[nergie]

http://images.suntimes.com/popups/FTR/images/bridge_061706_500.jpg

Kick ass, I hate that old bridge when I drive home. But, they should save the old bridge for Daley's bike paths, it would make a great river crossing for the bike trails.

[Chicago2020]

Are these projects still alive???

http://www.architecture.org/drivesite/images/details/epstein/35-1lg.jpg
http://www.architecture.org/drivesite/images/details/wight/CR-4lg.jpg

--------------------------------------------------------------------
And I thought these were cool!!! The NEW Dan Ryan

http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-05.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-01.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-03.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-08.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-07.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-06.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-04.jpg

[VivaLFuego]

^doubt it, they need that land to add more lanes of traffic, congestion, and pollution. viva l car.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0606180254jun18,1,4341439.story?coll=chi-news-hed

How Hastert benefited from sale
Planned highway could sweeten asset near Plano

By James Kimberly and Andrew Zajac, Tribune staff reporters. James Kimberly reported from Chicago and Andrew Zajac from Washington; Tribune staff reporters Mike Dorning and Ray Gibson contributed to t
Published June 18, 2006

The complex structure of a real estate transaction in Kendall County last December left House Speaker Dennis Hastert with a seven-figure profit and in prime position to reap further benefits as the exurban region west of Chicago continues its prairie-fire growth boosted by a Hastert-backed federally funded proposed highway.

Instead of cash, Hastert (R-Ill.) took most of his share of the proceeds in land, some of it less than 2 miles from the parcels he and two partners in a land trust sold for nearly $5 million to a developer who plans to build more than 1,500 homes and commercial space on the property near Little Rock and Galena roads in Plano.

Hastert received five-eighths of the proceeds of the sale, which worked out to a profit of more than $1.5 million for him on property that he and his partners accumulated in a little more than three years.

.....

Proposed Prairie Parkway

Karpus downplayed the impact of the proposed Prairie Parkway, which would run north and south through Kendall County, noting that property prices began rising well before the proposed highway became a serious planning issue. The proposed road is designed to connect Interstate Highways 80 and 88.

Mandel Manion, who has sold real estate in the Plano area since 1991, said the market for farmland really took off in the last year and a half.

Manion said farmers tell her that developers knock on their doors unsolicited and offer to buy their land for $35,000 to $40,000 an acre.

"Maybe the Prairie Parkway has something to do with it, I don't know," Manion said. "I would guess it probably doesn't hurt."

Hastert's family paid $11,000 per acre in 2002 for some of the land he and his partners subsequently sold in December for $36,000 per acre.

The speaker has long been a staunch supporter of the proposed Prairie Parkway and helped secure more than $200million in federal funding through an earmark in federal transportation legislation last year.

Hastert press secretary Ron Bonjean said it is wrong to think that the speaker's backing of the parkway could positively affect his property investments because they are 5 miles from the proposed path of the highway. "It's too far away to have an effect," Bonjean said, adding, "The speaker has bought land like every American has a right to. . . . He is not benefiting from the parkway."

Jan Strasma, chairman of Citizens Against the Sprawlway, which opposes the parkway, disputed Bonjean's reasoning.

"People don't want to live next to the expressway," Strasma said. "They want to live several miles away with easy access.

"If this were some other individual who wasn't in a position of power and influence you would say, `Gee, they were smart, they made some money,'" Strasma said. "In this case it just doesn't look right."

If the Kendall County Board gets its way, residents of the development would have quick access to the parkway via an interchange at Galena Road.

The board last month passed a resolution calling for the construction of an interchange there, although county officials say they don't have the money to pay for it.

County Engineer Francis Klaas said an interchange would not be built unless the state, the federal government or a private developer put up the money. The state of Illinois has said it has no plans to provide highway access at Galena Road.

[the urban politician]

^ Hastert's an ass.

I have no interest in a dirty scumbag whose sole purpose in life is to promote sprawl for his selfish, wasteful constituency.

[Wheelingman04]

^ I can't stand him either.

[the urban politician]

I've also been wondering about the status of all those pedestrian bridges that were presented about 1 and 1/2 years ago--I was really impressed with all of them.

BTW, this new "bike-friendly" plan by Daley is more than just a little speech. It's a pretty detailed plan. If you're interested, here's the link:

http://www.bike2015plan.org/

[OmegaPaladin]

Prarie Parkway? More like the Hastert Honorary Highway. If they build it, they need to stop nearby development, which they are most certainly not doing. The bastard is disgraceful.

[VivaLFuego]

Prairie Parkway is egregious pork, not quite on the magnitude of the Bridge to Nowhere or its bastard son the Railroad to Nowhere, but it's bad news.

[LA21st]

Are these projects still alive???

http://www.architecture.org/drivesite/images/details/epstein/35-1lg.jpg
http://www.architecture.org/drivesite/images/details/wight/CR-4lg.jpg

--------------------------------------------------------------------
And I thought these were cool!!! The NEW Dan Ryan

http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-05.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-01.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-03.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-08.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-07.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-06.jpg
http://www.il-asla.org/Awards/2004/Winners/project_images/DanRyan-04.jpg


I work for CDOT, and work with the process of pre construction for all transportation projects. I have a spreadsheet that has all projects (there must be about 100) over the next two years. I just focus on what is current, so I havent paid alot of attention to future projects.

35th over LSD sounds very famaliar, so does 67th street.

[the urban politician]

^ So whats the scoop on this stuff?

[Frankie]

From todays Trib

Pink Line is ready, even if riders aren't

By Virginia Groark
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 23, 2006


With signs posted at elevated train stations, pink stripes painted on support columns and motormen trained on the new route, the Chicago Transit Authority is ready for the Sunday launch of the Pink Line, its first new rail service since the Orange Line's debut in 1993.

Days before the rail route's inaugural run, however, many riders were scratching their heads, trying to figure out where the Pink Line will take them and whether it will lengthen or shorten their commute. Some hadn't been able to get schedule information; others fretted about how disabled riders will transfer to the Red Line.

Some knew nothing at all about the new "L" line, despite radio ads, posters on buses and signs in stations.

"There's still a lot of people who don't realize what this is," said Michael Pitula, public transit organizer for the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, which opposes the line and has been passing out "Pink Stinks" fliers on trains. "I've met a lot of riders who think the CTA is just changing the Blue Line to a new color."

Wince Collins, a 29-year-old West Side resident who uses the Blue Line's Forest Park branch to get to his North Side retail job, is excited about the change, which will increase service on his branch of the Blue Line. The extra trains should reduce his waiting time for a train to 7 or 8 minutes from 15.

Shalini Gupta, 36, worries that the changes will lengthen her trip between her job at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Union Station, where she typically boards a Metra train to Aurora after taking the 54/Cermak branch from Polk Street to Clinton Street.

Such is the debate that has circled the Pink Line since last winter, when the CTA board approved a 180-day test to reroute the 54/Cermak branch, formerly called the Douglas branch, along the Paulina Connector. The recently rehabilitated stretch of track was last used for passenger service in the 1950s when the Douglas branch traveled on it.

Although CTA officials say the Pink Line will improve rail service dramatically to the West Side, Southwest Side and western suburbs, Pitula and other activists say the route change will make it more difficult for riders who are used to a direct trip to places such as O'Hare International Airport.

Under the plan, the vast majority of trains that travel along the Cermak corridor will no longer join the Blue Line's Forest Park branch at the Eisenhower Expressway, head east into the Loop and out to the airport. Instead, they will head north to Lake Street, joining the Green Line and turning east into the Loop on elevated tracks. After circling the Loop, they will return on the same route.

The exception will be 18 inbound and 18 outbound weekday Blue Line trains that will continue on the existing 54/Cermak branch route. Those trains will run every half-hour weekdays from 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 2:25 to 6:30 p.m. but will not run on weekends.

The addition of the Pink Line will enable the CTA to increase the number of weekday peak trains on the corridor, cutting waiting time to 7 1/2 minutes from 10 to 15 minutes. During non-peak hours and weekends, trains will run every 10 to 15 minutes, down from 15 to 20 minutes.

