Well that didn’t take long. Last week the Review published a story saying the CTA was considering “compact stations” in the eventual redo of the Blue Line that would close the Circle Avenue entrance. We reported that because it was one of the options on the CTA’s own planning website. And we reported it because when we contacted the CTA, the spokesman said only that it was early in the process.
But quickly, CTA planners announced they had, in fact, eliminated the compact station option in both Forest Park and Oak Park. Entrances at Circle, East and Lombard will be maintained even as the Eisenhower and the Blue Line are eventually rebuilt.
That’s a great decision that respects the need to preserve and enhance walkable access to public transit. It is also a reminder to Forest Parkers to keep paying attention to this process. The Des Plaines Avenue terminus to the Blue Line is also going to be remade as the line is extended further west. The impact of that will also be critically important to Forest Park.
