CTA Dan Ryan Branch Extension | Lines That Never Were

[@P0w2you]

My father drove the red line for Decades, and his complaint was (when talking about extending the red line) "The train is gonna be full before you get to 95th street!" and most of the time my response is "Isn't that a good thing!!!?" I just think it's clear to people who are familiar with the area, that A LOT of people take the bus to 95th street and it is a great thing to cut commute times by getting people on to the train sooner. and 95th street is a poor terminus station, it needs three tracks. What I saw of the EIR/EIS that 130th will have a three track station.

[@jeffreycollier1059]

Good topic. I've been waiting for the south extension since I read of it in 1968 when I was in 8th grade. Since then the I-94 median has been consumed by other things including obstructive bridges- opportunity closed! Now the U.P. route proposed will need elevated elements which are extremely expensive costing way more than the printed price. I hope it does happen, the people need it but the longer they wait the more impractical and expensive it gets. It's been 55 years and everyone I tell this to are surprised? I guess the new generations think they know everything. What???.... I'm glad you brought this to our attention. I hadn't thought about it since around 10 years ago. Thanks! P.S. I've always wondered: How will the train get from the 95th station or 98th yard to the Union Pacific tracks? Elevated, median to flyover, combination?

[@remixdiamond2276]

It most likely copy the blue line when they split near the loop, but it will turn onto a freight line right of way like on the midway line

[@musicforaarre]

Hug the northbound I-57 lanes, dive under S. Wentworth, then flyover the northbound I-57 to catch the UPRR. On the ground; except to fly over the I-94 to I-57 westbound ramp, and to flyover the northbound I-57 just east of the UPRR. It's not too challenging at all from engineering, as I see it. As for the UPRR, I think that it should sit right over the top of it with verticals on both sides of the UPRR. Aarre Peltomaa of Mississauga, Ontario

[@jeffreycollier1059]

@@musicforaarre Thanks for your reply! Yes, as I hinted elevated to median, but the dive under Wentworth would be a steep 7% grade (guess*tim*ating). Too steep? Also can't figure how they would get the 2 tracks elevated from the south end of the station to hug the N.B. I-57 exit, it's not enough room. Looks like it needs to be elevated from the station to UPRR to work where passengers would transfer at 95th 'ground to elevated'. Just wondering... neighborhood resident. 😊😊

[@DDELE7]

The real expansion the L needs is an outer loop that’s more of a regional rail subway. That would be a game changer.

[@MisterUptempo]

After this extension of the Red Line is complete, two possible suggestions for more improvements in future- 1) Extending the line being discussed here all the way to Hegewisch, with an intermediary stop at Torrence Ave., near the Ford plant. Connections to the NICTD/South Shore at Hegewisch. 2) Handing the Metra Electric Blue Island Branch over to the CTA to be converted into a western extension of the Red Line, running all the way to the Metra-Vermont St. station, for connections to the Metra-Rock Island line into the southern suburbs for access to job and educational opportunities there. Half the Red Line trains running on the Main Line would continue on the eastern extension to Hegewisch, the other half would use the western extension to Blue Island.

[@jr.gaming2205]

I like how it’s a Long extension it covers a lot of area

[@transitcaptain]

I found out about this project back in 2019. I checked back periodically and wondered why it was taking forever. I’m surprised if they’re only just getting started. Why has it taken so long?

[@weenisw]

Primarily because it was never funded before

[@NybergCarl]

There should be shuttle busses to connect the Red Line extension to Metra and the South Shore.

[@carlos.a.sanchez201]

I was in Chicago two weeks ago as riding the CTA Red Line for the first time with the Holiday Train and I am all for the Red Line extension for those who rely on the subway as an alternate option.

[@karlepugh2956]

If CTA is to expand to 130th Street bring back the A & B skip stops during rush hour.

[@bkark0935]

I wonder if they can or will somehow add a third track from 95th at least leading to the 63rd st. Where it can then ramp up with an Angel’s Flight to the Elevated line of the Ashland Branch in order to facilitate some express running from 130th Street at least until Roosevelt Station? They’d have to reinstall a third express track from 59th street north up along the Green Line Main Line, but there is ample room on the elevated structure. But I wonder how could it be done along the Dan Ryan, remove the left-most driving lane for Express tracks in each express side of the Freeway?

[@jeffreycollier1059]

There used to be a 63rd Green line station just south-west of the 63rd red station. Periodically talk was to reopen(rebuild) it. It's needed! Otherwise, a 2-block walk from red to green at 35th and the red-line already stops at Roosevelt.

