Skokie Yellow Line Could Extend To Westfield Old Orchard: Mayor

SKOKIE, IL — Skokie officials have preliminary ideas for a possible Chicago Transit Authority Yellow Line extension that would improve access in the village.

Mayor Ann Tennes announced that the village is exploring the possibility of extending the "Skokie Swift" north to the area near Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center.

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According to Tennes, both the shopping center and the Illinois Holocaust Museum expressed interest in the extension.

"Think of a yellow line terminal in a place that makes sense, not in the Niles north parking lot for those of you historians here. Think of how that would support all of the new retail, or new housing in this corridor," Tennes said.

But plans are still preliminary, with no official promise yet, Tennes said.

The Yellow Line currently has three stations:

• Howard Street Station at the Chicago-Evanston border
• Oakton-Skokie Station on Oakton Street
• Dempster-Skokie Station at 5001 Dempster Street

The train offers connecting service to Downtown Chicago via both the Red and Purple Lines.

The extension is a part of larger plans to improve economic vitality and access in the village, especially in Downtown Skokie.