CTA Gray Line Information

             "Make No Little Plans...." - Daniel Burnham 

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Hello, my name is Mike Payne; I am the Author of the "CTA Gray Line 'L' Route" Project, which would convert the in-city Metra Electric District Lines to operate as a new Regional  South Lakefront Corridor  CTA  'L' service.

The "CTA Gray Line 'L' Route" Project is Dedicated to the Memory of   IRMA N. PAYNE

The CTA Gray Line Project is a  VERY INEXPENSIVE  and  COST EFFECTIVE     Proposal to provide  CTA Rapid Transit Service  to the  SE Lakefront Corridor  -         The only quadrant of the City of Chicago without CTA Rapid Transit ('L') Service.

500 Million Dollar TOTAL CAPITAL COST for a New 25 Mile CTA Rapid Transit System

CREATING 10,000 NEW PERMANENT JOBS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE

Launching the Gray Line would provide a brand new CTA Rapid Transit ('L') service (on EXISTING facilities) from the Millinneum Park Terminal, direct to the Museum Campus, Soldier Field, McCormick Place (with a directly connected station under the McCormick Place South Bldg.), and the new DePaul Arena and Conference Center.

It would also provide CTA 'L' service to Bronzeville, Hyde Park, the new Obama Museum and Library (pictured at right), the Museum of Science & Industry (both with an ADA Compliant Metra Electric District Station only a block or two away), the University of Chicago, Woodlawn, South Shore, South Chicago, Chatham, Chicago State University, Pullman, Roseland, Blue Island, and Hegewisch; again almost all Gray Line facilities are in place, and operating RIGHT NOW TODAY.

The Gray Line would also provide New CTA 'L' Service close to the huge USX REDEVELOPMENT on the South Lakefront, and Obama's new Pullman National Park; and DIRECT CTA 'L' SERVICE to the         newly expanding Manufacturing Staff of the Big FORD EXPLORER PLANT at 130th & Torrence -         which presently has  N O  type of Public Transit.

There is  N O  need for costly and time consuming design and engineering, right-of-way acquistion, condemnation, demolition, clearing, materials acquisition, delivery, and major construction; the CTA Gray Line 'L' System could be up and providing CTA 'L' service to the Far South Side WITHIN  O N E  YEAR, rather than waiting until 2016 for completion of the Red Line Extension. 

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Click on the Highliner II Image BELOW RIGHT to access detailed "The CTA Gray Line" Powerpoint Presentation.

Implementing CTA Gray Line service would be the Dynamic Engine to CREATE 8 TO 10,000 PERMANENT Walk-To-In-Your-Neighborhood NEW J O B S in Chicago's diverse South Side Communities.  

For a Track Operating Diagram of CTA Gray Line/Metra Electric District/South Shore Line services: Click on "Gray Line Images" near the Top of THIS Page. 

For Detailed Information about the CTA Gray Line Project:  Click on "Gray Line Info. Links" near the Top of THIS Page .

To Download Information about the CTA Gray Line Project:  Click on "Gray Line Info. Files" near the Top of THIS Page.

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Photo by Eric Pancer (Flicker user vxla)

ACCESS:  Downtown at the Millennium Park Station Metra Electric/South Shore/Gray Line Terminal, the entrance on the SW corner of Randolph & Michigan is one short block from the CTA Loop 'L' Station at Randolph & Wabash (Orange, Green, Brown, Pink, and Purple Lines). 

CTA's Red Line and Blue Line Subway Routes are accessible Downtown from Millennium Park Station through the ADA Compliant Underground Pedway System.

The Metra Electric's Van Buren St. Station's ADA Compliant Van Buren & Michigan entrances are 2 blocks from the ADA Compliant CTA Harold Washington Library/State & Van Buren 'L' Station; and the adjacent ADA Compliant CTA Red Line Jackson Blvd. Subway Station. Additionally the Van Buren St. Station's Jackson Blvd. entrance is 2 blocks from the CTA Adams & Wabash Loop 'L' Station.  

TRANSFERS: Presently at the State & Lake, and Harold Washington Library/State & Van Buren Stations transfers for riders connecting between CTA 'L' Lines and adjacent CTA Subway Lines are accomplished via the street using a valid CTA Fare Instrument (Ventra Card or Pass, etc.)

An additional Fare or Transfer is NOT deducted if connecting within 2 hours of initial boarding of a Rapid Transit ('L') Line - thus granting a FREE transfer between 'L' Lines without having an actual physical paid-fare connection like the tunnel between the Red/Green/Orange Lines at Roosevelt Rd. 

The same procedures would allow FREE Transfers between the CTA Gray Line and ALL other CTA 'L' and Bus Services in Downtown Chicago.

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RIDE THE CTA GRAY LINE:

Ride An Older Metra Electric District Highliner I Train from the Downtown Chicago     Millennium Park Station at Randolph St. & Michigan Ave. to 11th St./Roosevelt Rd.

Note the Rapid Transit Style Physical Plant - Suitable for Conversion to CTA Gray Line 'L' Service:  Grade Separated ROW, Floor Level Platforms, Multiple Unit Electric Trains, and Off-Train Fare Collection (not shown).

ALSO: Videos of other Metra Electric District (soon to be CTA Gray Line) Trains in Service.