Originally Posted by SIGSEGV (Post 8833213)

evidence of work on the right of way?

Originally Posted by kolchak (Post 8832937)

I imagine the 78, especially DPI, will be served by private (or at least U of I) shuttles a la McDonald's headquarters, Google, etc.

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV (Post 8833213)

From earlier today. I see a construction office and maybe some evidence of work on the right of way?

Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 8832308)

^ Well, CTA could do these things with bus routes and I think it's very likely that they will... but how long will that take? I have to say it is frustrating that the transportation planning process for all of these new developments is occurring behind closed doors. I haven't seen any mention of bus route changes to serve Lincoln Yards or the 78. The city keeps hinting at a transitway along the North Branch, but has not launched a public process to plan and fund it. Big flashy projects like new L stops command all the attention and the public debate (if any), but CTA itself has seemingly done very little to respond to all this downtown-adjacent growth with the bus routes and planning tools they have at their disposal.

For all the growth in Fulton Market, all CTA has done is open the Morgan station (which was really a CDOT project anyway)... no supplemental bus routes to better cover the area, no infrastructure investments like bus lanes or prepaid stations to allow the Halsted and Madison lines to work more effectively.

Granted, CTA is working in a realm of limited resources,... finite numbers of buses/drivers and a finite budget with which to pay them. Without an increased budget, adding service one place means taking it away from somewhere else, unless they can work with electeds and the community to find supplemental funding. The best we can really hope for is zero-cost changes like re-routes or route swaps that can bring in more ridership (the recent changes to the California buses being a good example of this).

That's why I'm hopeful The 78 can at least get some bus service, there is literally a route called 24 Wentworth, changing its route as Wentworth is expanded northward seems like a no-brainer, but it means the South Loopers who live along Clark in Dearborn Park I and II, AMLI, etc will have to walk a little further to buses and trains on State... and the frequency of the 24 is a joke since it only exists as an ADA-accessible backup to the south Red Line. Re-routing the 62 Archer bus makes more sense, either instead of or in addition to the 24, since the frequency and hours of service are decent, and its State St portion is already served by the 29 State and the Red Line, so nobody would lose anything. And it would connect The 78 jobs to housing opportunities on the southwest side. If they can find enough resources to briefly extend one of the North Side buses down Wentworth as well, either the 36 Clark or 37 Sedgwick, that would really create a transit trunk on Wentworth with 3 bus routes, frequent service and, IMO, totally obviate the need for a Red Line station in the first phase of development.

Going to Hong Kong was an eye-opener, there are countless highrise estates there that are as big or bigger then The 78, that are served only by buses. Usually it is not just a feeder to subway stations but real decent bus routes that connect to destinations across the city. Pretending like The 78 NEEDS a rail station to function is just snobbery. But - it takes a real planning process and hard infrastructure to enable buses to do this job.

Originally Posted by Goose Island Guru (Post 8833542)

The availability of a bus does not change the perception that they're gross. You're not going to just get people to ride a bus because it's there.

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV (Post 8833571)

I ride express buses between the South Loop and UChicago that are chock-full of professionals. People will absolutely ride them...

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7 (Post 8833495)

FHP is doing the civil work at the new bridge.

Originally Posted by Goose Island Guru (Post 8833542)

The availability of a bus does not change the perception that they're gross. You're not going to just get people to ride a bus because it's there.

Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 8833733)

I think the appearance is misleading... most of the work to date is in the underground utilities that will provide the backbone for future development. The pavement is probably the last thing that will be done.

Also, I'm surprised to hear about new bridges. I thought CDOT was going to cheap out and re-use the existing bridge under the St Charles Air Line and cross the Freeport Sub at grade... but this article makes it sound like a full grade separation is planned.
https://www.constructionequipmentgui...barriers/47150

Obviously having a full grade separation is key to making this a major traffic route, and helps with efforts at bus service as well... would hate to have traffic backing up here behind a freight train.

Originally Posted by jtown,man (Post 8834782)

Yeah, I won't lie, I was more nervous taking the bus here in Chicago than I was the L. It was the whole 'pay when boarding' thing and the fact that the bus was stopped to pick ME up so everyone would be staring at me to see where I sat(lol, of course, that's not the case, but anxiety can be insane). Then, would my bus actually go where it was supposed to? How would it know when to stop!?

Yeah, all dumb problems to have in one's head. But when you take the L, its swipe your card way before you board, get on, wait for your stop, which is nicely mapped, and then you're there.

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV (Post 8835079)

Maybe the CTA should put a "how do I ride?" QR code at each stop. Honestly though, the CTA buses are much easier to ride than other cities... stops are announced and you can pay via contactless credit/bank card or even with your phone...

Originally Posted by jpIllInoIs (Post 8834899)

Weird that the best summary of this road project is in a deep state industry mag. CDOT and Related have no info. Nice link though thanks.

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV (Post 8833289)

The 78 web site claims every-ten-minute water taxi service and express shuttles to Ogilvie/Union Stations.

Originally Posted by BrinChi (Post 8835646)

Now that would be badass. Express train to downtown and then hop the water taxi every day?

Originally Posted by The Lurker (Post 8835700)

Not during the winter. But it does make me wonder about the viability of an ACV/hovercraft to keep it running year round.

Originally Posted by The Lurker (Post 8835700)

Not during the winter. But it does make me wonder about the viability of an ACV/hovercraft to keep it running year round.

Originally Posted by Bonsai Tree (Post 8831708)

Now I really don't understand what you're saying! CBD's are a thing of the past. Stop thinking that the loop is the god-given business-only district of this city. THAT is bad planning! As long as new business districts are created along transit lines (that conveniently run through the Loop) it's really not that hard to imagine. Plus, the more business districts we have, the more walkable the city can become, and the more mixed-use and livable it can be. If anything, the 78 is an example of fantastic mixed-use planning. A university, apartment buildings, fitness centers, transit areas, and plenty of parkland in one walkable distance. What's not to like? And, I think we've already argued that there is plenty of transit infrastructure in place to support these office jobs. As was stated before, 2 stations (1 new and Roosevelt) make this project completely feasible transit wise. Do you have property in the Loop that is losing value? Is that why you such a vendetta against business districts outside the Loop? I promise you, it's really not bad planning.