[emathias]

I don't mind the Chicago bridge being replaced, but I think it should be replaced with a new bascule bridge, like Wells St was, except slightly wider to accommodate 4 total lanes. Push the pedestrian traffic into the buildings on either side, or at least on the south side where the part adjacent to the sidewalk is already semi-public. That might be harder on the north side with the restaurant entrance, but doing just the south side might be enough to allow for the necessary width enhancement. But maybe they should add a bridge at Ogden and Haines/Hobbie before they shut down the Chicago Ave bridge for two years, to mitigate the traffic impact. I don't think there is a plan to add bridges to those streets, but there should be if Goose Island and surrounding environs are really planned for massive growth.

I also always thought there should be a bus tunnel from just west of Orleans to Fairbanks, coupled with extending lower Michigan north from Grand to Oak/LSD. That would massively improve bus travel times and, coupled with the LSD express buses, provide for near-rail like levels of service. West of Orleans, Chicago could mostly accommodate BRT at least until about Western Ave without too much effort. Imagine high-volume Chicago Ave bus service linking to the Blue Line and points west to the Mag Mile and high volume Michigan Ave express buses. Then we just need to get Metra Electric to allow regular CTA service on the bus lane running through Grant Park and you could link the South LSD express buses through and get something approximating a rail line for less than a rail line in cost. You could also then link in Carrol Street buses, for a ton of grade-separated BRT serving the Central Area.