As far as I can tell, the only "news" at the meeting last night was that CTA now has ~8 million to move forward with the studies of the North Main and the Red extension. I guess before now, they were in a holding pattern and making virtually no progress.

As I mentioned before, there is a cool new branding of the three Red Line projects with neat names and logos. Also, this cool Jules Guerin, Plan of Chicago-like rendering:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4809/redlinem.jpg

When did the South Chicago Branch start running off into Indiana?

So are they really going to remove all the stops north of 95th so it can run express straight to the Loop? :)

Did anyone else notice that the above map shows an extension of the ME South Chicago branch to Whiting? Is that planned?

No, it's just incorrect.

I think they meant to show the Amtrak line and somehow connected it into the ME instead of its real route along the Skyway.

All of the other light Blue lines shown are Metra lines (and the South Shore), it doesn't show any (other) Amtrak lines.

I think the diagram was drawn by someone not completely familiar with the systems.

Metra Board Meeting Friday August 12th
 

Hello all, the next Metra Board Meeting is scheduled for 9am Friday, August
12th, 2011 at Metra Headquarters; 547 W. Jackson Blvd in Downtown Chicago
(SW across from Chicago Union Station).

I will be there to testify as to how when Exec. Dir. Alex Clifford gave his
Presentation recently at the Hearing held by Sen. Sandoval and Rep. Soto
on threatened Metra Fare Increases and Service Cuts, and stated that they
had looked at all possibilities on increasing revenues and reducing costs -
but he left out consideration of some solutions from the community on how
to eliminate some very expensive and wasteful competitive practices, reduce
losses, potentially increase ridership and revenues significantly - and possibly
find a way for Metra for the first time to receive funding from The City of Chicago
for some of Metra's in-city operations.

It would be great if Sen. Sandoval and/or Rep. Soto could attend the Board
Meeting for the Public Comment period at the beginning of the Meeting about 9am,
which would allow them to hear the entire Metra Board addressed about the
CTA Gray Line Proposal, how it would eliminate waste and competition between Metra
and CTA on Chicago's South Side; and for the first time give Metra access to City Funds.

I am working with their Offices to see if they might be able to attend.

They could then later question Metra, and Metra could then explain how
"they AREN'T interested in increasing their revenues in that way".


If any of you can, please attend the Board Meeting and lend your support (or
opposition) to our efforts.

Thanks,

Mike Payne

Either that or they didn't care if it was 100% accurate since no one will be reading this as a map so they took artistic liberties to make the render more dynamic and simple?

Believe it or not, but 99.99% of people are not urbanophiles like us and would never notice or care that there is a slight inaccuracy in an artist's interpretation.

There aren't any other Amtrak lines within the boundaries of the map. Just the City of New Orleans/Saluki/Illini and the trains to points east.

Sadly, you are exactly right.

Metra Board Meeting this Friday August 12th
 

Metra - Board of Directors Meeting Calender for 2011:

http://metrarail.com/content/dam/met...lendar2011.pdf


If you can, please attend the Metra Board of Directors Meeting this coming Friday - August 12th at 9am;
they are seeking your input on their recently announced Fare Increases and Service Cuts.

I will be there to submit my ideas on ways to change or improve the situation.

A few years back, I had done a study on the re-use of the traffic tunnels which are under the river @ LaSalle/Wash/VanBuren. I had visualized these tunnels refurbished and integrated into a modern subway and lightrail system, costing less than excavation for new tunnels. The experts I consulted with were not too receptive to the idea in that the old tunnels, according to them, were too far deteriorated for any renewal.

Anyhow, here was my concept:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lbrownj...18884934107282

^^ That's crap. Even refurbishment would be cheaper than digging a whole new set of tunnels.

Also, does this look like a lost cause?

Washington St Tunnel
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7...progress06.jpg

Statement to Metra Board of Directors Meeting - August 12, 2011
 

Good Morning Ladies & Gentlemen and Metra Board Members - and Thank You for this opportunity.

