hello The google&wiki maps are new about Aug 1st

We'll just have to wait and see, I am going to ask Don and Martin to let me work with their Planning Dept. (Free), which Harvey Kahler and I done several times already.

He drew up a berthing diagram for Millennium Station allowing for a train dispatched every 5 minutes during Rush hour, and Harvey is a recognized Transit Planner!

We also recommend flat CTA Fares in-city.

CMME has goals, buy they know nothing about the infrastructure, the Gray Line is wholly baed on the existing MED infrastructure!

CMME could have my support. They leave the CTA routes alone.

Here's a tote on the "Ceremonial Indian Calumet"...peace pipe...I'll watch you on Wednesday on YOUTUBE, peacefully.

DH

Remember I'm addressing CTA's Board on Wednesday, Metra is the 24th. And I'm not tampering with any present CTA Routes, I'm attempting to add a NEW one!

Soooooo Wrong of me!!!

Really it does not matter to me who operates it. What matters is the frequency and fare integration with CTA so there is no fare penalty for changing between CTA<->Metra and so a trip on the train costs the same as a trip on a bus or on the L.
The fact that it has the same catchment area as the red line extension is a feature, not a bug. The red line extension is a horrible allocation of resources. Not because the people living there don't need transit, but because of the terrible cost per mile. The ME actually has a better, more useful routing between the south side and the Loop than the red line, serving useful clusters of density and employment such as Hyde Park and McCormick Place. So as long as the frequency is good and the fare doesn't cost any more than a comparable red line trip, people will ride it. You could take the $billions planned for the red line extension, use it to upgrade facilities on the MED, buy more trainsets, and operate them at rapid transit frequency, and still have over a $billion left over to subsidize *ALL* Metra fares within the city for all eternity so they cost the same as CTA fares and you get free/discounted transfers to CTA L lines and buses.

Under this scenario a useful extension of the red line would be a roughly 3/4 mile extension in the median of the Bishop Ford to 100th & Cottage Grove where a transfer station with the MED could be built. This would allow people from further down the MED to transfer to the red line to access what destinations there are along the Dan Ryan line (IIT, White Sox ball games, etc)

:slob: theSMART MAN!!!!

DH -- Please define (in detail) this mysterious "rapid-transit mode" you speak of for us???

Also, an even better idea for the RLE would be to turn it back North along the MED, for a joint Transfer Station at 95th & Cottage Grove - directly serving the CSU Campus, and a Neighborhood Transit Hub!! I will mention that to CTA on Wednesday.

Thanx for the suggestion orulz!

The 6 mile Red Line Extension, at 2.3 Billion - costs approximately 380 million per mile (use your own Calculator)

The 25 mile Gray Line System, at 500 Million - costs about 20 Million per mile.

Which seems a more sensible application of Transit Funds to you folks?

The first thing that comes into my mind is restoration of the entire city-wide X-Bus system - spreading the benefits to the ENTIRE CITY (ALL Neighborhoods); instead of one tiny little 6 mile appendix: http://www.grayline.20m.com/photo.html

I think the sensible way to implement upgrades to the MED is not to add CTA fare gates which would cost bundles, but rather to implement it as a proof of payment system. Really all of Metra should do this. Works all over the world. Handling free and deeply discounted transfers is just a matter of resolving the agency turf wars and then updating some software.

Nice thought -- but UNbarriered platforms (with open access by non-passengers) would result in multiple Robberies and Rapes several times EACH and EVERY DAY; I lived on the South Side for 58 of my 67yrs, we're NOT talkiing about Winnetka, Lisle, or Barrington Hills here. "All over the world" ISN'T the South Side of Chicago (AKA "Chi-raq")

I absolutely N E V E R . E V E R . E V E R rode the Metra Electric because I personally didn't want to get Robbed or Worse, and that is a VERY BIG PART of why N O B O D Y else rides it now (except maybe in Hyde Park); E V E R Y B O D Y living on the South Side K N O W S this already!!! I'm thinking especially of women traveling ALONE at night, what protection would they have with open-access Platforms???

Heck -- We get Robberies regularly on the CTA with O N L Y Paid Platform Access: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...601-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...809-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...421-story.html

What do think would happen with platforms with open access to ANYBODY???

