Kyle Lauterhahn says several “slow zones” on the CTA Red Line increase the time he spends commuting from his home in Evanston to his job in Chicago.

“Cut some of the corners, straighten of the curves that slow things down,” he told CTA officials at a recent public hearing. “Repair the tracks.”

Norris Larson, who also lives in Evanston, said that he wants the CTA Purple Line “express train” to live up to its name.

“Why have the Purple Line make all those local stops between Fullerton and the Merchandise Mart?” he asked.

Lauterhahn and Larson were among about 100 people who turned out for the recent public hearing at the Evanston Public Library, which the CTA held to gather input on its Red and Purple Line “Modernization Project.” It’s projected to stretch along a 9.5 mile section of the tracks, from the Belmont station to the Linden terminal in Wilmette.

The CTA said the project would help bring the existing 90-year-old transit line into a state of good repair, reduce travel times, improve access to job markets and destinations, and provide improved access to people with disabilities.

The CTA is considering either basic rehabilitation or a more extensive modernization of the lines. The basic rehab would include strategic repairs to reach the most “basic state of good repair.” The more expensive “modernization” would include comprehensive reconstruction of track, stations, and structures along the line, improving travel times.

The purpose of recent public hearings in Evanston and Chicago were to gather opinions from residents, according to Kevin O’Malley, the CTA’s general manager of strategic planning.

“Whenever we’re doing a long range planning project like this it’s absolutely critical to get an idea of what the community and customers of the CTA want to see,” O’Malley said. “One of the things we hear is that people really want transit. They love transit.”

“They want to see the CTA make the investments into a modern transit system,” he added. “People want to know the time lines they want to know when things are going to happen. They want to know how they can help out what input they can provide the process.”

O’Malley said a number of alternatives are under consideration for the project, including the comprehensive reconstruction of track, stations, and structures along the line, and that the project is one part of CTA’s larger initiative to enhance the entire Red Line.

He said that in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the CTA and Federal Transit Administration have initiated an “environmental review process” for the project and will be preparing an environmental impact statement, with ideas culled from public hearings.

“With this particular project we hope within a year or so to have finished this phase of the environmental impact statement,” said O’Malley. “The actually construction is something that is going to take many years. We’re looking for money, looking for funding in all the right places.”

About 20 CTA representatives were at the hearing in Evanston to take comment cards from CTA riders and answer question from residents. Among the residents was Stephen Meyers, who said he wants the CTA to make much needed repairs on the Red Line between the Howard and Belmont stops.

“It’s in very bad shape obviously,” said Meyers. “Because of the condition, they’re getting slower trains. Which means less operation, and crowded trains.”

Lauterhahn, meanwhile, said he came away from the hearing satisfied that the CTA is listening to its ridership.

“I think it’s helpful,” he said. “The crowd sourcing of ideas always adds to better choices.”