My name is Mike Payne, and I am the Author of the CTA Gray Line Project to convert the In-city Metra Electric District services (the South Chicago, Kensington, and Blue Island routes - and a new Hegewisch Shuttle), to a Regional integrated CTA 'L' operation.


When Exec. Dir. Clifford testified recently at Sen. Sandoval & Rep. Soto's Hearing on Fare Increases and Service Cuts, he stated that Metra had researched many options to avoid those cuts or increases.

I have addressed Metra's, CTA & RTA's Boards many times on how the Gray Line would reduce both Agencies Operating Costs by Millions; and create a Huge Increase in Ridership and Revenues.

In their present Operating Format, Metra's Electric District and CTA compete with each other directly - wasting Millions in Fuel, Labor, Power Consumption, and Repairs & Maintenance; like two Wal-Marts right across the street from each other.


I have communicated with Sen. Sandoval's and Rep. Soto's Offices in relation to both Agencies Operating Costs and Major Capital Project Local Funding; and to see if they could find a way to influence Metra and CTA to work towards more Regional Goals, both for their own benefits - and to benefit the People of NE Illinois.

CTA and Metra have many paid Lobbyists in Washington and Springfield seeking funding to implement their Major Capital Projects; I am seeking $200 Million in Capital Funds for a Chicago Area Major Capital Project that would create Thousands of New Jobs and stimulate Economic Development, and I am working more-or-less all by myself.


Next Month, The Regional Transportation Authority and the Chicago Department of Transportation will tentatively hold the second "South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study" Public Meeting - part of which studies the Gray Line proposal.

I would like to invite you Exec. Dir. Clifford - and CTA President Claypool to attend, once a date is set for the Meeting.

Since I harass both Agencies Board Secretaries regularly - Ms. Murphy here at Metra, and Greg Longhini at CTA - they will know immediately when that information is available.

Google Search: CTA Gray Line for detailed information about the Proposal, the Lakefront Corridor Study, and contact information.


Thank you all for your time - and Good Day.

Chicago drafts first-ever master plan for pedestrians


08.12.2011

Read More: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5594




http://archpaper.com/uploads/image/c...dewalks_01.jpg

Chicago Budget 2012 - Gray Line Idea Submission
 

Speaking of the trolley tunnels, Harpers had some interesting illustrations of the LaSalle Street portals from 1890.

I couldn't find other sources, but there are some for sale on eBay (I'm not selling them, and I'm not suggesting you buy them, I'm just pointing out the cool illustrations in the listings):

South Portal

North Portal

Road diets sound good. I'm in favor of narrowing Michigan Avenue to just 4 lanes with only busses and trolleys......
---Runs and hides---

Michigan Avenue is fine. North Avenue in the Clybourn area is not.

Interesting. My main issue is that the MPC's proposal is based on the availability of roadspace, so you end up with a ton of BRT on the Southwest Side with relatively little in the dense areas where people might actually realize decent time savings from BRT strategies.

Little thought seems to be given to the possibility of working around CTA's existing plans. For example, the Halsted BRT seems like a huge waste of money when the Red Line Extension will run only 1/2 mile away. Also, the Garfield BRT starts and ends at odd points. It would be a great way to quickly connect the Hyde Park area with Midway Airport (functionally like New York's M60 bus), but it doesn't run to either of those places.

I've maintained that Irving Park is a good candidate for BRT or LRT because of its roadspace (it was ambitiously widened in the 1920s) but also because it has numerous connections to existing rail lines, it runs through dense, economically vibrant areas, and it serves the significant seasonal traffic to Cubs games. The MPC's Irving Park proposal not only does not connect to the high-density lakefront and Wrigleyville, but it doesn't even connect to the Red Line. Unless, of course, they're envisioning the rapid buses on Irving Park continuing on to the lakefront in mixed traffic.

Besides, the jury's still out on whether Emanuel is willing to take the heat for converting auto lanes or parking lanes into full-time bus lanes. The mayor's spokesman, and Claypool, aren't really saying anything.