"Rapid Transit" Mode....
 

David Harrison, could you please explain for us (in detail) the "rapid transit" mode that you question whether the MED Highliner II's are capable of being operated in?

Wow Gray, thats pretty racist not gonna lie. At best its very classist.

And you are right, "all over the world" isnt South Side Chicago, there are plenty of places that are much worse. And if war wracked third world countries, some of whom have had ongoing ethnic cleansing, genocide, or terrorism (which also afflicts first world countries), are fine with open access then the much safer and stabler Chicago should do alright with it.

Also if crime is a "VERY BIG PART of why N O B O D Y else rides [the ME]" then shouldnt you focus your campaigning on fixing that first? If its as bad as you claim it is then increasing service frequency wont do much. After fixing crime then you can then point to the increased ridership as reason to implement the Gray Line!

Racist my behind, I LIVED on the South Side for 58yrs and I'm NOT a cartoon Ostrich hiding it's silly head in the sand.

I personally had MY head STOMPED by 4 of my 200lb "bro's" on the Red Line between 69th and 79th, for FUN; they didn't Rob me, but I was Hospitalized for 3 days.The other 30 or so people in the same car ran to the other end and watched (I'm not sure if anybody taped it)

I could have done a Bernie Goetz, but what would that accomplish other than Mike in Prison; let somebody STOMP YOUR HEAD and see how you react to it!

What could I do, I can't hire the 1,000's of Cops who would be needed to make a dent;. BOTH my parents were Robbed on the Red Line, luckily they weren't killed; and right now today they are talking about Assassinating Cops!!

Whether the Gray Line gets built or not, I will NEVER move back into Chicago, but I AM doing what I can do to change the situation for all my friends and relatives still trapped there -- NOBODY ELSE is doing anything that I am aware of to change anything, are they?? You tell me?

SORRY for all the hostility, my head still hurts sometimes, even after 9 years. Still better than Psychokinetically calling down a Big Asteroid (that's right - I've been driven NUTS from being trapped on this stinking Planet for 67yrs), Ongoing Traumatic Stress Disorder (OTSD)

As someone who first met Mike in person 15 years ago, have driven him home from the Loop, keeps tabs on his advocacy projects, and who watches the crime statistics in Chicago pretty closely I really think you are dead wrong in your accusation of racism. It's not a productive accusation. Mike (aka Gray Line Guy) knows what he's talking about. His passion for the proposal may, at times, get the better of him but I believe his recommendation has merit, and I also believe that his crime concerns are legit. By all means, comment on his ideas with a critical eye, but don't stoop to petty accusations of racism.

WOW,. Thanks for understanding, which you clearly do!

Again -- Thanks

Red Line Robberies
 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/pol...ine-robberies/

Passengers on northbound CTA Red Line trains were robbed over the weekend on the North Side, according to a community alert by Chicago Police......

August 2016 CTA Board Meeting
 

Mike Payne @ 51:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-9I...ature=youtu.be

Your conclusion that "rapid transit mode" is just a operation capability of the Highliner IIs is incorrect. As long as Highliner II can start, get up to base speed. then stop, they could run in a rapid transit mode.

Metra Electric operations preclude rapid transit running...one...they run all trains as four cars, with only one car used for carrying passengers. If ME ran trains four to an hour, they would need four car consists times number of trains...about 15 trains or 1/3 the fleet size. Two....Add to the personnel....engineer, conductor, collector.
CTA in rapid transit mode runs 8 car train consist with one operator. Red line only uses one tenth of its fleet in base service.

Changing topic....I saw your presentation. They thanked you...there were no questions asked. They seemed to "have heard it all before." The following presentation, Garfield Blvd. did get a follow-on from the president.

DH

The Highliner II's can operate as two-unit consists (they are single-ended, so they must be operated in minimum 2 car trains); BNSF also operates trains with many cars closed to passengers (I ride BNSF regularly), even on the old C&NW we ran Scoots with multiple closed cars to avoid breaking and re-coupling consists.

You have some kind bi-polar or schizophrenic pathological objection to any type of "Mike" idea, what sad hateful little person! What is David contributing to ANYTHING (please post a link to anything AT ALL that you have accomplished , Sir; VERY easy to do - even ONE link for us)

I wasn't expecting any questions, and that was NOT my goal in attending; you are like my own personal little KKK, and you deserve as much attention as I pay to them.

