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The Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) recently contracted Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to conduct an alternatives analysis for the proposed 55-mile Suburban Transit Access Route (STAR).

Designed to connect about 100 suburban communities to commuter-rail service, the STAR line would include a north-south segment built on an existing rail corridor between Joliet and Hoffman Estates, and an east-west segment constructed along the Interstate 90 Northwest Tollway between Hoffman Estates and O’Hare International Airport.

Scheduled to be complete by year’s end, the study will identify transportation improvements and options to access suburban employment locations. PB will define the purpose of and need for the project, develop base data, evaluate transit operation and facility plans, and identify and evaluate alternatives for railroad and roadway rights of way. The evaluation also will include cost estimates, an environmental review and financial analysis.

In addition, PB will study the potential for using self-propelled diesel multiple unit vehicles on the line.