StrangeSox Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 11:22 AM) Couldn't they have just laid track on the median of 294 for a Metra ring route? No NIMBY's (294 is louder than any train), no bulldozing anything (its already been bulldozed) and its a direct bypass to 294's delightful little brand of hell. Its a natural choice. The median on 294 is two shoulders and a jersey barrier, not exactly train-tracks-and-station width you see on 90-94 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeNukeEm Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) The median on 294 is two shoulders and a jersey barrier, not exactly train-tracks-and-station width you see on 90-94 Rip out a lane in each direction, shorten the passengers side shoulder on each side, lie down the tracks and open up a 2 lane reversible express lane then toll that (or do the HOV thing like out west if you want). You can wait 4 months until 294 is under construction again so people won't even notice the difference. I'm being a lttile satirical. Edited January 5, 2014 by DukeNukeEm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 11:07 AM) SF's works like Google Maps in that it knows your current position. It also knows every possible form of public transportation, its cost, and whether its currently running on schedule or not. It can tell you how to take multiple modes of public transportation to get from A to B in real time, and it's as easy as using Google Navigate on your phone instead of having to go to a website. As far as I know, there isn't something comparable for Chicago. http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/mtc/XSL...ST2?language=en That's pretty neat. There would have to be a pretty big push to raise awareness, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) There is no doubt that this entire region needs more transportation routes. The ones they have are so overburdened it is ridiculous. As a whole, we all drive way too much in this area, mostly because the public transportation system could be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 04:40 PM) As a whole, we all drive way too much in this area, mostly because the public transportation system could be better. Outside of a place like NYC, Chicago's mass transit is about as good as it gets nationally. There might be a couple of other on the East Coast, but especially as you go West and South, there is no such thing as public transit like Chicago has, especially trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 (edited) QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 04:41 PM) Outside of a place like NYC, Chicago's mass transit is about as good as it gets nationally. There might be a couple of other on the East Coast, but especially as you go West and South, there is no such thing as public transit like Chicago has, especially trains. DC and Denver have it better than us out of the cities I travel to extensively. Our transit system is old and very one-dimensional. Back in the day the green line west and the El south were the two earliest lines on the city transit system, and both havent expanded since the early 1900's. In a city with such horrible traffic and road conditions they should invest in a more uni-directional transit system while eliminating the dual station format downtown. While at the same time giving us high speed options to nearby cities like St Louis, Detroit and Minneapolis. I envision a system where there is a Hub OUTSIDE of Chicago where multiple lines can converge and allow passengers to travel between suburbs without having to go back into the city. At least in my perfect world. Edited January 8, 2014 by RockRaines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 That's why I wanted the Olympics to come, solely for the infrastructure improvements that would have been made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) That's why I wanted the Olympics to come, solely for the infrastructure improvements that would have been made. Agreed 150%. It would have been a crappy couple of years leading to the games, and then a horrible couple of months at the end, but it would have been well worth it in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptatc Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 04:47 PM) DC and Denver have it better than us out of the cities I travel to extensively. Our transit system is old and very one-dimensional. Back in the day the green line west and the El south were the two earliest lines on the city transit system, and both havent expanded since the early 1900's. In a city with such horrible traffic and road conditions they should invest in a more uni-directional transit system while eliminating the dual station format downtown. While at the same time giving us high speed options to nearby cities like St Louis, Detroit and Minneapolis. I envision a system where there is a Hub OUTSIDE of Chicago where multiple lines can converge and allow passengers to travel between suburbs without having to go back into the city. At least in my perfect world. The tube in Boston is a much more user friendly system than Chicago's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 SF seemed to be more convenient but my experience is pretty limited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 The Twin Cities are rapidly expanding its light rail system. The connecting the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis opens this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 11:26 PM) SF seemed to be more convenient but my experience is pretty limited This is insanity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 06:26 PM) SF seemed to be more convenient but my experience is pretty limited San Francisco you mean? It is quite a bit more convenient than the trains in Chicago, IMO, because the city is so much more dense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (farmteam @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 05:32 PM) The Twin Cities are rapidly expanding its light rail system. The connecting the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis opens this year. The fact they've never been connected by any transit immediately makes them suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 04:41 PM) Outside of a place like NYC, Chicago's mass transit is about as good as it gets nationally. There might be a couple of other on the East Coast, but especially as you go West and South, there is no such thing as public transit like Chicago has, especially trains. It may compare great nationally, but I think it's pretty lacking outside of the Loop. There are plenty of neighborhoods that are a pretty far distance from trains. There are a great amount of buses, but the buses kind of suck, especially in the winter and when there is traffic. Obviously this is not national, but when I was in Madrid, their subway system was just incredible. It went everywhere in the city, there were so many trains & stops, it was new & clean, and they all came every 5 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I've ridden train systems in Chicago and DC extensively; and NYC, Dallas, Denver, and SF occasionally. In terms of coverage, NYC is by far #1. In terms of overall experience due to things like comfort, cleanliness, and convenience, DC is #1 and there isn't even a close second. The DC Metro system is amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmteam Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) The fact they've never been connected by any transit immediately makes them suck. Well if you consider buses "any transit" then they've been connected for a long time. But light rail will be easier, quicker and more direct. If I can't get anyone to drive me, I'll take the light rail to the airport. So easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Denver and DC systems are not better than Chicago's in terms of coverage and practicality - Denver is in fact nowhere close to Chicago in those regards. But, DC and Denver's systems are much better maintained and cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 9, 2014 -> 09:03 AM) Denver and DC systems are not better than Chicago's in terms of coverage and practicality - Denver is in fact nowhere close to Chicago in those regards. But, DC and Denver's systems are much better maintained and cleaner. Denver's are free though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettie4sox Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I would be all for pumping money into infrastructure. America is so ass backwards compared to some of the other first world countries of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jan 9, 2014 -> 10:54 AM) I would be all for pumping money into infrastructure. America is so ass backwards compared to some of the other first world countries of the world. High speed rail is something that NEEDS to happen, especially in the flat midwest. We should have St Louis, Minny, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indy, Cincy etc all connected via high speed rails. It makes almost TOO much sense. Start with Chicago to St Louis, make it happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 High speed rail is something that NEEDS to happen, especially in the flat midwest. We should have St Louis, Minny, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indy, Cincy etc all connected via high speed rails. It makes almost TOO much sense. Start with Chicago to St Louis, make it happen. Yes, this needs to happen 100%. Amtrak is a joke, because an Indy-Chicago Amtrak trip is more costly and takes longer than driving. Start with lines from Chicago going to St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Indy. Then extend those lines out to Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati. Then start connecting some of the other cities to each other without having to go through Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I would be all for pumping money into infrastructure. America is so ass backwards compared to some of the other first world countries of the world. Indiana is doing a great job at putting money into roads. Indy is having a hard time getting a local rail system going, but other than that, I like what Indiana is doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 9, 2014 -> 11:07 AM) Yes, this needs to happen 100%. Amtrak is a joke, because an Indy-Chicago Amtrak trip is more costly and takes longer than driving. Start with lines from Chicago going to St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Indy. Then extend those lines out to Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati. Then start connecting some of the other cities to each other without having to go through Chicago. The initial push is to get from Detroit to Chicago done. There is a lot of working being done right now on it. I have actually been to some of the meetings for the high speed stuff, as it is going to go right through my hometown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettie4sox Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Plus it creates a lot jobs and hopefully will get people to stop driving all the damn time to places. That is investing in America. Who here has been overseas? I have been to Japan and every time I go there, I'm in awe of their PT systems. In simple terms, it's elite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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