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.

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

CREATING 8 - 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) to Grant Park, the Museum Campus, the newly renovated Soldier Field, and McCormick Place (with a connected station under the McCormick Place South Bldg.)

Also service to Bronzeville, Hyde Park, the Museum of Science & Industry (with an ADA compliant station 1 1/2 blocks 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 DIRECT CTA 'L' SERVICE to the         newly Doubled 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. 

RECENTLY CTA ANNOUNCED A  FIVE  MONTH SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE SOUTH SIDE RED LINE 

RECENTLY CTA ANNOUNCED a 5 MONTH SHUTDOWN of the entire South Side Red Line from Chinatown to 95th St.

FOR INFORMATION Click On the "RED LINE SHUTDOWN" link Below on THIS Page.

CTA plans to use "Shuttle Buses" (Express and Local) to replace the Red Line service -- This plan however is fraught with possibilitys for disaster:  A traffic accident, a fire, bad weather and/or storms -- MANY things could easily disrupt such a service, and cause thousands to be late for (or miss) their jobs, or important events

At just about any large event - CTA can assign portable Fare Boxes (at the back door of busea, and/or additional spaces in an 'L' station, like at Addison on the Red Line).

With MINIMAL changes to the EXISTING Metre Electric Infrastructure, you could assign CTA Staff with Portable Fareboxes (and a Cop) at the bottom of the MED station stairs (111th, 103rd, 95th, 87th, 83rd, 79th, 75th, etc., etc., etc.......), or in the station house -- to control access to the platforms, and then just run the MED trains more frequently.

This service would terminate at 111th St., so as not to interfere with Metra University Park and NICTD trains.

NO (or fewer) "Shuttle Buses" needed, and as an added benefit Far South riders would not have to ride down to 95th t. to transfer to a "Shuttle", to transfer to the Green Line at Garfield, to finally get where their going (3 vehicle changes, no matter what the fare situation).

CTA and Pace bus routes from the Far South (#'s 34, 103, 106, 108, 111, 112, 352, 353, etc., etc...) could Terminate at 111th & Cottage Grove instead of 95th & State -- GREATLY reducing travel times and fuel usage.

CTA and Metra should consider this idea, because once the PUBLIC gets ahold of the possibilty of a R A I L alternative, I don't think they will be satisfied with "Shuttle Buses"!

I will be at ALL of those CTA Town Hall meetings to distribute Gray Line Literature and Information, hope to see you there.   

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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.

Please help us get CTA Gray Line trains running, join the GRAY LINE COALITION.         We need your ideas, input, and support to help us get the local Transit Operators         (RTA, CTA, and Metra) to look at funding and implementing the Gray Line Proposal.

       Read and Post Messages - or Subscribe to Receive Messages by e-mail.                                                -- Please Visit the GRAY LINE COALITION --                                                                       Our Link is near the Top of THIS Page on the Right.

Access there also to the GRAY LINE COALITION FACEBOOK and TWITTER PAGES     For quick Communication of Comments, Questions, or Information Distribution       among Coalition Members. 

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CLICK ON THE HIGHLINER II AT RIGHT FOR "The CTA Gray Line" POWERPOINT >>>

Photo by Eric Pancer (Flicker user vxla)

Link to Original Flicker Photo Page on "Gray Line Coalition" Page, Link at the Top of THIS PAGE.

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In February 2011, the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Chicago Department of Transportation began the South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study.

The purpose of this Study is to indentify and evaluate transit alternatives for improving travel in a Study Area between State Street and Lake Michigan, extending South from the Central Area to 95th Street.  

The Study will include three Public Meetings, as well as Meetings of a Public Advisory Committee consisting of Elected Officials and other Community Representatives; and a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of Representatives from the Fedral Transit Administration, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, CTA, NICTD, and Pace.  

The First South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study Public Meeting was held in April 2011 on the Bronzeville Campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology.

The Second Meeting was held in September 2011 at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago's South Side Woodlawn Neighborhood.  

The Third and Final Corridor Study Meeting is scheduled for Thursday June 28th, 2012 - 5pm at Rev. Braziers New Apostolic Church at 63rd & Dorchester.

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 (Transit Card, Transit Pass, Chicago Card, U-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.