Should NITA shut down all rail extension projects until its existing system--e.g., Blue Line Congress Branch, Metra bridges/stations--are restored to a state of good repair? Or are rail extensions in low-density areas the price to be paid to keep the collar counties in the regional transit fold?
Thomas Bamonte
There’s nothing that a Yellow Line extension gets you that a Cicero Ave/Skokie Blvd BRT doesn’t, with the latter having the additional benefit of creating new neighborhood-to-neighborhood connectivity (with Mayfair, Six Corners, or Jeff Park as logical southern termini) that radial extensions can’t
Plan to extend the Skokie Swift north getting dusted off. Current ridership substantially below pre-COVID level. Molly Poppe @chicagocta.bsky.social cites importance of transit-oriented development along route to build ridership base. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/18/c...
CTA officials signaled at Skokie’s June 15 Board meeting that a potential expansion of the Yellow Line is under renewed review.
