The route of the STAR line was planned to travel along the EJ&E right of way and in the median of the Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90).

The route would have used a new fleet of European-style trains running at 79 miles per hour (127 km/h), providing service at 15-minute intervals during peak periods.

[2] In June 2003, the Regional Transportation Authority board unanimously signaled their support for the proposed STAR Line.

[1] In January 2012, the Daily Herald reported that Metra was no longer actively studying the project, partly due to a lack of funding from federal and state governments.

Other transport modes, such as bus rapid transit, offered a cheaper alternative to the STAR Line.