Tell me if you remember being banned from the Chicago Transit Forum, because of your abnormal attempt to goad another Forum member (Not Me) into a fist-fight beneath the 59th St. Street Junction -- (please correct me if I'm wrong) -- I'm sure "you don't remember that", do you? Pitiful.....

ChicagoBusTransit is now Transit Forum/CTA Rail and I am a member. 'Busjack" was the member you cited.

You asked ME for my definition. I gave it to you. All the rest of the shit....in italics.... is all your "bi-polar or schizophrenic pathological"....using your own words.... So what's with that?? What's with the "KKK"?? What's with Chicago Transit? I tried to answer your question. Why do you always put extra shit in the game? You make it hard to just carry a decent conversation.

I don't argue with you....its useless. You haven't learned.

My position.....Build the Red line extension to 130th....who cares what it costs....its NOT YOUR MONEY. My position is approved by every political official. I have no need to ask for supporters. Run ME mainline Kensington to 63rd express. Do what you wish with the Blue Island branch, Gold line can have the South Chicago branch. That's my position...you have yours.

DH

Honestly my experience with the ME consists of McCormick Place, Hyde Park, the stations in the loop, and Dune Park on the South Shore. So I can't really contradict what you say here out of personal experience.

There are open stations in neighborhoods with rough reputations elsewhere such as south central LA but they're mostly at street level so it's no worse than waiting for a bus, like the ME South Chicago line. However, I can see how standing on a platform up on the IC embankment does feel more secluded and possibly dangerous, especially at night.

However, if the trains are coming every 10 minutes or less, rather than every 30 minutes, the amount of time a passenger would have to stand on the platform waiting would be much shorter- which might improve safety as well?

Fare gates are no panacea, either; I wonder if there is some sort of study that shows they actually do serve as a crime deterrent?

Whatever the intent it was bad enough to compel me to call you out about it. But alright, Im dropping it.

Still I would like to see the data showing that it is crime, specifically or as a major factor, preventing higher use of the MED. Or even studies on the relationship between ridership and crime, which oddly enough I dont think Ive seen even for projects that would include high crime areas.

I know someone has done research on fare gates and crime, unfortunately it was several years ago so cant recall who wrote it and was more focused on the MTA's change from the old fashion podium turnstile to modern fully enclosed turnstiles.

My statement is self-explanatory, and I WON'T be responding to your crap anymore; anyone else who has "intelligent" questions or comments (like orulz, or emathais) Please -- I welcome your input!

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to propose a special taxing district to secure $600 million in federal loans to pay for the CTA's massive Red-Purple Line modernization project, which includes a controversial flyover north of the Belmont station, city officials said Tuesday.

The first phase of the project costs $2.1 billion, and the CTA can access $1.1 billion in federal funds if it can find a local match for the remainder.

Recently passed legislation — aimed at funding big-ticket projects including the flyover — allows for the creation of new tax increment financing districts to help provide the local match.


The Red-Purple Line modernization project would include a bypass carrying Brown Line trains over Red and Purple line trains. It also would refurbish stations, bridges and track along a century-old corridor between Lawrence and Bryn Mawr avenues on the Red Line, which has experienced 40 percent growth in rush-hour traffic over the past five years, CTA spokesman Brian Steele said. The modernization is intended to increase capacity and make stations more easily accessible to those with disabilities.

New state TIF legislation allows special taxing districts to be created for four transit projects: the Red-Purple Line repairs, renovation of Union Station, an upgrade for the Blue Line Forest Park branch and the much-discussed extension of the Red Line south of 95th Street. The passage of the law at the end of June came as a relief to public officials and transit advocates, who were worried about the lack of state matching funds and the risk of leaving federal transit money on the table.


Of the four projects, the Red-Purple Line modernization is furthest along in terms of planning.
source: Chicago Tribune 8/10/2016

No Gray Line INCLUDED. 18 years running.

DH

LAST RESPONSE, do you even K N O W how to R E A D Dude??? (or have you got your hands in front of your eyes again): http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...623-story.html

The Mayor (Rahm Emanuel) himself A S K E D Kirk Dillard, Martin Oberman, Dorval Carter, etc..... to look into it, H O W did you somehow manage to MISS that??

