UrbanOhio has been around for 20 years and I'm starting the first Chicago transit thread. That's how long it's been since Chicago has had a major transit capital project (new Orange Line in 1993 and Metra's North Central Service in 1996), although the South Shore West Lake Corridor Project (new branch to Dyer, IN) and its double-tracking project to Michigan City, IN both should count as Chicagoland major capital projects...

 

Feds award $1.9 billion to the $5.4 billion project. A big reason why we do so few big infrastructure projects anymore is because they're way too expensive...$1 billion per mile for a new rail line??

56 minutes ago, KJP said:

UrbanOhio has been around for 20 years and I'm starting the first Chicago transit thread. That's how long it's been since Chicago has had a major transit capital project (new Orange Line in 1993 and Metra's North Central Service in 1996), although the South Shore West Lake Corridor Project (new branch to Dyer, IN) and its double-tracking project to Michigan City, IN both should count as Chicagoland major capital projects...

 

Feds award $1.9 billion to the $5.4 billion project. A big reason why we do so few big infrastructure projects anymore is because they're way too expensive...$1 billion per mile for a new rail line??

 

What's the timeline for this project?

Early 2031.

 

And I am very doubtful this thing kicks off even with initial funding locked in.

 

There are far more impactful, potential, needed CTA and Metra projects; this one, IMO, is not one of those.

On 12/20/2024 at 8:11 AM, KJP said:

A big reason why we do so few big infrastructure projects anymore is because they're way too expensive

Perhaps there should be a thread dedicated exclusively to this problem. Unless the cost per mile for transit projects comes down it's unreasonable to expect them to get built. The current costs are just way too high, unjustifiably so. I think a thread discussing root causes and proposing potential remedies would be interesting and informative. 

Civil project cost inflation in the U.S. has remained much, much higher than regular inflation since the 1970s if not before. It is unlikely to subside any time soon under current conditions. Projects should start as early as possible to avoid it.

10 hours ago, Ethan said:

Perhaps there should be a thread dedicated exclusively to this problem. Unless the cost per mile for transit projects comes down it's unreasonable to expect them to get built. The current costs are just way too high, unjustifiably so. I think a thread discussing root causes and proposing potential remedies would be interesting and informative. 

We had some discussion about it in the general transit thread:

 

On 12/21/2024 at 11:18 AM, Ethan said:

Perhaps there should be a thread dedicated exclusively to this problem. Unless the cost per mile for transit projects comes down it's unreasonable to expect them to get built. The current costs are just way too high, unjustifiably so. I think a thread discussing root causes and proposing potential remedies would be interesting and informative. 

 

There was one but I can't find it. It was started by a friend of mine @biker16 probably a decade ago. 

 

More...

 

Funding Announced For Red Line Extension As City Approves Zoning

https://chicagoyimby.com/2024/12/funding-announced-for-red-line-extension-as-city-approves-zoning.html

That Red Line extension should stop at the Michigan Ave stop. The last leg out to 130th does not really serve much and is mostly industrial. The cost of this project is crazy, especially considering the track ROW is mostly already in place. Overall this seems like a "low hanging fruit" project.

 

Hard to see meaningful CTA heavy rail expansion happening at these costs, but projects I would like to see happen, which I'm not holding my breath on, are a Brown Line extension to the Blue Line and a new circle line. Cross town transit in Chicago is a real slog and these would help immensely with that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CTA Circle line is interesting, I've never seen that before but it would be huge for the near west side users. The number 9 bus on Ashland is frequent and quite useful but at the end of the day it's a bus so subject to more traffic issues, weather delays and stacking. To get to shopping and amenities you often have to transfer to an east/west bus at North or walk half a mile to get to the big shopping area at North/Clyburn or go miles into the loop and back out to get 1 mile north or south on the blue or orange lines. All the new development in the West Loop, West Town, Noble Square would be much more connected with this new north / south connection especially the proposed new development around United Center. 

FTA issues $2B grant agreement for Chicago Red Line extension

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/FTA-issues-2B-grant-agreement-for-Chicago-Red-Line-extension--73658

Does not sound too good. I rode the 'L' pretty much daily for years and can attest that it's not what it used to be. Like the article says, service was much better in the mid-2010's. I noticed it getting a bit worse around 2016 when the Blue Line was getting overloaded by new riders from the rapidly gentrifying near NW side, but it really started to take a downturn during the post-pandemic years (the article seems to validate my observations). Still better than most in the US, but many more issues with schedule and vagrancy these days. Leadership better get things back on track because Chicago is too congested and sprawling not to have high-functioning transit.

 

Link: The L in Crisis

With ridership lagging and a fiscal reckoning looming, the L is in trouble. Here’s why our train is worth saving.

 

At the peak in 2015, nearly 768,000 people boarded the L on an average weekday, according to the CTA. Last year, that number was just 389,000 — a drop of almost 50 percent in less than a decade. Whereas the L was once a societal leveler, the means by which Chicagoans of all types went to their job or school or party, frustration with its unreliable service and fears about safety are leading those who can to abandon it. 

 

If the city and state do not find a fix, we’ll be on the path to transit dystopia. The CTA, along with Metra and Pace, will have to cut staffing. It may also mean a reduction of routes across the region and the end of 24/7 service for the CTA’s bus and rail networks. If you think wait times on the L are bad now, they will get way worse: The RTA has said trains could run 10 to 25 percent less frequently and that more than 50 stations could be closed or see significantly reduced service. This would push even more riders away, which spells a downward spiral for the L.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 22Apr 22 by Rustbelter

Plenty of brainrot going around these days. Though perhaps fewer trains can lead to fewer "incidents" if more normal people are on them? God knows it's been a rough 5 years.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/illinois-state-budget-plan-deadline-mass-transit-funding-2026/

Illinois lawmakers pass $55 billion state budget, but fail to approve mass transit funding before end of spring session

Edited June 1Jun 1 by TBideon