Weekday peak service on the Forest Park branch also will improve, cutting waiting times to 7 1/2 minutes from 15 minutes. During weekends and non-peak weekdays, trains will run every 7 1/2 to 10 minutes, down from 15 to 20 minutes.

Though the number of trains will increase on the Pink Line, the CTA intends to run trains with four cars, rather than eight, during rush hours, CTA spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said. That could result in crowded cars during rush hour.

Riders such as Gupta who want to go to the Racine, UIC-Halsted or Clinton stops from the Pink Line will have to transfer to a bus at Polk or transfer to a Forest Park train in the Loop. Catching a 54/Cermak branch train during peak times is another option, but Gupta worries about the infrequency of those trains. If she misses one, she must wait another 30 minutes and likely miss her connection with Metra.

"That's dicey," said Gupta, who tried in vain to get a new train schedule Monday at the Polk Street station.

In fact, detailed schedule information has been hard to find, posing a problem for Juana Sanchez, an office assistant to Ald. George Cardenas (12th), who has received calls from students wondering how they will get to UIC and other places.

"We don't have the routes and the information, so we don't even really know what to tell them," she said.

The Little Village group is concerned about increased travel times for Pink Line riders who want to get to the UIC-Halsted, Racine or Clinton stops or to O'Hare.

"How is it an improvement to substitute a train that only goes downtown in place of one that goes direct all the way to the airport?" Pitula said.

CTA officials said riders can transfer at the Clark/Lake stop, which they will reach 10 minutes faster on the Pink Line. Fewer than 2 percent of daily 54/Cermak riders travel between any of the 11 stations on the 54/Cermak branch and O'Hare, officials said.

Although some riders are concerned that the Pink Line will jam up the Loop system, CTA officials say computer models show there's enough capacity to run the trains on tracks now used by the Orange, Purple and Green Lines.

Others worry about people with disabilities, who now can transfer to the Red Line through a tunnel at the Jackson Street station without going outdoors. Pink Line riders who want to transfer to the Red Line will have to travel to the Library stop, leave the station and board the Red Line at the Jackson stop, said Kevin Irvine, transportation advocate for Equip for Equality. Another option, which requires an extra transfer, is to switch to the Blue Line at Clark/Lake, ride it to Jackson and transfer to the Red Line.

Some riders, including Maria Jamison, 30, believe the changes will improve their commute. Jamison now takes the 54/Cermak branch from Polk Street to the Brown Line at Clark/Lake. By CTA estimates, taking the Pink Line should get her to Clark/Lake 10 minutes quicker.

"I would be surprised if it makes my commute longer," she said.

[nomarandlee]

most will not effect most here but some of those in Rockford might


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060703amtrak,1,1580009.story?coll=chi-news-hed


Amtrak sees return of Rockford passenger trains

By Liam Ford
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 3, 2006, 8:12 PM CDT


ROCKFORD -- With momentum building to expand passenger rail service in Illinois, opening a train line between Chicago and Rockford is more a question of when than if, a senior Amtrak official said Monday.

A vote by legislators last spring to double funding for Amtrak's state-subsidized lines in the 2007 Illinois budget provides financial support to restore rail service that last ran in 1981, officials said.

"If you guys want the service, it's not, Should we do it? It is, What are the next steps we need to do to get it done?" Joe McHugh, Amtrak's senior vice president for governmental affairs, said after a town hall-style meeting at the Rockford airport of backers of reopening the route.

An analysis in late 2004 put the cost of creating a Metra line to Rockford at $89 million, with annual passenger ticket sales bringing in $1.6 million, still $1.7 million short of annual costs.

If Amtrak restarts the service, federal law requires it to make up any shortfalls in the cost of running the line with state subsidies.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Timothy Martin plans to move forward soon with a request to Amtrak to restart service.

Officials backing three competing plans to bring either Amtrak or Metra rail service to the Rockford area appeared ready Monday to let the two passenger railroads figure out the best way to move ahead.

The Black Hawk line once ran from Chicago to Elmhurst, then on to cities including Rockford, Galena and Dubuque, Iowa. Officials said Amtrak could use existing Canadian National tracks to restore service to Rockford.

Proposals for Metra service would either go to Rockford through Elgin and Belvidere or through DeKalb County and southern Winnebago County to the Rockford airport.

"We want to at least be able to put two or three options on the table, with everybody saying these appear to be the best—now let's test them against Amtrak standards and Metra standards and find out if they fit," said Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who organized the meeting at the airport with Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.).

Officials from several counties and cities that might benefit from the service spoke at the meeting. Some who have been backing particular proposals said they would be willing to work with others to make it happen.

"This community is ready to help make all of your jobs easier," Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said, adding that the competing plans should be brought under one umbrella.

"We've been in meetings before where everyone is decrying everyone else's proposal," McHugh said. "The fact that your folks understand the need for regionalism, and you've got to sort of get started somewhere, somehow, and you take steps, I think that's very mature and appropriate for this type of discussion."

Manzullo said bringing rail service back will help keep the Rockford area economically viable.

"I can't think of any item that would do more to invigorate economic growth and vitality and interest in making people want to not just continue to live in Rockford and invest, but to have their children stay here, than to have the railroad come to Rockford," he said.

lford@tribune.com

[Chicago Shawn]

^Great news and About time service is restored. Glad to see this moving into seroius planning stages now. Rockford's new mayor should be commended in his hard work in forging this ahead. He really is the beacon of light saving that stagnet city.

[Wheelingman04]

Yes, that is great news.

[spyguy]

I work for CDOT, and work with the process of pre construction for all transportation projects. I have a spreadsheet that has all projects (there must be about 100) over the next two years. I just focus on what is current, so I havent paid alot of attention to future projects.

35th over LSD sounds very famaliar, so does 67th street.

Maybe the time to bring it up:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0607100232jul10,1,5197761.column?coll=chi-news-hed

The city has secured about $6 million in federal funding to add a pedestrian bridge over South Lake Shore Drive at 41st Street and to design replacement bridges at 35th and 43rd Streets on the Drive, Steele said. The bridges, whose winning designs were selected from a CDOT-sponsored international competition, will be built over the next several years, he said.

In addition, plans are set to build a pedestrian and bicycle underpass beneath Solidarity Drive near the Adler Planetarium on the Museum Campus. All $11 million needed for the project has been acquired, Steele said.

Were you able to find anything out?

[SevenSevenThree]

Does anyone have a hold of any renderings and specs of the new Howard St. station? I saw a quick glance tonight and wanted to see details of the project, which apparently has already started. I didnt notice outside of the reconfiguration of the platform crew houses and didnt think twice about it.

[VivaLFuego]

Does anyone have a hold of any renderings and specs of the new Howard St. station? I saw a quick glance tonight and wanted to see details of the project, which apparently has already started. I didnt notice outside of the reconfiguration of the platform crew houses and didnt think twice about it.
havent seen anything bid....there's a little one on the first page here:
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/motion/board/0603constupdate.pdf

Basically, totally rebuilt: new, wider platforms, handicap accessible, and I think 2 or even 3 entrances/exits in the general vicinity, smoother integration with the bus turnaround and parking garage, etc.

[SevenSevenThree]

Thank you kindly.

I hope larger renderings and details are released. I wonder why things arent more visible with this particular project. The station NEEDS this and will do wonders for commuters as well as just the overall appearance of the immediate area. Thats my neighborhood station and I cant wait until completion.

[VivaLFuego]

Thank you kindly.

I hope larger renderings and details are released. I wonder why things arent more visible with this particular project. The station NEEDS this and will do wonders for commuters as well as just the overall appearance of the immediate area. Thats my neighborhood station and I cant wait until completion.
It will be nice, it'll be a huge project, I think about $50 million, lots of track reallignment going on to. It should be a very nice intermodal transit center by the end.

There are also plans for modest renovations to other Red Line stations on the far north side (replacing those rotting canopies, cleaning up the station entrances, etc.)

Now if they could just remove the slow zones on the north end of the red line so it doesnt take 50+ minutes to get downtown...