Slower commute?
 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...809-story.html


Metra has suspended its search for a vendor to build 367 new rail cars because of a state shortfall in capital money......

Caltrain has 93 Nippon Sharyo "Galley" cars about to be retired in favor of new double level KISS EMUs from Stadler Rail. They are planning to start EMU services in 2020, although I'm not aware how long it'll take to completely retire their existing fleet of cars and locos.

Here's a roster with various details:
3800-3825 (26) Gallery Trailer Nippon Sharyo 1985 142 seats Luggage Racks
3826-3835 (10) Gallery Trailer Nippon Sharyo 1985 108 seats Bike capacity: 40
3836-3841 (6) Gallery Trailer Nippon Sharyo 1985 148 seats
3842-3851 (10) Gallery Trailer Nippon Sharyo 1986 148 seats
3852-3865 (14) Gallery Trailer Nippon Sharyo 2000 120 seats Bathroom, wheelchair space
4000-4020 (21) Gallery Cab (Bike) Nippon Sharyo 1985 97 seats Bike capacity: 40, bathroom
4021-4026 (6) Gallery Cab (Bike) Nippon Sharyo 2000 78 seats Bike capacity: 40, wheelchair space, bathroom

73 were built in the mid 1980s, while 20 were built in 2000.
66 are trailers and 27 are cabs. All 27 cabs plus 14 trailers have a bathroom. 6 cabs plus 14 trailers, those built in 2000, have a wheelchair space. All 27 cabs plus 10 trailers have bike space. 27 trailers have luggage racks.
It's a nice variety of used cars Metra could buy cheaper than brand new.

And VRE has options for another 21 cars that Metra could buy new, if VRE releases the options.

That amount of additional coaches should give Metra the flexibility to refurbish theirs,, possibly even retire their oldest or worse cars. Some math = 93/367 = 25%

Oh, Caltrain will also be retiring up to 32 diesel locomotives as well. Here's that roster:
900-919 (23) F40PH-2 EMD 1985-1987
920-922 (3) F40PH-2C BOISE 1998
923-928 (6) MP36PH-3C MPI 2003

Maybe their F40PH locos are too old to interest Metra, but I don't think their MP36PH-3C locos should be considered too old. Just about every commuter rail operator using a specific model might be bidding for them.

I can't resist ...
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...3b61d8fe97.jpg
Found on Pinterest

Most of you don't relish the arguments, the words, the political figures that are brought into the Gray Line debate. Here is a sampling that locked the topic on ChicagoTransitForum. Who was at fault? You decide.
Circle Line / Gray Line Chicago Transit Authority>CTA Rail>

garmon757 CTF MODERATOR posted July 3: @Mike Payne There's nothing wrong with making a valid point but please keep it down a notch, especially being aggressive in response towards other members.

jajuan Member posted July 3: I saw this video and about the only it shows is that the ME South Chicago Branch is ridiculously slow and that its passenger base has dropped significantly due to a combination of demographic changes and population loss. Based on that, why would CTA want to put money toward taking this over from Metra?

strictures Member posted July 3: Normally I've stopped replying to you, but since when is 16th St. to Kensington "20 to 25 mile" of tracks? It's just under 13 miles.

Mike Payne Member posted July 4: I've already answered everyone's questions with this statement, there is no point in any further discussion or explaination(sic) -- because you DON'T (or refuse to) hear what we're saying anyway!

artthouwill Member posted July 5: quoted chicagopcclcar Member posted July 5: My first question is....Why would the CTA want to takeover this deficit operation ($64 million deficit yearly)? We all have posed this question to him and he still hasn't provided an answer to it yet. This deficit you cited is based on current operations. Yet he wants to increase operations astronomically without saying how it would be paid for. His only mantra is, it already exists as ME, just change a logo, increase frequency and presto!!!

garmon757 CTF MODERATOR posted July 5: Alright everybody, this topic is going through some rough patches as of lately. I just want y'all to relax, settle down, and state your responses in a civiled(sic) manner. Also, PLEASE make sure to back up your facts that flows with this topic. Carry on.

