New Estimate For Restored Yellow Line Service: October
(CBS) -- CTA Yellow Line service will not be restored until October, the transit agency and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District announced Friday.
Service was halted May 17 after the ground gave way under the tracks during a MWRD construction project. The site of the erosion is near McCormick Boulevard in Skokie, about halfway between the Oakton and Howard stops. According to the CTA, the tracks are no longer stable.
Walsh Construction worked with the MWRD and the CTA to develop the restoration plan and will assist with the repairs, according to a statement from the MWRD.
While the timeline is longer than initially expected, the MWRD claimed "it is by far the safest and surest path forward to restore excellent, reliable service for CTA passengers for years to come," according to the statement.
Alternative restoration options with faster timelines were considered, but "did not meet the safety factor expectations of the group," according to the MWRD.
The Yellow Line runs from the Howard stop on the Purple and Red lines to Dempster Street in Skokie, with a stop in between at Oakton. While rail service has been suspended, passengers can take shuttle buses through the affected area or use the No. 97 Skokie bus as an alternative, according to the transit agency.
The CTA estimates about 2,900 commuters per day use the Yellow Line between Chicago and Skokie.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)