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Originally Posted by Jasoncw
What do below-grade pedway systems that makes the loop more walkable during extreme weather have to do with carbon emissions?
I think it's a wet dream regardless of whether or not it's implemented. Projects containing green design, parametric modeling, urban design (architects in a candy store), and pedway systems tend to be, especially when you get into "urban matrix" and "smart infrastructure."
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The pedway system is great. If it actually linked up to Union and/or Ogilvie Stations, it would get thousands of additional pedestrians every day. As it is, it's fairly crowded in rush hour linking Metra Electric to the Red/Blue Lines, Illinois Center, Block 37, and the various government buildings.
An underground busway or light-rail line running east-west through the Loop has been in official plans for decades. Smith/Gill merely made it look sexy. They're also very familiar with existing innovations that commercial landlords are already implementing on their buildings, like green roofs, centralized chilled water systems, low-E glass, fritted glass, et al.
I don't see what's so radical about this plan. Everything in it is merely an extension of things that the city government and the business community has already been doing. The plan merely puts an attractive, compelling design on top of it all.