Busjack Member posted July 9: I read the legislation, and it specifically said RPM, Blue Line, Red South, and Union Station* (note that Union Station is not owned by CTA, but Amtrak). So, no, it wouldn't help the Gray Line, even if CTA bought it from Metra.
You are now grasping at straws.

sw4400 Member posted July 9:
@Busjack, @Mike Payne, comments are getting a little uncivil again after @garmon757 said to tone it down a bit. Please let's get back on point without the bickering, ok? Keep it cool.

Busjack Member posted July 9: Maybe the Chambers of Commerce will get you the resources to get something accomplished. But you have been unsuccessful for 15 years after winning the CATS prize, so maybe you'll find something more successful than playing Don Quixote (your term, not mine) on blogs and message boards. @artthouwill, @jajuan, nor I am going to get you your Gray Line.
Nothing insulting about that.

sw4400 Member posted July 9: Ok, it's become apparent that civility is not going to reign supreme.... last post was a slap in the face of all forum members whether you intended it to be or not, @Mike Payne. That is extremely offensive. Some of these forum members are affiliated with the CTA! I find this forum as a place to enjoy, read and interact with those who also enjoy, read and discuss about CTA, Metra and PACE, as well as other Transit Forums throughout the US & World. I don't think of it as a "Ship In A Bottle" hobby, more like a "Facebook for Transit Enthusiasts".
On that note, @garmon757.... I think this thread has run it course and it would be best to just lock it. You've tried to get civility back here.... I tried, and it's still a verbal back and forth.

garmon757 CTF MODERATOR posted July 10: After carefully reviewing every post for the last three days, this topic is locked indefinitely. The point of the matter about it is that it's leading us nowhere at all. I know most of y'all did your best to remain civiled (sic) but we all have to move forward from this. @Mike Payne this isn't a forum to gloat about you getting paid by a businessman or whoever. We seriously can care less but due to the fact that you had the audacity to assume that people be on this forum because of personal interest a.k.a hobby, not only you just committed a serious community guidelines violation, but you've offended a lot of members on here, in which you seriously upsetted(sic) me with that nonsense. That's really unprofessional and disconcerting towards this forum and I will not tolerate it by all means!
This topic is now closed to further replies.

https://chitransit.org/topic/66-circ...y-line/?page=6

David Harrison

Medical District Blue Line Station Refurb
 

From a CTA presser-

-SNIP-

-SNIP-

-SNIP-

http://i.imgur.com/5n4Kuyw.jpg
img source - CTA

City Hopes to Use State Law Allowing Transit TIFs to Rebuild CTA Red Line
 

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2016/08/1...-cta-red-line/

Thursday August 11, 2016

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office has started crafting an ordinance that would activate a state law allowing the city to create “transit TIF districts” – officially called Transit Facility Improvement Areas – around four transit projects, according to the Chicago Tribune......

Crane was delivered tonight for Washington & Wells. The entire Loop was built 120 years ago in less time than this one station has taken just to do substructure, and without closing any streets for more than a weekend.

It is taking awhile but they are also keeping the tracks open as well, so I'm not sure the comparison is applicable. But in general, yes, it takes way longer to build anything today than it did 50+ years ago.

Comparison Station Boardings METRA ELC/CTA RED LINE
 

Comparison Station Boardings Metra(2014) CTA(2016)

METRA ELECTRIC MAIN

• Kensington...............1,081
• 111 St......................... 19
• 107 St......................... 31
• 103 Rosemoor................43
• 95 St. CSU.................... 43
• 91 St. Chesterfield......... 26
• 87 St. Woodruff..............56
• 83 St. Avalon Park..........50
• 79 St. Chatham..............57
• 75 St. Grand Crossing.....15
• 63 St...........................154

METRA SOUTH CHICAGO

• 93 St. South Chicago.. 652
• 87 St.........................117
• 83 St.........................113
• Cheltenham..................79
• Windsor Park...............100
• South Shore............... 179
• Bryn Mawr................... 88
• Stony Island...............161

METRA BLUE ISLAND

• Blue Island........ 124
• Burr Oak........... 124
• Ashland Av......... 98
• Racine Av........... 33
• Stewart Ridge..... 37
• State St............. 54

CTA RED LINE

• 95th St...... 10,863
• 87th St........ 4,236
• 79th St........ 7,091
• 69th St........ 5,403
• 63rd St........ 3,200

Source: www.rtams.org

DH

All kinds of Environmental Impact Studies, RFP's, Bids, Corruptions, etc., etc.....

