
• Dawes Elementary School and James Park are
within proposed station catchment area
• Max Load Point in study area (in both directions
) for CTA #93 bus is at Dodge/Howard (October
2010 data)
• Pop. ¼ mile 1,593
• Pop. ½ mile 6,600
Dawes School
Home Depot
Target
Chute School
James Park
and Levy Center
CTA #97 and Pace #215
CTA #97 and Pace #215
CTA #93, and #97
CTA #206 north of Oakton

19. Dodge Avenue Station Plan
Center platform configuration
No property acquisition required

20. Dodge Avenue Station

21. Detailed Evaluation
 Physical Constraints
• CTA and Road Right-of-Way Requirements
• Bridge Structure Impacts
 Public Support
• Public Meeting Comments
• Public Survey Comments
 Social/Economic Factors
• Land Use
• Population and Employment
• Economic Impact
 Environmental Factors
• Noise, Visual, Natural and Cultural
Resources
 Transportation Factors
• Transit Connectivity and Traffic
 Capital Cost
 Operating & Maintenance Cost
 Ridership Potential

22. ► Asbury Station
 Station house can be accommodated west of the Asbury Bridge
 Station platform located below street grade
 Visual and noise impacts mitigated by trench
► Dodge Station
 Elevated station – high level of visual and noise impacts
 Requires replacement of existing 85 year old bridge to meet CTA
requirements
 Requires realignment of CTA tracks
 Requires new retaining wall structures
Screen 3
Asbury and Dodge Physical Constraints

23. Evaluation Criteria

24. Evaluation Criteria

25. Asbury Recommendation Findings
► Local Access and Mobility
 Over 11,000 population within ½ - mile walking distance
 Increased ridership potential
 Accessible by sidewalk network and bike routes
► Community and Economic Development
 High redevelopment potential between Asbury and Howard
 Tax Increment Finance District could support station
development
 Saint Francis Hospital within ½ - mile walking distance
 Evanston Levy Center within ½ - mile walking distance

26. Asbury Recommendation Findings
► Regional and Local Transit
 Distance from Howard is 1 - mile and typical of CTA
station spacing
 Bus connections to CTA #97, #206 and Pace #215
► Neighborhood Cohesion
 Visual and noise impacts mitigated with station
platform located in CTA trench
 Neighborhood station with no commuter parking

27. Asbury Station
Estimated Capital
Cost $23 M
Estimated 2010
840 boardings per day
Annual Ridership 263,000

28. 2010 Estimated Asbury Cost
► Phase I - Preliminary Engineering / Environmental Study
 1 to 2 years
 Approx. $1 Million to $1.6 Million
► Phase II - Design
 1 to 2 years
 Approx. $.6 Million
► Phase III - Construction
 1.5 to 2 years
Estimated construction cost $23 Million

29. Skokie Oakton Station
► Feasibility study completed in 2003
► Opens May 2012
► $20 + million to construct
 Village of Skokie funding $6 + million
 Federalfunds $14 million
 Adjacent Illinois Science + Technology Park
► CTA estimates 1,200 boarding‘s per day

30. Potential Funding by Project Phase
Source Phase I Phase II Phase III
Revenue Sources
Federal
Flexible Highway Funds
(STP, CMAQ)
X X X
Urbanized Area Formula Funds (Section 5307) X X X
New Starts and Small Starts X X
Bus and Bus Facilities X
FHWA Transportation and Community and
System Preservation Program (TCSP)
X X X
TIGER X
Local
Naming rights X
Private sector contribution X X
Project Financing
Federal
Bonds (GANs, PABs, & BABs) X
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act (TIFIA)
X
Local
Tax-Exempt Borrowing
(i.e. municipal bonds)
X X
Tax Increment Finance (TIF) X X
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) X

31. Next Steps
► Present findings to:
CMAP, RTA, CTA and PACE
► Advance project with state and federal representatives
► Identify state and federal
funding sources for Phase I, II, and III
► Identify local project financing
(TIF public/private partnership)

32. Thank You