CTA and CDOT release Ashland BRT Environmental Assessment and announce next meetings

With the release of the long awaited Environmental Assessment for the Ashland Rapid BusTransit (BRT) system, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announce Dec. 10 and 11 as the dates for two public meetings.

The first meeting will be in Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450 W. Cermak Rd. from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 10 and the second will be in the Pulaski park Field House, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 11. 

According to their announcement, "The public open house meetings will summarize studies of the project impacts, including traffic analyses, which have been performed as part of the formal Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with federal government requirements." 

A paper copy of the assessment is available at the following locations:

• CTA Headquarters, (weekdays from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.), 567 W. Lake St.
• Lincoln-Belmont Library, 1659 W. Melrose St.
• West Town Library, 1625 W. Chicago Ave.
• Lozano Library (Pilsen), 1805 S. Loomis St.
• Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.
• West Englewood Library, 1745 W. 63rd St.  

CTA and CDOT request comments on the Environmental Assessment via attendance at the public open houses, by mail, or by . The formal public comment period for the Environmental Assessment ends on December 20^th, 2013.

The 16-mile center running bus route is planned for Ashland Ave. between Irving Park Rd. and 95th Street. Phase one is to begin at Armitage Ave. and go to 31st St., with construction starting in 2014. 

During this last summer, there have been presentations to the public at East Village Association, Wicker Park Committee and other residential and business meetings that raised many concerns and questions. A previous Our Urban Times article presents some of the facts and questions.