Chicago: Pain before gain on Blue Line renovation project

Dec. 5, 2013

(Chicago Tribune) The city unveiled plans Thursday for the largest modernization of the CTA Blue Line since the O’Hare branch was built 30 years ago, a four-year overhaul that officials say will shave 10 minutes off travel between downtown and the nation’s second-busiest airport.

But things are going to get slower before they get faster.

The $492 million track and station rehabilitation project beginning in the middle of next year (2014) will mean rolling delays for the more than 80,000 weekday commuters who board at stations on the branch as well as visitors who ride the train into the city after landing at O’Hare, transit officials said.

The CTA will try to minimize the hassle by offering travel alternatives such as shuttle buses and will schedule shutdown-causing track work for overnights and on weekends. But what is key to the upcoming project, and what sets it apart from the recently completed Red Line reconstruction, is that the Blue Line will stay open. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-05/news/chi-4year-492m-blue-line-project-to-be-announced-today-20131205_1_cta-blue-line-95th-street-terminal-o-hare-branch