[SevenSevenThree]

Now if they could just remove the slow zones on the north end of the red line so it doesnt take 50+ minutes to get downtown...

Everything sounds good so far esp the prospects of cleaning up the other Red Line stops but good luck with the above quoted statement. I dont understand that slow zone deal when the Red Line is completely straight after Loyola going south. Maybe its something Im missing but it would be nice to not wait between stations for 20 minutes with nothing in front of us for a good 5 stops.

[LA21st]

Maybe the time to bring it up:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0607100232jul10,1,5197761.column?coll=chi-news-hed



Were you able to find anything out?

Oh man, I forgot about this request. I just looked at that spreadsheet today.:D I will post some information on some of the more interesting ones tomorrow.

I think someone was asking me about the Van Buren bridge? Or Taylor Street? Maybe that was SSC.:shrug:

[neuhickman79]

Blue Line Train Derails btwn Damen and Racine stations.

http://www.cbs47.tv/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=7D0AD648-203F-47DD-A122-6B3F0859701F

[Chicago Shawn]

Oh man, I forgot about this request. I just looked at that spreadsheet today.:D I will post some information on some of the more interesting ones tomorrow.

I think someone was asking me about the Van Buren bridge? Or Taylor Street? Maybe that was SSC.:shrug:


That was me on the Taylor Street Bridge. I just wanted to know if CDOT looked at reusing the North Avenue bascule draw bridge for the restored Taylor Street crossing.

[LA21st]

I just talked to an engineer in Bridges. Thats a no, Shawn. CDOT has no more use for old material and they end up selling it scrap.

[Chicago Shawn]

^Damn! That bridge is far too beautiful to go to the scrap heap. :( Thanks for the update though.

[spyguy]

Thank you kindly.

I hope larger renderings and details are released. I wonder why things arent more visible with this particular project. The station NEEDS this and will do wonders for commuters as well as just the overall appearance of the immediate area. Thats my neighborhood station and I cant wait until completion.

Are these accurate?
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3342/howard12rj.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6871/howard25ue.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2562/howard38fp.jpg

[VivaLFuego]

Are these accurate?
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3342/howard12rj.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6871/howard25ue.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2562/howard38fp.jpg
Yes that's what I've seen, though I've also heard that the full canopy over the platforms and track has been scaled back due to cost issues (similar to some of the redesigns of the new Brown Line stations). Nice big hi-res renderings, where'd you find those?

[SevenSevenThree]

Ah thanks spyguy for those. Ive heard about the canopy cutback also, which disappoints me. I think it could lend a great deal of "something" to the appearance of the station. They cut back the canopy BIG time on the brown line, esp the Chicago Ave station which Im slighty upset about. I never understood why they cut back so much of the canopy. Who wants to get rained on? Who wants to be beaten to death by the sun? I liked the canopy. I guess it depends on the materials, although they switched up on that too. Regardless, its a whole hell of a lot better than whats there now and thats most important. I also like the new entrances being right by the bus terminals. Sometimes, I have to turn into a track star to make the bus. Thanks again, VivaLFuego and spyguy.

[SevenSevenThree]

One more thing: I'd love to see alot more trees and flowers around the bus terminal storefronts, bus stops and the immediate vincinity. It needs it badly to counteract the immense amount of concrete and stone drawing in the heat. So much potential for Howard St...

[trvlr70]

I can't remember, but hasn't the Chicago Av. CTA station been rehabbed because it is in a touisty part of Chicago.

Is the Clark/Divison stop still disgusting?

[VivaLFuego]

I can't remember, but hasn't the Chicago Av. CTA station been rehabbed because it is in a touisty part of Chicago.

Is the Clark/Divison stop still disgusting?
Chicago/Red Line was rehabbed a few years ago. The next Red Line station to be rehabbed will be Grand/State. Clark/Division is still disgusting, and has no concrete plans for renovation anytime soon (though it will probably be next, after Grand, but it's at least a few years off).

Jackson/Blue line is currently being renovated, and after that, the Clark/Lake/Blue Line platform will be renovated (again).

I'm not certain, but I think some improvements to Washington/Blue Line and the red line may be rolled into the Block 37 superstation and tunnel construction. I know the Washington/Red Line station will be removed as part of the B37 construction, but I'm not sure if the plan is to keep the current station at Monroe, or split the different and put one at Madison. Either way, there should be pedway connections between all of the surrounding mezanines, and B37.

Again I'm not certain about this, but I think the Monroe stations are generally being let to lie, under the hope that there will one day be a transit route under or over Monroe, so renovations to the current subways in the vicinty under State and Dearborn would be planned accordingly.

Since the city owns the subway tunnels, it would be nice if they took more initiative in renovating every subway station.....which I guess is another incentive to renew the central area TIF.

[Loopy]

I can't remember, but hasn't the Chicago Av. CTA station been rehabbed because it is in a touisty part of Chicago.

Is the Clark/Divison stop still disgusting?

Affirmative. Still disgusting.

Chicago was the first of the downtown underground stations to be rehabbed. A few more have been done since. Grand and Harrison are now the worst looking stations after Clark/Division.

[LA21st]

Maybe the time to bring it up:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0607100232jul10,1,5197761.column?coll=chi-news-hed



Were you able to find anything out?

Sorry to be a downer (again) but these projects arent on CDOT's construction radar yet. It might not be that far off, but Im guessing those projects you are asking about wont start until 2008 at the earliest.

Jackson/Dearborn subway station is a little over 25% complete.

[LA21st]

Chicago/Red Line was rehabbed a few years ago. The next Red Line station to be rehabbed will be Grand/State. Clark/Division is still disgusting, and has no concrete plans for renovation anytime soon (though it will probably be next, after Grand, but it's at least a few years off).

Jackson/Blue line is currently being renovated, and after that, the Clark/Lake/Blue Line platform will be renovated (again).

I'm not certain, but I think some improvements to Washington/Blue Line and the red line may be rolled into the Block 37 superstation and tunnel construction. I know the Washington/Red Line station will be removed as part of the B37 construction, but I'm not sure if the plan is to keep the current station at Monroe, or split the different and put one at Madison. Either way, there should be pedway connections between all of the surrounding mezanines, and B37.

Again I'm not certain about this, but I think the Monroe stations are generally being let to lie, under the hope that there will one day be a transit route under or over Monroe, so renovations to the current subways in the vicinty under State and Dearborn would be planned accordingly.

Since the city owns the subway tunnels, it would be nice if they took more initiative in renovating every subway station.....which I guess is another incentive to renew the central area TIF.

CDOT would love too, if they had the funds to do it.

[VivaLFuego]

CDOT would love too, if they had the funds to do it.
The city could use TIF money rather than giving public money to private investors and developers in an unblighted area...but I understand thats not necessarily CDOT's decision. Good folk at CDOT.

[LA21st]

Thats not our call to use those funds. That belongs to our friends across LaSalle St at City Hall.:banana:

[VivaLFuego]

The following is a survey conducted as part of the research on the Carrol Ave. transitway:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/DisplaySummary.asp?SID=1878811&U=187881151555

This is from the River North Residents Association website:
http://www.rivernorthresidents.com/Transitway_Study.htm

Just find it interesting that 80% of people who live in that area, one of the densest, centrally located in the city, own cars.

There seems to be moderate transit usage for work trips, but nothing more, otherwise its all taxis and private autos and walking. Good to see the decently high walking numbers, at least.

[the urban politician]

^ Interesting data. It's a small survey, but it's actually promising.

A lot of people walk, naturally.

PT usage is decent, but if you think about it, these people often live so near to work that PT may not be necessary

Although about 1/4 of people are driving, lets not forget that a certain percentage of them may also be working in the suburbs.

All in all, the data is pretty promising. Thanks for providing it

[VivaLFuego]

^ Interesting data. It's a small survey, but it's actually promising.

A lot of people walk, naturally.

PT usage is decent, but if you think about it, these people often live so near to work that PT may not be necessary

Although about 1/4 of people are driving, lets not forget that a certain percentage of them may also be working in the suburbs.