There seem to be at least 1 or 2 places where the steel structure of the Wabash el looks to have been entirely severed and entire sections replaced, as in this photo. Did this just happen over the past few weeks, and were they able to accomplish the work without any disruption to weekday train runs?

There were weekend reroutes from 10 pm Friday to 4 am Monday, when the Wabash Ave. was closed to "L" traffic. Pink and Green lines were rerouted via Van Buren and Wells Sts. The Brown and Orange lines were merged and operated over the same route.

DH

^I'm trying to figure out what the Geofoam stacked on the sidewalk is for. Will this station include a sledding hill?

They're filling sidewalk vaults. Normally they use gravel for this, but geofoam doesn't put as much weight on the foundations of adjacent buildings. It's also easily removable if CTA decides they need more vault space in the future for electrical or signal equipment.

^ No question is too obscure for ardecila to find an answer to. Even ones that baffle Mr Downtown. Do you have access to some kind of dark web wikicitya?


(I assume this isn't your summer version of an April prank, right?)

Hmm, was just on the Red Line between Grand and Lake and suddenly felt a huge BANG BANG every time the wheels went over one point. Hopefully not a broken rail. The driver slammed on the breaks after about the third one. Then proceeded slowly and kept grinding to a halt until we got all 8 cars past.

Wonder if they'll shut it down...too bad it's rush hour.

Good reporting! "slammed on the brakes"....Sorry, I'm a retired teacher.

DH

EDIT.....Red Line

95th/Dan Ryan-bound Subway Trains Rerouted to Elevated Tracks
Service Disruption
Predictions Disabled Affects Train Tracker prediction availability (What's this?)
95th-bound Red Line trains are temporarily rerouted to the elevated tracks between Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown.
Tue, Aug 16 2016 9:06 AM to TBD

Wow!

2nd EDIT.....Red lines are running, probably speed is reduced in problem area. Work window anticiplated.....

Red Line
Upcoming Alerts
Red Line
Boarding Change, Delays Between Grand and Cermak-Chinatown
Planned Work
Predictions Disabled Affects Train Tracker prediction availability (What's this?)
Wed, Aug 17 2016 - 11:00 PM to Thu, Aug 18 2016 - 4:00 AM

Nope, just saw them sticking geofoam in the vaults a few months ago. I'm just guessing about the thinking behind it...

I love geofoam as much as the next guy, but, er, shouldn't you explicitly distinguish between supposition and fact when crafting statements? (For example, perhaps it's only the easy-removability reasoning, but not the foundation-weight reasoning, that was actually considered.) It shouldn't take much more time to incorporate such caveats when writing posts. Even when fairly, but not totally, certain about something. (This is a forum and obviously rigorous journalism standards don't apply, but heck some folks here are just regarded as speaking with substantial authority on things.)

19th Annual Transportation Symposium.....
 

19th Annual Transportation Symposium

http://illinoistransportationsymposium.com/

Tuesday, November 15th, 2016

Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60602


I will be an Exhibitor there.

Work beginning Monday on Metra Electric Line to cause delays
 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/wor...-cause-delays/

Commuters on Metra’s Electric Line should prepare for 10-minute delays and altered schedules as major work begins Monday on the line that runs from the city to the south suburbs......

I recently noticed geofoam was being used under a sidewalk while it was being torn up around Folio Square. At first I thought it was some really nice concrete work, then I noticed the foam crumbles.

http://i.imgur.com/oAX36Zkl.jpg

The city will be made entirely of geofoam just in time for the next big fire.

^ With the rebar sticking out the top, those look more like insulated concrete forms. Similar foam material, but used in thin sheets as form work for a concrete pour rather than as a replacement for soil.

It's not quite complete but the Argyle shared street is looking really rough

So maddening. It's like they spaced the bricks out just wide enough so that cigarettes and other trash can get stuck in-between.

Hopefully it looks a lot better once all the trees are in. Right now, it already looks tired and unkept.