Capital Project Evaluation Legend

In response to State of Illinois legislation and feedback from regional stakeholders, a new evaluation process was developed, during the implementation of Transit is the Answer, the new regional strategic plan, for capital projects entering the five-year capital program. A series of 15 metrics was agreed upon to evaluate projects. These metrics address the 12 regional goals for capital investments that were articulated in state statute, suggested by the Service Boards, or recommended by members of the strategic plan stakeholder working groups. The 2024-2028 and future capital programs are evaluated using this new methodology. The metrics and their measures are detailed below.

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Access to Key Destinations

The degree to which a project improves regional access to the region’s key destinations. Including jobs, retail, healthcare, recreation, and education.

Measure Symbol
Significantly improves Access to Key Destinations
Two green up arrows
Moderately improves Access to Key Destinations
One green up arrow
Maintains Access to Key Destinations
Black line with arrows on each end
Does not impact Access to Key Destinations
Not applicable symbol
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Accessibility Improvements

The project improvements to existing assets to make them partially or fully accessible. Including station/stop and area improvements, vehicle accessibility, and accessible communications.

Measure Symbol
Makes assets fully accessible
Two green up arrows
Makes assets partially accessible
One green up arrow
Is needed to maintain current levels of accessibility
Black line with arrows on each end
Project is not related to accessibility
Not applicable symbol
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Asset Condition

The project impact to ratings from the FTA Transit Economic Requirements Model (TERM).

Measure Symbol
Asset(s) rated below 2
Red gear
Asset(s) rated 2-3
Yellow gear
Asset(s) rated above 3
Green gear
Project does not have an asset rating
Not applicable symbol
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Benefit to Riders

The project’s minor or major benefits to riders and what proportion of the agency’s riders will benefit from it.

Measure Symbol
Significant benefit to riders
Two green up arrows
Moderate benefit to riders
One green up arrow
Helps to maintain current benefits to riders
Black line with arrows on each end
Project does not impact riders
Not applicable symbol
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Capacity Benefit and Need

The project impact on overall capacity, reflecting current and planned levels of utilization.

Measure Symbol
Project increases capacity of transit operations near capacity
Two green up arrows
Project increases capacity of transit operations not near capacity
One green up arrow
Project maintains/returns system to original capacity
Black line with arrows on each end
Not related to capacity of transit operations or facilities
Not applicable symbol
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Climate Agency Operating Impacts

The project impact on reductions or offsets to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from transit operations.

Measure Symbol
Supports significant reduction in emissions
Two green down arrows
Supports moderate reduction in emissions
One green down arrow
No reduction in emission
Red line with arrows on each end
Project does not effect GHG emissions
Not applicable symbol
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Economic Impact

Project impacts on land use and development, construction, and long-term jobs.

Measure Symbol
Large impact on economic development
Three green up arrows
Moderate impact on economic development
Two green up arrows
Small impact on economic development
One green up arrow
No economic impact
Not applicable symbol
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Equity Based on Residential Geography

The distribution of project benefits to location(s) identified under the USDOT Justice40 Program.

Measure Symbol
Scores 6-8 in Justice40 metric 'Sum of Disadvantage Indicators'
Three green up arrows
Scores 3-5 in Justice40 metric 'Sum of Disadvantage Indicators'
Two green up arrows
Score 0-2 in Justice40 metric 'Sum of Disadvantage Indicators'
One green up arrow
Project is not location specific or benefits entire service area
Not applicable symbol
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Impact on Customer and Employee Safety

The project impact to maintenance or improvement of exposure to risk for riders/employees and the project impact to safety enhancement.

Measure Symbol
Project directly provides safety benefit/improvement
Two green up arrows
Project indirectly provides safety benefit/improvement
One green up arrow
Project maintains current safety levels
Black line with arrows on each end
Project has no impact on safety
Not applicable symbol
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Impact on Operating Cost

The project impact on operating costs.

Measure Symbol
Decreases operating cost
One green down arrow
No change in operating cost
Black line with arrows on each end
Increases operating cost
One red up arrow
No effect on operating cost or cost change undetermined
Not applicable symbol
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Impact on System Security

The project impact to maintenance or improvement of exposure to risk for riders/employees and the project impact to security enhancement.

Measure Symbol
Project implements new security protection and/or prevention
Two green up arrows
Project enhances existing security level
One green up arrow
Project maintains or replaces existing level of security
Black line with arrows on each end
Project does not impact security
Not applicable symbol
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Impact to Service Speed/Reliability

Project impact on maintenance or improvement of service speed and reliability, considering both direct and indirect impacts.

Measure Symbol
Significantly improves speed/reliability
Two green up arrows
Moderately improves current speed/reliability
One green up arrow
Needed to maintain current speek/reliability
Black line with arrows on each end
No impact on service speed/reliability
Not applicable symbol
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Regulatory Requirements

If required, whether or not the project complies with federal, state, local, or other regulatory mandates.

Measure Symbol
Project Meets Regulatory Requirements
Green check mark
No regulatory requirements met for this project
Black x mark
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Ridership/Mode Shift Impacts

The project impact to climate benefits, such as a reduction in emissions, generated from mode shift to transit and away from private auto-use.

Measure Symbol
Significantly improves transit ridership
Two green up arrows
Moderately improves transit ridership
One green up arrow
Maintains assets necessary for transit ridership
Black line with arrows on each end
Project has no impact on transit ridership
Not applicable symbol
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Vehicle Useful Life

The Project impact to average vehicle ages, compared with Service board benchmarks to prioritize replacing vehicles that are beyond their useful life.

Measure Symbol
Over 2 years past useful life
Red gear
0-2 years past useful life
Yellow gear
Not exceeding useful life
Green gear
Asset is not a vehicle with a useful life
Not applicable symbol