All in all, the data is pretty promising. Thanks for providing it
There's some potential there. It suggests that at least in the short term, Chicagoans are very willing to live in dense, walkable neighborhoods, and will take transit when it provides a simple/quick enough trip. All with the caveat, that they'd still really like to have a car, mostly for shopping and leisure. So maybe the parking blob pedestals are a-ok....though i wish they could pretty them up a bit more.

[jjk1103]

........in reading the story in the Trib about the cost overruns on the Brown rehab........it looks like Krusei is in real trouble.

[spyguy]

Bombardier Finalizes Order Valued at $577 Million US for Rapid Transit Cars in Chicago
July 28, 2006

Bombardier Transportation announced today that it has finalized a major order for rapid transit cars from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), a contract valued at $577 million US (457 million euros). On May 10, the CTA Board had selected Bombardier as preferred bidder. The contract is for a base order of 206 rapid transit vehicles and CTA also exercised a first option for 200 additional vehicles for a total of 406 cars. The total number of cars involved could increase to 706 should CTA exercise all available options.

The new rapid transit cars will be the first in the CTA fleet to utilize alternating current (AC) propulsion, a technology that permits dynamic braking regeneration, lower energy and maintenance costs, and improved reliability. Bombardier was the first rail car builder to supply AC propulsion technology to transit authorities in the United States and Canada. The new fleet of cars also will be equipped with a special leveling system to ensure that access to the car floor is level with the station platform during boarding.

The contract calls for delivery of ten prototype cars 30 months after Notice to Proceed is given by the CTA. The prototypes will undergo nine months of revenue service testing before delivery of production series cars begins.

The CTA operates the second largest public transportation system in the United States, covering the city of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs. CTA trains provide about 500,000 customer trips each day via seven routes, 222 miles of track and 144 stations.

In North America, Bombardier Transportation is the leader in commuter rail, intercity, subway cars, automated rapid transit and automated guideway transit systems. It also maintains two of the largest multi-level commuter rail car fleets in Canada and the United States.

Bombardier Transportation has its global headquarters in Berlin, Germany and operations in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of approximately 97,000 cars and locomotives, primarily in Europe, the world's largest rail market. The company offers the broadest product portfolio and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.
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Click for bigger images

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6404/ctaexthiresdd1fz1.th.jpg (http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ctaexthiresdd1fz1.jpg)

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3814/ctainthireslt5.th.jpg (http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ctainthireslt5.jpg)

[Busy Bee]

I'm sorry, but between this and the new Metra Electric MU's, which are essentially just like a stainless Metra pull coach with a pantograph on top, I am really getting irritated with transport design in Chicago. It seems the rest of the world(including 2nd world) have rail fleet's that are appealing, forward looking, stylish design. This new L car is IDENTICAL to the 3200 on the outside, a design drafted by some engineer nearly 15 years ago! Some here have said that the no frills, utilitarian CTA L car is perfect for Chicago. I disagree completly. I'm not saying that we should have gotten some crazy bubbly shaped thing more suited for Thailand or anything, just some INNOVATION and CREATIVITY, or just a little bit of aesthetic consideration. Let's face it, it would not have taken much to snazzy up this design. Slight modifications to the cab front could have resulted in something more reflective of the year 2008! Would you have a problem buying and enjoying a brand new automobile(if you drive) that was styled like a 1991 Olsmobile Cutless Siera whatever? These new railcars will be 18 years old when they are delivered new, and assuming they last at least 30 years, we will be seeing a 1990 design in the year 2040, wow! Imagine how this industrial design we'll look then. How would you feel about the CTA if they were still running the 6000's in the year 2006?

This may seem like an overreaction to many, but I don;t see it like that. I am probably as equally interested in industrial design as I am architecture and urbanism. I know that at one time the likes of Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss reshaped the way American rail trasnportation looked, and America was known worldwide for having the most fantastic trains. We have gone from a legacy of cutting edge industrial design with beautiful color spectrums to outsourcing the doggiest rapid transit car on the globe(maybe behind Toronto) to one its' finest cities.

I just think it's extremely unfortunate that the Chicago area's legacy of stylish beautiful transport has dimensioned so greatly. No more orange, brown, cream or green of the IC(hell soon no more orange on the Metra Highliners either, replaced with Metra's blah blue); No more green and yellow of the CNW, more silver streak; Very little emphasis of South Shore orange and marroon(we've probably all seen pics of orange South Shore MU's down by Central Station with the skyline in the back, alot more interesting than more corrugated stainless); No more green and red of the North Shore Electroliner; No more Rock Island red, black and silver; No more green, cream and orange of early CTA, hell no more mint green either; remember when the buses were that green, lime and white scheme, I liked that... it sure would be in style now, but what do we have?... this lame go USA paint scheme of red white and blue, UGGH! Look around the world, fantastic paint jobs in Europe of transit vehicles, we're lucky if we have a strip of color on white buses or LRV's in many US cities, look at New York, LA, the list goes on) And these examples were only of commuter services, think of the landscape we've lost since the collapse of passenger rail in this country. B&O, NYC, GM&O, PRR, IC, Milwaukee Road, it gets depressing.

This is a long spout, but what I'm getting at is that we are getting the short end of the stick in terms of transport aesthetics. Our long history of innovative style has been replaced with design being an afterthought, and that is BAD for image. More worrisome is that so many don't even seem to notice, or defend the local agencies for having cars that "fit" Chicago. Please! If anything, they make the transport in the area look underfunded(which it is), unimpressive(Metra in particular), dowdy, DRAB and stuck in the past. It just seems that NO ONE is asking, "does this look cool"?... because they should. I fear that many aspects of overlooked American design is suffering because no one is asking this question. Walk around and notice how many things, not just architecture, looks like it was designed with no regard for style. Now go to Holland or Denmark and see the difference in a society where very little design is overlooked.

Let's just hope the NY style seating is an improvement and that the fake wood paneling doesn't skip the 3200 and reappear again.

[VivaLFuego]

^ good riddance to fake wood panelling!

[VivaLFuego]

^ You can thank former CTA President Paaswell for killing our unique Mercury Green, Croyden Cream, and Swamp Holley Orange color scheme, favoring the blah red, white, and blue of every other transit agency. How awesome was all the old CTA signage, in Futura fonts with the green and cream color schemes?

I think the lack of creative industrial design is indicative of a wider societal problem, a loss of the confidence and pride that we had back in the "good old days". Hence we wind up with the insultingly wretched olde tyme infill all over the city's northside rather than trying anything forward-looking. It's just not transport, such ways of thinking are all over the place, and of course the current climate against funding government means transit agencies do need to be budget conscious, so flashy design is one of the first things thrown out to save costs. The only way they're getting away with the Calatrava train station in NY is because the federal taxpayers are paying for it as part of the rubber stamp "reconstruction" efforts we like to do after major disasters (Katrina, etc.)

Personally, I like the exterior aesthetic of the 3200s, and think the ribbed stainless steel has an almost timeless elegance to it (witness the 2200s on the blue/pink lines, now 35 years old), so I don't mind if these look pretty similar.

[ChicagoBruce]

I disagree completely. I love the look of the CTA cars and hope they never change, unless they maybe revert to even older looks. I want no part of the some modern and futuristic design, I think that would look dumb.

They really need the poles throughout the car, so the people standing don’t have to be surrounding the door areas, but I also dislike the new seating arrangement. Since the vast majority of the system is above ground, it’s nice to be able to look the window easier.

[Steely Dan]

i for one LOVE the aesthetic of chicago's L cars and i am overjoyed by the fact that we will still be seeing this classic look in 2040! hopefully it will last forever. i'm still not sold on the side aisle seating, but it will be what it'll be. one of the things i like about the current L car seating configuration is the fact that we don't face each other across an aisle, it's easier to look out the window as you ride.

