Tcmetro Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Looks like this is the new proposal that's grabbing all the politician's attention recently: http://oharedirect.org/index.shtml It's related to the "Crossrail Chicago" proposal that would create a Paris RER or London Crossrail style service between Rockford and Champaign. http://crossrailchicago.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroShadow Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 So basically the north end is reinventing the STAR line and through-route the route through the St. Charles Air line? You could create something out of the alternative express routing through the CSX line, but that would also create additional stops and make a limited stop line. At least the project would fix the Air line from what we have now. And the Southeast Service: is that project is still on the board? (Somehow I prefer this still over using the Blue Line tracks) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Looks like this is the new proposal that's grabbing all the politician's attention recently: http://oharedirect.org/index.shtml It's related to the "Crossrail Chicago" proposal that would create a Paris RER or London Crossrail style service between Rockford and Champaign. http://crossrailchicago.org/ Something like that got mentioned in the Tribune, but only because some aldermen brought it up. It was more like using the NCS to downtown and then the St, Charles Air Line to McCormick Place. However, besides the usual lack of funding and prayer for a PPP, they said that Metra or Amtrak would have to run it, and, of course, the City of Chicago usually does not recognize either. If you think this is real (other than the again mentioned study), look at the discussion about the airport express in the simulator topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusHunter Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Something like that got mentioned in the Tribune, but only because some aldermen brought it up. It was more like using the NCS to downtown and then the St, Charles Air Line to McCormick Place. However, besides the usual lack of funding and prayer for a PPP, they said that Metra or Amtrak would have to run it, and, of course, the City of Chicago usually does not recognize either. If you think this is real (other than the again mentioned study), look at the discussion about the airport express in the simulator topic. Although you have to admit that for prime business executives Metra is a much better choice than CTA. It might get off the ground eventually but it would need federal funding. Metra would need an infrastructure upgrade. It could get started quicker and with less headaches if trains were all DMU versus EMU. The US just sucks at funding high speed rail. Europe and Asia could build this no problem, maybe the problem is people are too dependent on air travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Although you have to admit that for prime business executives Metra is a much better choice than CTA. It might get off the ground eventually but it would need federal funding. Metra would need an infrastructure upgrade. It could get started quicker and with less headaches if trains were all DMU versus EMU. The US just sucks at funding high speed rail. Europe and Asia could build this no problem, maybe the problem is people are too dependent on air travel. Federal funding: The about 2006 consultant report for the Block 37 version said then that a PPP was necessary because the feds would not fund something solely for elitists. That was essentially the plan for the about 84 5000s (the tail end of the order) where one in the set would be a baggage car and the other a car with carpeting and furniture slated to carry about 12 passengers every 20 minutes for about $10 a ride. Infrastructure: Considering that CN isn't very cooperative in allowing Metra to run the NCS, even though the feds paid to rebuild its tracks for Metra, having reliable service would probably require something like a double deck. This may be advocated by some high speed rail advocacy group, but it wouldn't be high speed rail. For instance, the high speed corridor between Chicago and St. Louis still wouldn't be high speed until south of Joliet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictures Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 So basically the north end is reinventing the STAR line and through-route the route through the St. Charles Air line? You could create something out of the alternative express routing through the CSX line, but that would also create additional stops and make a limited stop line. At least the project would fix the Air line from what we have now. And the Southeast Service: is that project is still on the board? (Somehow I prefer this still over using the Blue Line tracks) CN wants to abandon the Air Line & sell it off for development in the South Loop. They must think they can get condos built on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 CN wants to abandon the Air Line & sell it off for development in the South Loop. They must think they can get condos built on it. The question is how would Amtrak get trains from the Champaign, etc. (former IC) service to Union Station? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Grand crossing project would take trains from the ic to ns directly into union Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 The important point is that the idea of a world class rail connection is being discussed at higher levels. While the politicians are not the planners and engineers they can make it happen to have those techno Folks figure out the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 The important point is that the idea of a world class rail connection is being discussed at higher levels. While the politicians are not the planners and engineers they can make it happen to have those techno Folks figure out the details. Does anybody in the Chicago City Council have available the funds to do that? That's the only politicians discussing that. Apparently, they only have the authority to allocate TIF money to a couple of CTA stations. Besides that, they are only calling for another study. This is not serious. BTW, tell me what happened to Daley's maglev to O'Hare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 This is not maglev which IS a pipedream. Why is this not a serious proposal? Infrastructure investment is needed in this country if the damn tea baggers get their you know what out of their seat rests this is the type of