http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...ssouthwest-hed
South suburbs see promise, peril in Metra line proposal
By Carmen Greco Jr
Special to the Tribune
Published July 28, 2006
A new Metra commuter line that would give thousands of south suburban residents greater access to downtown Chicago could be a blessing and a curse, residents said during a planning meeting in Glenwood.
While the proposed
Southeast Service Line could spur transit-oriented development and increase employment opportunities, residents said Wednesday night they worry about added traffic congestion and air and noise pollution.
"We have a small town, and the congestion is already terrible," said Mark Nordin of Thornton. "You add more Metra trains every 20 minutes, and people aren't even going to be able to get to work."
But Metra officials and south suburban leaders say the line could help municipalities
revitalize their downtowns and take cars off local roads and expressways.
The line, which would
cost about $500 million in its most expensive form, would begin south of Crete near
Balmoral Park and make stops in Crete, Steger, South Chicago Heights, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Thornton, South Holland and Dolton.
The line would run on existing Union Pacific/CSX freight tracks before switching to tracks on Metra's Rock Island line near Blue Island.
Metra is marshaling the local support needed to persuade the federal government to fund the project. After an initial planning phase, officials said, they would schedule meetings in October for public comment.
If approved, the project would take 8 to 10 years to complete.
"There's a lot more growth expected in this area, and the transportation system is already stressed," said Mike Lambert, a consultant hired by Metra.
Metra also will study alternatives to rail transportation for the region, including
express buses that would follow a corridor along Interstate Highways 394 and 94.
Glenwood Mayor Jeanne Maggio, like other local leaders, is pushing for a rail line. A stop in Glenwood, she said, would mean a new train station that could spur downtown redevelopment. A new condominium and retail development is already taking off, she said.
"If the train were here today, it would already be filled up," Maggio said of the space.
She and other local leaders say they fear unwanted side-effects, such as increased traffic congestion, but believe careful planning could address those concerns. Leaders and residents from the communities slated for stops, for instance, could opt out of building train stations if they believe they would not benefit their towns.
South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff said the prospect of rail service already is sparking developers' interest in his town.
"We've used this as a catalyst to help jumpstart our downtown area," he said.
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