[Skurry]

The new layout is fine with me, the more seats the better. Rush hour is too crowded! I know they are expanding some of the brown/red line stops to accomidate trains with more cars, they need to do that with all stops. I can not tell you how many times I have had to "wait for the next train" because no more can fit in. Even when it's not packed you can't get a seat, after working all day long I really don't want to stand on a moving train. After all the construction is done in the loop there is going to be much more rider traffic. CTA needs to be prepared.

As far as an update in design, I couldn't agree more with the fact that our pub-trans seems outdated. Sometimes I feel like I'm stepping into a portal to the 70s. Both Metra and CTA need to change their whole look. We are entering into a new age, let's look like it.

[Busy Bee]

^Thank You.

[whyhuhwhy]

I agree, but it seems there is nothing we can do about it.

[Busy Bee]

Think of it this way:

Like Sears, a business that neglects or questions the importance of style, whether true or not, is often regarded as second rate.

[whyhuhwhy]

At least we know these designs age well though. I think the design of the station is more important than the train when all is said and done. There needs to be more signs like in London that tell you when the next train is coming. How many stations in Chicago have that?

[whyhuhwhy]

I think more than anything a new design would spur ridership interest just because it could be used as a marketing tacting. "The New CTA" if you will.

Unfortunately no sense in talking about it. What's done is done. That is what the el's going to look like until we die probably.

[the urban politician]

^ I agree that newer, more modern looking trains would be the way to go. The current cars look so damn utilitarian. Some colors would be nice.

I love how they painted some cars pink for the Pink Line. Something along those lines would really add to the cityscape. Perhaps a neon green "glow in the dark train" would be in order

As long as they never get rid of that totally cool "ding dong" bell sound just before the doors open and close, I'll be happy.

[nomarandlee]

At least we know these designs age well though. I think the design of the station is more important than the train when all is said and done. There needs to be more signs like in London that tell you when the next train is coming. How many stations in Chicago have that?


I agree. I go back and forth on if I prefer the stainless steal look or if I would like the CTA to go down the route of a Madrid or even a D.C. look. Both have their aethestic pros and cons. The one major con I have against the current look is that it reminds me too much of NYC. It seems to say if it is good enough for NYC then its good enough for us. But it does age well, doesn't get especially dirty, and can look sleak at times. Also I think the inside of the new cars are more important. Look insde Londons lines (only seen in photos) and they look very nice and sophisticated.

But as said before I think the stations are most important. And I hate to say it but many if not most of Chi's stations are just in abysmal shape. If you want to change perceptions that rapid tranist is not just for the poor then you need to change the atmosphere and conditions that it looks like it does.

[alex1]

nothing special about the current cars. the flat fronts serve no purpose other then to cause drag and require more power to operate.

Personally, my favorite trains are the London Underground fleet. However, something like that is only viable if there's a train every 23 seconds. That's not gonna happen in chicago anytime in the next 20 years.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0607280285jul28,1,2424903.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed

South suburbs see promise, peril in Metra line proposal

By Carmen Greco Jr
Special to the Tribune
Published July 28, 2006

A new Metra commuter line that would give thousands of south suburban residents greater access to downtown Chicago could be a blessing and a curse, residents said during a planning meeting in Glenwood.

While the proposed Southeast Service Line could spur transit-oriented development and increase employment opportunities, residents said Wednesday night they worry about added traffic congestion and air and noise pollution.

"We have a small town, and the congestion is already terrible," said Mark Nordin of Thornton. "You add more Metra trains every 20 minutes, and people aren't even going to be able to get to work."

But Metra officials and south suburban leaders say the line could help municipalities revitalize their downtowns and take cars off local roads and expressways.

The line, which would cost about $500 million in its most expensive form, would begin south of Crete near Balmoral Park and make stops in Crete, Steger, South Chicago Heights, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Thornton, South Holland and Dolton.

The line would run on existing Union Pacific/CSX freight tracks before switching to tracks on Metra's Rock Island line near Blue Island.

Metra is marshaling the local support needed to persuade the federal government to fund the project. After an initial planning phase, officials said, they would schedule meetings in October for public comment. If approved, the project would take 8 to 10 years to complete.

"There's a lot more growth expected in this area, and the transportation system is already stressed," said Mike Lambert, a consultant hired by Metra.

Metra also will study alternatives to rail transportation for the region, including express buses that would follow a corridor along Interstate Highways 394 and 94.

Glenwood Mayor Jeanne Maggio, like other local leaders, is pushing for a rail line. A stop in Glenwood, she said, would mean a new train station that could spur downtown redevelopment. A new condominium and retail development is already taking off, she said.

"If the train were here today, it would already be filled up," Maggio said of the space.

She and other local leaders say they fear unwanted side-effects, such as increased traffic congestion, but believe careful planning could address those concerns. Leaders and residents from the communities slated for stops, for instance, could opt out of building train stations if they believe they would not benefit their towns.

South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff said the prospect of rail service already is sparking developers' interest in his town.

"We've used this as a catalyst to help jumpstart our downtown area," he said.

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http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/232/sesmapck9.jpg

[VivaLFuego]

At least we know these designs age well though. I think the design of the station is more important than the train when all is said and done. There needs to be more signs like in London that tell you when the next train is coming. How many stations in Chicago have that?
like 4 stations have these signs, though many (all of the orange, green, pink line) have announcements for when a train is 1 minute away.

This is an interesting issue, because everyone says they want it, but studies have shown only a very minor impact on overall customer satisfaction and almost zero impact on ridership, so its not currently a priority investment for CTA.

[VivaLFuego]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0607280285jul28,1,2424903.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed

South suburbs see promise, peril in Metra line proposal

By Carmen Greco Jr
Special to the Tribune
Published July 28, 2006

A new Metra commuter line that would give thousands of south suburban residents greater access to downtown Chicago could be a blessing and a curse, residents said during a planning meeting in Glenwood.

While the proposed Southeast Service Line could spur transit-oriented development and increase employment opportunities, residents said Wednesday night they worry about added traffic congestion and air and noise pollution.

"We have a small town, and the congestion is already terrible," said Mark Nordin of Thornton. "You add more Metra trains every 20 minutes, and people aren't even going to be able to get to work."

But Metra officials and south suburban leaders say the line could help municipalities revitalize their downtowns and take cars off local roads and expressways.

The line, which would cost about $500 million in its most expensive form, would begin south of Crete near Balmoral Park and make stops in Crete, Steger, South Chicago Heights, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Thornton, South Holland and Dolton.

The line would run on existing Union Pacific/CSX freight tracks before switching to tracks on Metra's Rock Island line near Blue Island.

Metra is marshaling the local support needed to persuade the federal government to fund the project. After an initial planning phase, officials said, they would schedule meetings in October for public comment. If approved, the project would take 8 to 10 years to complete.

"There's a lot more growth expected in this area, and the transportation system is already stressed," said Mike Lambert, a consultant hired by Metra.

Metra also will study alternatives to rail transportation for the region, including express buses that would follow a corridor along Interstate Highways 394 and 94.

Glenwood Mayor Jeanne Maggio, like other local leaders, is pushing for a rail line. A stop in Glenwood, she said, would mean a new train station that could spur downtown redevelopment. A new condominium and retail development is already taking off, she said.

"If the train were here today, it would already be filled up," Maggio said of the space.

She and other local leaders say they fear unwanted side-effects, such as increased traffic congestion, but believe careful planning could address those concerns. Leaders and residents from the communities slated for stops, for instance, could opt out of building train stations if they believe they would not benefit their towns.

South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff said the prospect of rail service already is sparking developers' interest in his town.

"We've used this as a catalyst to help jumpstart our downtown area," he said.

-----
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/232/sesmapck9.jpg
Given that suburbs are a fact of life, commuter rail will certainly help strengthen corridors and fill in the space along the corridors and in the suburban downtowns, while of course adding to the transportation capacity headed to chicago's main employment center. all this means it allows chicagoland to keep adding residents without claiming more farmland (though it inevitably will). Good luck to Metra on making it happen (though I wish Metra would also consider some actual cooperation with CTA on fare integration and better rapid transit connections to the downtown commuter terminals.

[the urban politician]

^ This is a great idea and I'm always in favor of more commuter rail access to downtown Chicago.

