Hidden Valley leaders urge board to add West Craighead Red Line station to serve North Inner neighborhoods

Community leaders from Hidden Valley and the Inner Northeast made a coordinated appeal to trustees to include a Red Line station at West Craighead Road and North Graham Street in forthcoming locally preferred alternatives. Marjorie Parker, identified as president of the Hidden Valley Community Association, and Karen Sullivan of the Red Line Commuter Coalition presented a map-based packet showing the proposed site, arguing the stop would serve major thoroughfares, reduce transportation barriers, and mitigate disproportionate environmental burdens caused by nearby industrial land uses.

Speakers highlighted that the community collaborated with the city’s planning department, has area-plan designations in place and views a Craighead station as a catalyst for equitable development, improved access to jobs and services, and reduced neighborhood pollution exposure. Tanya Jameson, a civic-advancement director, said neighborhoods had prepared a coordinated vision and urged trustees to act intentionally to include historically overlooked communities rather than concentrate investment only in high-visibility areas.

Trustees acknowledged the comments; planning staff and the Planning & Capital Delivery Committee had already discussed Craighead among candidate stations and will continue consideration as they refine the Red Line locally preferred alternative. The board heard repeated neighborhood requests and asked staff to incorporate community input as they finalize recommendations.