projects we need. If we as a region dont have good ideas there are plenty of other areas which do. Why cant we become a world class region? The midwest hsr associations plan does have merit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 This is not maglev which IS a pipedream. Why is this not a serious proposal? Infrastructure investment is needed in this country if the damn tea baggers get their you know what out of their seat rests this is the type of projects we need. If we as a region dont have good ideas there are plenty of other areas which do. Why cant we become a world class region? The midwest hsr associations plan does have merit Because there is never a funding source because there is no unified planning in the Chicago region, because the transit agencies are balkanized into 4 squabbling siblings and 2 regional planning boards that don't plan (not to mention a delusional mayor who spent about $300 million of CTA money for a Block 37 Airport Express station that can't be used). Why don't you discuss such matters as I discussed in post #3, such as that CN won't allow it on its tracks? Just because someone posts something on a website doesn't mean it is going to happen. Ask Mike Payne. His project was endorsed by CATS (forerunner of CMAP) 15 years ago, would cost comparatively little, and is dead for the reason I stated in the first sentence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garmon757 Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 The question is how would Amtrak get trains from the Champaign, etc. (former IC) service to Union Station? Hey, you forgot Carbondale and New Orleans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 As for CN, anything is possible with $$$ look at the capital corridor in california and union pacific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 As for the grey line how is the operation any different than what is now besides more frequency and a single fare. how was this going to be any cheaper to operate? Operating on mainline rail with freight wouldnt the more strict fta rules apply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 As for the grey line how is the operation any different than what is now besides more frequency and a single fare. how was this going to be any cheaper to operate? Operating on mainline rail with freight wouldnt the more strict fta rules apply? That isn't the topic, especially since the Gray Line is dead. Reread my post and figure out what I said. BTW, UP isn't CN. And if money is the issue,where is the money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Where is the money for any projects? Red blue brown CTA renewals, 95th cta station rehab downtoen station r ehabs New metra electric cars new pace central dispatch center, cng garages cng buses red line entention etc. They all began with a need and plan and found the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Where is the money for any projects? Red blue brown CTA renewals, 95th cta station rehab downtoen station r ehabs New metra electric cars new pace central dispatch center, cng garages cng buses red line entention etc. They all began with a need and plan and found the money Maybe you should read the budgets and tell us. The Pace budget sure laid it out. This seems real similar to the weird fans on Cubs boards saying "Theo must have the money, he supposedly went after Tanaka." Apparently he didn't have enough. Also, you should read yesterday's CTA Tattler. Among other things, the 95th St. bus terminal is about $180 million in borrowed money, and the Pace program is $100 million of borrowed money, which Pace explicitly says will have to be paid from the farebox, and thus reduces farebox money available for operating. Also note in the Pace budget document that Governor Ribboncutting's bond money has run out, But other than the Federal Reserve creating money, such as for ARRA, Tickerbell is not going to drop $21 billion on the CTA or $10 billion on Metra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The point is a project must be ready and advanced for the opportunity . Not saying the money is at hand but must prepare for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The point is a project must be ready and advanced for the opportunity . Not saying the money is at hand but must prepare for it O.K. Then tell Rahm where to get the money for this, the Red Line to 130th, the Red Line north of Wilson, the Ashland BRT..... Especially when Governor Blowhard wants to make the Illiiana Expressway the first priority and twisted the arms of the planning agencies to back that. The result of this thinking is that all money goes to pay relief for consultants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Well then we should let all the federal money and investment go to other states if this region doesn't want to be proactive and plan for the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Well then we should let all the federal money and investment go to other states if this region doesn't want to be proactive and plan for the future Apparently that is what is happening, while consultants waste the planning grants. For instance, the Red Line extension has been under study since 2006. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The federal process requires is environmental justice Nepa. The list goes on and on. The process is not quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The federal process requires is environmental justice Nepa. The list goes on and on. The process is not quick Up to now, the process hasn't taken 8 years with 6 to go. NEPA has been required since 1970. They sure got the one for the 95th bus terminal done quick. Otherwise, it is just consultants milking the planning grants, without even consulting the community. BTW, how long have you been aware of these processes? I go back to when the Dan Ryan line was actually built, and am aware of all the dead transit plans. Also, the Metra STAR project seems very dead, in that the only thing on the table, over the same route, is the Pace I-90 plan. Pace actually has CMAQ funding for that. The real issue is that you seem to have bought the consultant scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 I do agree consultants get paid way too much for doing same work although some of it is a necessary evil to meet requirements for funding. Many plans must be updated for same purpose to meet the fed requirements for funding of cmaq mpo fta fhwa . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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