The south suburbs need the same access to downtown as the people in the north burbs, and it's better than having more cars on the expressways.

[Taft]

like 4 stations have these signs, though many (all of the orange, green, pink line) have announcements for when a train is 1 minute away.

This is an interesting issue, because everyone says they want it, but studies have shown only a very minor impact on overall customer satisfaction and almost zero impact on ridership, so its not currently a priority investment for CTA.

I can buy that the average customer probably wouldn't benefit much from this. But there are areas where it would be REALY helpful for riders. For instance, brown/purple line riders heading north from the loop from stations without the ability to go from one side of the platform to the other. Not knowing which train is coming next is really a pain.

It probably wouldn't increase ridership, but it might just increase customer satisfaction, which, in the long term, could net more riders.

Taft

[Wright Concept]

The next train monitors usually works with rail corridors with multiple lines sharing the tracks so that folks won't get on the wrong train. Like that would work for the Loop or the shared track stretches of the Orange-Green south of the loop to Roosevelt or Brown/Purple between Belmont and Merch Mart. But come to think of it that already exists at some of those linking stations

[oshkeoto]

"Some here have said that the no frills, utilitarian CTA L car is perfect for Chicago. I disagree completly. I'm not saying that we should have gotten some crazy bubbly shaped thing more suited for Thailand or anything, just some INNOVATION and CREATIVITY, or just a little bit of aesthetic consideration. Let's face it, it would not have taken much to snazzy up this design."

Innovation or snazz rumbling along on rusting, 110-year-old utilitarian elevated tracks would look ridiculous.

I would be for some sort of colors, though.

[whyhuhwhy]

Innovation or snazz rumbling along on rusting, 110-year-old utilitarian elevated tracks would look ridiculous.


LOL, that's totally true. Never thought about it like that. I can't imagine how ridiculous an innovative train might look creeking along at 30 mph.

[VivaLFuego]

"Some here have said that the no frills, utilitarian CTA L car is perfect for Chicago. I disagree completly. I'm not saying that we should have gotten some crazy bubbly shaped thing more suited for Thailand or anything, just some INNOVATION and CREATIVITY, or just a little bit of aesthetic consideration. Let's face it, it would not have taken much to snazzy up this design."

Innovation or snazz rumbling along on rusting, 110-year-old utilitarian elevated tracks would look ridiculous.

I would be for some sort of colors, though.
Something worth noting is that a big part of the desire for the ribbed stainless steel of the 2200s, 3200s, and the new cars is that they are much less prone to graffiti

[Steely Dan]

^ and it's not just that they're less prone to graffiti, but graffiti is also approximately 1 billion times easier to remove from a stainless steel surface than from a painted surface. the stainless steel isn't there just for looks (although it does look extremely hot), it's also there because it's one of the most durable and anti-graffiti products known to man. stainless steel is one of the world's wonder products. if i was master of the universe, i would replace all of the matter in the cosmos with stainless steel.............. it would be a pretty kick-ass universe.

[oshkeoto]

I think I would only be for a newfangled design if it was just completely bizarre--like, if every car had an animal theme, so you'd get a train with elephant ears and a trunk, or a turtle shell, or something like that. We wouldn't have to replace all of our goold old cars, but I wouldn't mind hearing a ruckus and looking up and seeing a (stainless steel) elephant trunk.

All those other "forward-looking" designs in other cities just end up looking silly.

[VivaLFuego]

I think I would only be for a newfangled design if it was just completely bizarre--like, if every car had an animal theme, so you'd get a train with elephant ears and a trunk, or a turtle shell, or something like that. We wouldn't have to replace all of our goold old cars, but I wouldn't mind hearing a ruckus and looking up and seeing a (stainless steel) elephant trunk.

All those other "forward-looking" designs in other cities just end up looking silly.
Right....ribbed stainless steel = functional, timeless elegance.

For the interior, the rendering does seem to show that a little fake wood paneling survived up by the operator's booth.....argh!

[Busy Bee]

http://www.berliner-verkehr.de/ubbilder/utw1001_4.jpg

http://www.berliner-verkehr.de/ubbilder/utw1001_1.jpg

http://www.berliner-verkehr.de/ubbilder/utw1003.jpg

http://www.berliner-verkehr.de/ubbilder/skizze_hk.jpg

http://funini.com/train/sweden/imgs/c20.jpg

http://www.galen-frysinger.ws/sweden/elderhostel20.jpg

Yeah you're right, forward looking design is weird. We don't need any of that silly cutting edge stuff.http://images.skyscraperpage.com/images/smilies/koko.gif

Even if the outside didn't change, I can't think of a reason on earth that the interiors were not updated(besides the seating config.)

New York sure has made strides though:

http://tr.eltiempo.com/blogs/imagenes_editor/Image/alejandro_nieto/nycsubway80.jpg

http://mishappa.image.pbase.com/u47/terraxplorer/large/29947552.IRT3.jpg

MTA contacted a NY based industrial design firm named Antenna Design to do work for the exteriors/interiors of the R142/143 cars. The cars are still stainless but look great because the designers added flourishes that look like someone cared. The interiors are black, white, silver and a lavinder/perriwinkle color. Leaps better than what it looks like the CTA is going to get.

[Busy Bee]

Here is another NY in case the other doesn't load:

http://www.subwaywebnews.com/Photo%20Archive%20III/R142%20Interior.jpg

[oshkeoto]

"Yeah you're right, forward looking design is weird. We don't need any of that silly cutting edge stuff."

I don't think any of those cars are impressive. They look like brightly colored, flimsier versions of what we have.

The new NYC cars look sterile.

[Busy Bee]

I kind of like the idea of a sterile interior. I'd rather look at pure white walls, a speckled black floor and silver than grungy yellow/tan that looks like an old computer monitor. It's kind of like comparing a PC to a Mac in terms of aesthetics. Where as a PC has a long history of being a dud in the design department, the design of the Apple computer and brand is one of its' strongest selling points.

[Steely Dan]

busy bee, you're not going to win me over by posting pics of those garish european trains. those ridiculous things look like they belong at disneyland. what we're getting in chicago is a thousand times better and more appropriate for a real city.

stainless steel forever!

[Busy Bee]

GRRRR! Can't win em all I guess.

[brian_b]

Who cares what they look like, they just need quieter cars. And automatic air fresheners under each seat.

[spyguy]

Innovation or snazz rumbling along on rusting, 110-year-old utilitarian elevated tracks would look ridiculous.

I thought Chicago was a city of contrasts? I guess not...

What is kind of funny is how we don't lament the loss of countless historic buildings each year and institutions like Field's, but we are ready to defend the look of cars.

Which is sad. Modernizing the cars and stations would greatly enhance the CTA's image and provide new amenities, which in turn will drive ridership growth.

As we see with everything else, you either get with the times or become obsolete. I guess in 2040 we'll see if visitors and businesses enjoy our system which many already laugh at in 2006.

[Busy Bee]

Ditto. Thank you spyguy.

[Busy Bee]

I guess the root problem of all of this is not enough funding to make it a world class system. When the stations look as despicable as ours, I guess for many its hard to imagine its important to have rolling stock that is reflective of the times.

[VivaLFuego]

I guess the root problem of all of this is not enough funding to make it a world class system. When the stations look as despicable as ours, I guess for many its hard to imagine its important to have rolling stock that is reflective of the times.

Not enough funding, and I think the operations could be made much more efficient, though that would be very politically unpopular (it would involve cutting the plethora of service that CTA provides that no one rides, lke 30+ bus routes and reducing frequency of off-peak services). If operations recovered more at the farebox, then more public money could to capital improvements like station renovations. (of course, at 53% recovery ratio, we're still better than many major systems, Boston is 35%).

Another thing worth mentioning is that most of the system actually is in decent shape: The Orange Line, Green Line, Pink Line are all excellent. The south end of the red line and the brown line will soon be excellent. parts of the blue line are in decent shape. It just so happens that the most heavily used portions, i.e. the north branch of the red line and the downtown subways, are in the worst shape.

