South Side Commuters Go for the Gold
Residents push for a new CTA line
South Siders are proposing a new hybrid CTA-Metra "Gold Line" to better serve residents and Olympic venues.
Chicago's 'L' is one of the most expansive rail mass transit systems in the country, and commuters have an entire rainbow of rail lines to choose from: Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Brown.
But a group of South Side residents are hoping for one more color: Gold.
The Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL) is proposing a new "Gold Line," which isn't actually a new CTA rail line at all. Rather, it's an increased service plan between Metra and the CTA.
The activists are attempting to motivate the city by explaining that the 2016 Summer Olympics (if hosted in Chicago) would benefit from the new service. The proposed Line would serve key Olympic venues, including Soldier Field, McCormick Place, and Northerly Island.
However, what the South Side residents are really hoping for is a better route from underserved neighborhoods south of Jackson Park to downtown. Currently, some commuters have to travel for several blocks or miles to get to the closest Red or Green Line station.
"The project would help support the needs of thousands of people on the South Side," Dhyia Thompson, co-chair of the group's Gold Line Task Force, told the Tribune.
The suggested "Gold Line" would provide more frequent trains on the Metra Electric District Line. Also, travelers would be allowed to transfer between Metra trains and CTA buses.
"If you take both Metra and the CTA to work, the problem is there's no transferability," said Thompson.
SOUL estimates that the new service would cost approximately $159 million.
Matt Bartosik is the editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and a "between blogs" blogger.
Copyright NBC Owned Television Stations / NBC Chicago
Posted Tuesday, Jul 7, 2009 - 10:33 AM CST