[@landocalrisian2014]

That sunset shot is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jacquelinejackie3613]

I hope they get it done sooner cuz I have to take a close to an hour and 45 minutes to get home on a pace everyday so this will help me get home sooner cuz I live on the south server at Hazel Crest

[@BMTEnjoyer160]

That was surprising. I thought it was going to be a nyc video

[@youwereprettylasttimeisawy1227]

i’ve been a resident of this area my entire life, i think there should be 2 branches(one in the middle of i57 and one on the UP right of way, you mentioned the rock island mainline that serves that western part of roseland but my mother uses it and soon i will to get ti work everyday, both 95th and 103rd get very little ridership out of those stations, and most people near it can’t even afford metra, so why not have 2 branches that extend their outreach even further, unrated but i also think there should be a metra line that uses that up right of way that would go out to merrillville indiana(it would share most of its route with the amtrak cardinal) i honestly might make a youtube video about it

[@jointransitassociation]

You can always reduce Metra fares and upgrade service. That is what regional rail is.

[@UlisesShah]

I think instead of the terminus being 130th which nobody lived around, it should be at 121st and State, where it is more dense and a connection to the Metra can be made.

[@cullenpeterson]

Could this not have been solved with an infill station on the South Shore line at 130th?

[@jointransitassociation]

No, it still leaves Roseland as a transit desert.

[@atfreema]

Nicely done. I would have overlaid maps of population density when talking about the extension's potential alignments.

[@maureencora1]

Good Ideal, Wished They Done This 50 yrs. Ago.

[@morganschmitt5370]

What a funny way to restart that series in Chicago😅😂

[@mdf3530]

Also there is no room to put the Red Line extension on the Bishop Ford south of 111th as there is no median, plus anytime there is any amount of heavy rainfall, the left lanes of the Bishop Ford flood. IDOT knows this, but they don’t want to do a damn thing to fix it as that whole section of I-94 would have to be brought up to current interstate standards.

[@mic1240]

Crazy it takes sooooo long to conceive and eventually build. Part of why costs keep going up. Safe bet the red line extension will not be done on time as planned

[@hadhamalnam]

Other countries build like hundreds of miles of hsr lines for maybe two or three times the price

[@itsallluv2870]

I’m all for the extension of the Red Line. However, I believe there should be an express train. For example, 130th to downtown.

[@duran9664]

🔥 Merging all Chicago trains & busses agencies might help coordinate their operations & schedules 🤏

[@jeffreycollier1059]

Check what they are and where they came from and you'll get your answer. They're completely different in every way. BNSF, Illinois Central, Rock Island, South Shore etc. Won't happen. 😊

[@tweetingsparks]

Hey Tech Transit.

[@CS_1989]

The current extension iz ok, but they need both branches from the i94 extension to 115th & i57 to 127th. Then the metra electric/rock island could have express service thru the Pullman/100s instead of having stops every 4 blocks. Cuz that is annoying if u coming to/from the burbs

[@arturocuizon69]

Why is this line called the Dan Ryan branch is it because it was named after a former mayor named Dan Ryan back in the day or no?

[@tbird2013]

Dan Ryan expressway (I’m from Indy and idk why Chicago calls them expressways)

[@docfrazier99]

The highway was named for Dan Ryan Jr., a former president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 1954-61.

[@dungeonbeast1087]

The CTA should focus on creating new lines closer to the downtown instead of further thinning out their resources out into the suburbs

[@InsideChicago]

Those aren’t the suburbs. That’s still Chicago. Chicago is huge. If you don’t leave Lincoln Park and Lakeview you wouldn’t know.

[@NosebergEatzbugsVonShekelstein]

​@@InsideChicagoThere's nothing decent down there, it might as well be the burbs.

[@barbzfurbernie4560]

As much as CTA is hemorrhaging money now, imagine if these lines had been built. 81% of CTA’s recorded stolen ticket sales came south of Cermak. If these lines had been built, in our timeline, the CTA would have to be privatized or completely end services to the high-theft south side. Thank you to the leaders who decided against this extension!!!

[@jeffreycollier1059]

Since 1969? Better check your history and source of information. I'm not supporting thief, but ticket sales aren't even pennies compared to the property cost (including rail right-of-ways), operations, maintenance, equipment (busses & rail cars), buildings, stations, elevated structures/subways, rail shops, train power & distribution, bus garages etc. The CTA could do something about theft but won't. Neither does the MTA in New York which makes CTA look like nothing. Both the MTA & CTA have had the option to address the issue with barriers at the turnstiles but didn't- no payback & safety. Do some math with your figures. Fares don't pay for all public transit- the federal, state and local government does. Just think of the highways/streets, environment, worker productivity etc. And consider when people moved away from Chicago (proper).

[@ECRALSE40LPS]

Hey MTA takes some notes while your at, don't get the joke then go watch more of TTA's videos.