[Busy Bee]

Another thing worth mentioning is that most of the system actually is in decent shape: The Orange Line, Green Line, Pink Line are all excellent. The south end of the red line and the brown line will soon be excellent. parts of the blue line are in decent shape. It just so happens that the most heavily used portions, i.e. the north branch of the red line and the downtown subways, are in the worst shape.

That is a good point. I guess I was thinking more about the North Side Main, Brown(will soon be better), and the Loop because they get so much exposure and heavy ridership.

[HK Chicago]

I was surprised to see the CTA cars don't have unobstructed floors, and the NYC car photo is a perfect example of what I was thinking... easier to clean.

[alex1]

nYc train cars are damn nice.

[the urban politician]

SSP IS SO DAMN SLOW LATELY!!!

Anyhow, for those of you interested in the Circle Line, I found a pretty nice, detailed pdf of the CTA's answers to a lot of public questions regarding this development. It is dated only 2 weeks ago, so it's pretty new

Here's the link:

http://www.transitchicago.com/news/whatsnew2.wu?action=displaynewspostingdetail&articleid=117176

Go to the bottom, and click 'Responses to public comment'

[VivaLFuego]

CTA Bus Tracker pilot is launching:
http://www.ctabustracker.com

The pilot program is just on the #20 Madison. Pretty sweet, eh?

[spyguy]

^That's pretty cool.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0608040152aug04,1,2885565.story?coll=chi-news-hed

U.S. Cellular move aids rivals
Emergency calls possible in subway

By Jon Van
Tribune staff reporter
Published August 4, 2006

U.S. Cellular paid a lot of money to enable its mobile phone subscribers to make calls from Chicago Transit Authority trains traveling in subway tunnels. But it turns out that customers of some other cell phone companies will get one of those benefits: making emergency calls.

The U.S. Cellular service, launching commercially Friday, will not only keep its customers connected in tunnels, it will also enable people with Verizon Wireless and Sprint phones to make emergency 911 calls because their operating systems are compatible with U.S. Cellular's.

Promoting the safety aspects of cell phone use was a major reason that U.S. Cellular paid $2.9 million to activate its service in Chicago's CTA subway tunnels, John Rooney, chief of the Chicago-based wireless phone carrier, said.

[VivaLFuego]

^That's pretty cool.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0608040152aug04,1,2885565.story?coll=chi-news-hed

U.S. Cellular move aids rivals
Emergency calls possible in subway

By Jon Van
Tribune staff reporter
Published August 4, 2006

U.S. Cellular paid a lot of money to enable its mobile phone subscribers to make calls from Chicago Transit Authority trains traveling in subway tunnels. But it turns out that customers of some other cell phone companies will get one of those benefits: making emergency calls.

The U.S. Cellular service, launching commercially Friday, will not only keep its customers connected in tunnels, it will also enable people with Verizon Wireless and Sprint phones to make emergency 911 calls because their operating systems are compatible with U.S. Cellular's.

Promoting the safety aspects of cell phone use was a major reason that U.S. Cellular paid $2.9 million to activate its service in Chicago's CTA subway tunnels, John Rooney, chief of the Chicago-based wireless phone carrier, said.
Makes sense, since all of those companies use CDMA (in contrast to Cingular and T-Mobile who use GSM). I wonder why Verizon and Sprint couldnt also make roaming calls from the subway.

[Chicago Shawn]

SSP IS SO DAMN SLOW LATELY!!!

Anyhow, for those of you interested in the Circle Line, I found a pretty nice, detailed pdf of the CTA's answers to a lot of public questions regarding this development. It is dated only 2 weeks ago, so it's pretty new

Here's the link:

http://www.transitchicago.com/news/whatsnew2.wu?action=displaynewspostingdetail&articleid=117176

Go to the bottom, and click 'Responses to public comment'

Cool, my comments were published. #136 on page 17, and #170 on page 20. :)

[Chicago Shawn]

I think I would only be for a newfangled design if it was just completely bizarre--like, if every car had an animal theme, so you'd get a train with elephant ears and a trunk, or a turtle shell, or something like that. We wouldn't have to replace all of our goold old cars, but I wouldn't mind hearing a ruckus and looking up and seeing a (stainless steel) elephant trunk.

All those other "forward-looking" designs in other cities just end up looking silly.

I had the idea that the CTA could offer a design comptition sponsered by designer stores to show off a funky yet functional train interoir. Such as having IKEA design the seating and interoir of a specific car, as a means of advertising for thier store, and getting a remodeled railcar on the system for free of charge. It would certinally spruce up the image of public transit for those who are addicted to the leather seats in thier SUVs.

[Busy Bee]

Not to beat a dead horse, but the discussion (and concern) about domestic railcar design/innovation isn't just happening on this board. I copied and pasted some comments from Wired NY about the new cars for PATH:

Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. is designing the cars under a $499 million contract to build a new fleet...The entire fleet will be replaced by 2011.

Poster: Would it be too much to ask for a little glamour in the style?

Poster: Very sad to see that they spend $499 million to get exact same look as their current cars. I guess they can cut cost by not having to design the new one. Plus they can reuse parts (if not the whole trains themselves) for the new fleet. You see, the chains hanging in front of the front door are exactly the same.

Very sad to see that they spend $499 million to get exact same look as their current cars.

Poster: So why did they even bother with an artist's rendering? They could have just taken a photo of an existing car.


It seems the CTA isn't the only agency subscribing to blah.

I agree about a competition for the interiors, it won't happen though. As they say "it's either too early to tell, or too late too change."

[nomarandlee]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-bus06.html

News
Want to know exactly when next CTA bus is coming?

August 6, 2006

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Staff Reporter


Waiting for the bus might get easier for some Chicago Transit Authority riders.

The CTA Saturday launched a $1.3 million pilot program that allows passengers with Internet access to track the real-time locations and estimated arrival times for the 39 buses that travel the No. 20 Madison route.

Riders logged onto the CTA's new Web site, www.ctabustracker.com, can also activate an alarm that will alert them when a bus on the 10-mile route is minutes away from a particular stop, helping them better plan their travel from their offices and minimize their wait, CTA President Frank Kruesi said.

Mayor Daley said the bus tracker system, which uses global positioning satellite technology, will "revolutionize" customer satisfaction.

"The innovative use of this technology will improve the CTA's reliability, make traveling around Chicago much more pleasant and of course, convenient for all of the residents," Daley said at a news conference at the CTA Control Center, 120 N. Racine.

Those without a computer or Blackberry-type device can see the estimated arrival times for the next two buses on an orange LED display installed at the westbound bus shelter at Madison and Jefferson.

But if the pilot program is successful, all on-site shelters in the system's 153 bus routes would eventually get the electronic signage within a few years, Kruesi said, adding that it would cost $25 million to $30 million to implement bus tracking systemwide.

"The idea here is to try to get as much information out as many different ways as we can to accommodate the many different kinds of customers we have," he said.

The GPS software also has text messaging capabilities so Control Center operators can communicate with field supervisors on the No. 20 Madison route to monitor daily bus activity and emergencies, Kruesi said.

The testing phase of the bus tracker program will continue through December.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060807cta-crime,1,6312428.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Crime drops as CTA ridership grows
Published August 7, 2006, 4:07 AM CDT

The Chicago Transit Authority says fewer crimes have been reported on its buses and trains during the first half of the year despite an increase in riders.

The agency says pick-pocketing and strong-arm robbery continue to be the most common offenses committed on trains, at stations and on buses.

In the first six months of 2006, there were 544 reported robberies, a decline of nearly 7 percent from the same period last year.

The number of thefts dropped even more during the period, from 96 last year to 63—a 34 percent difference.

There were 21 assaults, the same as last year, and 37 reports of aggravated battery, one fewer than last year.

The CTA says it had 202.6 million riders in the first half of the year, up 1.4 percent from last year.

[VivaLFuego]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060807cta-crime,1,6312428.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Crime drops as CTA ridership grows
Published August 7, 2006, 4:07 AM CDT

The Chicago Transit Authority says fewer crimes have been reported on its buses and trains during the first half of the year despite an increase in riders.

