Suburban Transit Access Route
| Company type | Planned commuter rail project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Northwest suburbs of Chicago |
| Products | Commuter rail service |
The Suburban Transit Access Route (STAR Line) was a planned commuter rail project in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, proposed by Metra in 2003. Its objective was to link close to 100 suburban communities using a new fleet of European-style Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains, marking Metra's initial venture into suburb-to-suburb rail service, as its existing lines primarily connect suburbs with downtown Chicago.
Spanning approximately 55 miles, the route was intended to utilize the right of way of the EJ&E and the median along the Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90). The development of this line resulted in the discontinuation of a proposed CTA Blue Line extension to Schaumburg. Projected daily ridership was estimated at about 80,000 passengers.
With an estimated cost of $1.1 billion, the initiative received authorization through the federal transportation legislation SAFETEA-LU and proceeded through an Alternatives Analysis phase before being discontinued.
Project
The STAR Line would have represented Chicago’s first suburb-to-suburb commuter rail since 1943, reintroducing a service model previously offered by historic routes such as those operated by New York Central (Gary to Joliet), Chicago & North Western (Kenosha to Harvard), and Burlington Route (Aurora to West Chicago). The proposed alignment began at O'Hare International Airport, followed Interstate 90 westward toward Hoffman Estates, then turned south along the EJ&E corridor toward Joliet, serving communities within Will County, DuPage County, and Cook County.
Engineered for speeds reaching up to 79 mph with train frequencies every 15 minutes during peak periods, the line aimed to provide rapid regional transit through advanced European-style rolling stock.
In June 2003, the Regional Transportation Authority board approved the $1.1 billion project, anticipating a construction period of approximately ten years contingent upon securing necessary funding.
By January 2012, Metra had halted active development of the STAR Line due to inadequate financial support from federal and state sources. Alternative transit solutions, such as bus rapid transit systems, were identified as more economically viable options for serving this corridor.
See also
References