Chicago Transit Authority 
ORANGE LINE EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING 
PRESENTATION SLIDES
September 21, 2009



SLIDE:  MEETING AGENDA

6:00 – 6:45 pm Open House
6:45 – 6:55 pm Presentation
6:55 – 7:55 pm Public Comments on Scope of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
7:55 – 8:00 pm Next Steps/Adjournment


SLIDE:   BACKGROUND 

-- Alternatives Analysis process began in 2006
-- Evaluated several alternative modes, alignments and profiles
-- Extensive public outreach program
-- Adopted Fixed Guideway Alternative as Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
-- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) builds on Alternatives Analysis process


SLIDE:  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)

-- Prepared to comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and to obtain federal funds
-– Identify and evaluate potential impacts related to project construction and operation
–- Inform public and decision makers of potential impacts and mitigation measures
 


SLIDE:  TARGETED PROJECT SCHEDULE

-- Fall 2009
* Public scoping meeting, September 21, 2009
* Scoping: process of determining focus and content (scope) of EIS

-- 2010 – 2011 
* Preliminary Engineering and Draft EIS 
* Public review of Draft EIS
* Relevant scoping items addressed in Draft EIS  

-- 2011 – 2013
* Final EIS, ROD, Final Design, Start of Construction 

-- 2016
* Open for Operation



SLIDE: PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TO BE STUDIED IN EIS

-– No Build Alternative
–- Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative
–- Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA): Fixed Guideway



SLIDE: LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

Map of the locally preferred alternative.  The new alignment begins with a trench profile at the existing Midway Station. The alignment follows an existing Belt Railway railroad corridor southward. At 64th Street, the alignment becomes an elevated profile. There is a potential future station at Marquette Avenue.  South of Marquette Avenue, the alignment crosses over the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard and veers west towards Cicero Avenue.  South of the yard, the alignment is on Cicero Avenue and terminates at the Ford City Mall. The new terminal station can be located either east or west of Cicero Avenue and the final location is to be determined.   



SLIDE:  PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SCOPE OF EIS



SLIDE:  SCOPING COMMENTS 

Focus comments on:
-- Purpose and need
-– Proposed alternatives
–- Proposed environmental issues to be examined
–- Potential environmental effects and mitigation measures to be considered



SLIDE:  SPEAKER GUIDELINES 

-- Submit a speaker card
-- Moderator will call speakers by name
-- Restate your name
-- Speakers have 3 minutes to comment
       * Yellow light indicates 30 seconds remaining
       * Red light indicates speaking time is over
-- Tonight we will not respond to your comments
-- Comments will be documented in scoping report



SLIDE:  MEETING CLOSE 



SLIDE:  SCOPING COMMENTS ARE DUE BY OCTOBER 27, 2009

-- Tonight verbal comments were recorded by court reporter
-- Write comments and place in box provided
-- Mail comments to: Jeffery Busby, General Manager Strategic Planning, Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7602, Chicago, IL 60680-7602
-- E-mail: OrangeExtension@transitchicago.com
-- Fax: (312) 681-4297



SLIDE:  STAY INVOLVED 

-- Updates posted on: www.transitchicago.com/OrangeEIS
-- To join the mailing list, contact: Darud Akbar, Government & Community Relations Office, Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7567
Chicago, IL 60680-7567, or call (312) 681-2708, or e-mail 
dakbar@transitchicago.com