The agency says pick-pocketing and strong-arm robbery continue to be the most common offenses committed on trains, at stations and on buses.

In the first six months of 2006, there were 544 reported robberies, a decline of nearly 7 percent from the same period last year.

The number of thefts dropped even more during the period, from 96 last year to 63—a 34 percent difference.

There were 21 assaults, the same as last year, and 37 reports of aggravated battery, one fewer than last year.

The CTA says it had 202.6 million riders in the first half of the year, up 1.4 percent from last year.
Good news on safety, since in this country the perception of danger on public transit is one of the biggest reason people avoid it. Each little step helps, by keeping vehicles cleaner and free of graffiiti and installing conspicuous security cameras on busses, trains, and at stations.

The ridership stats break down interestingly, rail ridership is up significantly (I think like 6% from last year while bus ridership is down).

[spyguy]

http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=122271

CTA Forecasts $8 Billion in Capital Needs
8/9/06

At today’s Chicago Transit Board meeting, the CTA’s vice-president of capital programs announced that after an extensive examination of the CTA’s assets and infrastructure, including rail stations, tracks and support facilities, the CTA and its capital program management team have determined that an $8 billion capital investment is needed in the next five years in order to allow the CTA to continue to provide safe and reliable service and meet growing transit needs. Including all planned rail line extensions would increase the figure to more than $10 billion.

Of the projected $8 billion need, CTA staff has identified about $2.2 billion that could be available through federal funding or CTA-issued bonds, leaving a potential unfunded need at $5.8 billion. A decision on an anticipated state capital program could help narrow the gap.

Projects include replacing and rehabbing aging buses and trains to improve reliability and customer comfort; retrofitting rail cars with cameras to enhance customer safety and system security; rebuilding train stations to increase circulation and accessibility; expanding the new Bus Tracker program to provide arrival information for all bus lines; upgrading the public address system to offer timely and clear information during service disruptions; upgrading signal and communications system to improve system reliability; and extending the Red, Orange and Yellow Lines.

The CTA’s last capital assessment identified $5.1 billion of needed projects. The updated figure resulted from a rigorous 18 month assessment that the CTA started to prepare for a successor capital program to Illinois FIRST, also contributing was a directive from the Illinois State Auditor General that the CTA review its operations and management, including its capital program. The result is the CTA’s most comprehensive needs assessment in nearly 10 years.

“The right capital investments can decrease operating costs, increase reliability and improve overall service quality,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Carole Brown. “With record gas prices making public transit an increasingly attractive option, it is important to understand the big picture so that CTA, its customers and all those who take an interest in CTA activities can see what level of service is possible with a solid investment and, alternatively, what is likely without one.”

The CTA’s long-standing capital goal is to reach what is known in the transit industry as a “State of Good Repair.” It requires that equipment and facilities are upgraded and replaced in a timely manner and that service management systems should be modern and reliable.

“Although we constantly invest in improvements to our fleet and facilities, the fact remains that some of our infrastructure and facilities are more than 100 years old, and all of it is aging year after year. To achieve and maintain a state of good repair requires continued investment,” said CTA President Frank Kruesi. “We run a 24/7 operation with a heavy and growing daily demand. Timely maintenance and replacement of aging assets is necessary to keep trains and buses running, to keep our facilities safe and efficient, to incorporate technologies that will improve service for our customers, and to control future costs.”

Paul Fish, Vice President of Capital Investment, reported that in recent years the CTA has made significant progress in its capital program thanks to federal funding and the state’s last capital program, Illinois FIRST, which provided the CTA with more than $800 million in investment between 2000 and 2004 and enabled it to leverage federal funding. As a result, the CTA increased the investment in its capital program from 19 percent of the funding needed to get to a state of good repair in 1999 to nearly 60 percent by 2004.

Recent investments include the renovation of the 54th/Cermak (Douglas) branch of the Blue Line and the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line; the purchase of more than 1,100 new buses that are air conditioned and accessible to people with disabilities; the refurbishment of nearly 1,000 rail cars; the replacement of 15 miles of double track, 40 miles of cable and 27 miles of rail; renovation of 30 rail stations, installation of new elevators and escalators and structural projects such as Harrison Curve and the Paulina Connector that have enabled service improvements.

[VivaLFuego]

$8 billion in 5 years......dream on.
I hope theres a solid plan in place to best use the $2-3 billion or so the CTA will probably get over that period

[Chicago3rd]

CTA Fullerton Station Upgrade

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187989-L.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187991-L.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187982-M.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187983-L.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187985-L.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/87187986-L.jpg

[nomarandlee]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-cta10.html

Brown Line work running months late

August 10, 2006

BY MONIFA THOMAS Transportation Reporter


Shedding light on just how far behind schedule parts of the CTA's Brown Line renovation project might be, contractors working for the CTA have requested nearly six additional months to complete rehab work at three stations, CTA officials said Wednesday.

The contractor responsible for station and platform enhancements at the Armitage stop is asking the Chicago Transit Authority for 172 extra days to finish the job, pushing the expected completion date for that station to August 2007 instead of February.

The same contractor, FHP Tectonics, also anticipates being 173 days behind schedule on the Chicago and Sedgwick stations, according to Susan Plassmeyer, the CTA's executive vice president of construction.

The CTA has said that work on these three stations would be delayed because the CTA's construction department failed to get the proper permits. But Wednesday was the first time the CTA specified how much extra time the permitting problems have potentially added.

Contractor estimates for completion of the Western station work have also been revised to account for nearly four months of anticipated delays, Plassmeyer said. The new expected completion date for the station is November 2007.

CTA staff disclosed the new estimates at the request of board members, who expressed strong doubts last month over whether the $530million project could be completed on-time and within budget.

CTA Board Chairwoman Carole Brown didn't sound any more reassured after Wednesday's board meeting. "I still don't think I have a full picture of exactly when and if there are going to be significant delays," she said. "I'm still waiting to see where progress on the project really is."

CTA President Frank Kruesi, meanwhile, insists that the delays outlined Wednesday will not keep the CTA from completing the entire project by 2009.

In related news, the Kimball and Rockwell stations, which have been closed temporarily while under construction, are scheduled to reopen Aug. 18.
mjthomas@suntimes.com

[SevenSevenThree]

nevermind.

[spyguy]

Some pictures of the newly opened Rockwell station

Here (http://archidose.blogspot.com/2006/08/rockwell-reopens.html) and here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/phineasx/tags/rockwell/)

And Kedzie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zesmerelda/tags/kedzie/)

[spyguy]

Those who missed the `L' at Belmont are not alone

By Jon Hilkevitch and Gerry Doyle
Tribune staff reporters
Published August 18, 2006

Commuters, have you lost your bearings? If so, don't look to some of the new CTA signs for help.

And if you've been searching all around Chicago for a street named "Bemont," stop looking.

The transit agency could have benefited from the services of a good proofreader before printing about 3,000 new, over-the-door rail system maps that are posted on all 1,100 CTA train cars.

A series of mistakes resulted in the firing of one CTA employee Thursday, and it will cost the agency $75,000 to replace the signs.

The maps, revised this summer to include the new Pink Line, list the wrong phone number for the Regional Transportation Authority's travel information hot line, which connects commuters calling from most metropolitan Chicago area codes with advisers who help them plan transit itineraries.

Instead of 836-7000, which was correctly listed on the old rail system maps, the number on the new maps flips two digits.

Callers to the wrong number in the 847 area code are connected to a young man's voice mail.

"Hey, this is Nick's cell phone. Call me back again some other time because I never listen to my messages. ... Maybe I'll talk to you later."

In the 312 area code, callers are greeted by a corporation's voice-mail access line.

"Meridian Mail mailbox," says the automated voice, which prompts callers to "Please enter your mailbox number followed by the number sign."

More mistakes here (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0608180140aug18,1,6967234.story?coll=chi-news-hed)

[VivaLFuego]

I would have expected at least one person to proofread it before going to press...