The proposed alignment will serve not only the municipalities between University Park and Kankakee, but also the planned South Suburban Airport. Located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of University Park, the airport will be Illinois’ third such facility, after O’Hare and Midway Airports. While expected to help alleviate the congestion at the region’s other two airports, it will be more difficult to reach without its own stop along the rail alignment and other surface transportation improvements.

Aside from examining several routing alternatives, the feasibility study will include other aspects to ensure that Kankakee County and the South Suburban Airport will be connected to the greater Chicago metropolitan area in a way that will create the most efficient service. Potential ridership will be assessed to determine how to best fulfill passengers’ needs—and will also serve to verify the need for an expanded system.

Four separate motive power train alternatives are being examined, along with several different points where the extension line could be linked to the existing Metra Line. These station connection options-- including Randolph Street Station and La Salle Street Station in Chicago and a transfer system at University Park-- will all provide direct access to the planned South Suburban Airport and create an enhanced transportation alternative for the tens of thousands of Kankakee and Will County residents that commute out of their Counties each day.