USA: Chicago Transit Authority opened its first new L metro station for 18 years on April 30. Located on an existing section of the Yellow Line, Oakton-Skokie station is adjacent to the Illinois Science and Technology Park, home to 20 pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotechnology and nanotechnology firms employing 1 400 people. 'This is a perfect example of transit-oriented development', said CTA President Forrest Claypool. The station has an island platform with a canopy accommodating a four-car train, and is equipped with CCTV, digital information displays, customer assistance buttons, an information kiosk and bicycle racks. Accessibility features include wheelchair-accessible turnstiles, Braille signs and an audio announcement system. The $20m station was funded using a $14m Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, plus $6m from the Village of Skokie. More...
