CHICAGO — New transit stations are coming to the Loop and possibly Western and Ashland Avenues if Bus Rapid Transit proposals come to pass, and the public is being asked for input on the design.
The Active Transportation Alliance, a non-profit transportation advocacy group, has posted an online survey soliciting opinions about current stations and sought-after features for the new ones.
According to Active Trans, the feedback will be incorporated into a design competition sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
Participants are given the opportunity to sound off on important amenities and rank top issues with existing stations — i.e., not enough shade/shelter from the elements, poorly lit, cleanliness, etc.
A "dream big" section asks transit riders to shoot for the moon and describe their ultimate station.
A link to "cool station ideas" provides a glimpse into the creative solutions other cities have devised for their bus stops, ranging from an ultra-modern air-conditioned shelter in Dubai to a kitschy shelter in the Shetland Islands that's routinely redecorated by the locals.
CTA's history of station renovation has been spotty.
In a critique of revamped Brown Line stations, the Chicago Architecture Foundation noted that they seemed to have been designed "without people in mind," pointing to "scantily-covered platforms" and a "lack of seating."
"How can we up-the-ante on good transit design?"
You can weigh in on the Active Trans survey through Jan. 31.
