the wait is slow and agonizing. Two weeks until the vote in Copenhagen by the IOC, a vote that decides the fate of one lucky city to host the world for two weeks in 2016. Speculation of who will and who won't show up to the vote, what the final presentation will look like, and any last minute alignments of votes is in the news at this point. However we don't hear the flip side, what if Chicago doesn't win? What do we talk about then? What do we look forward to? I have a few suggestions:
1. We focus on Chicago's transit system. Let's gather together and fight for one transit agency. This is a lesson from the Western cities we can learn from. A unified transit authority that governs suburban transit and city transit will make for a more cost effective, government efficient system. Think about the day your CTA card pays for your Metra ticket, and vice versa. Think about how we as city governments can work with one authority on all modes of transit from regional rail to rapid transit to local bus service. Sounds dreamy doesn't it? The CTA, Metra and Pace have a LOT of work to do to upgrade and expand their systems and fighting over money with the RTA doesn't help matters. Let's combine them and have divisions, Regional Rail, Rapid Transit and Bus Operations. Let's have them talk to one another, coordinate schedules and construction and go after a unified vision at once. We will be adding a High Speed rail network to our system in the next 20 years and someone needs to manage this, adding another authority on top will only make matters worse.
But Craig, what about jobs? Don't you just want to do this to get rid of jobs and those poor people at the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace will fear for their livelihood?
Yes, well, guess what, the amount of work that needs to be done will still be there. I would suspect consolidating services might see a SLIGHT reduction in staffing, but a reduction might be needed. Each division has different modes of transit which require their own operations staff and materials. That will never go away. BUT say getting rid of some of administration that ties up funding at the top, funding that can be used to a better good, would help the system run more effectively.
Beyond a unified RTA, i envision this new agency thinking boldly for the future. implementing a streetcar or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system into the city would be great. Even working with smaller cities like Evanston, Oak Park, Berwyn, etc for their own localized transit systems will help bolster RTA ridership and revenues. How can we leverage the regional rail system to overlay a rapid transit system on that? Providing smaller efficient rail cars and a more frequent service (London is working on a system like this right now) Could fill that gap and provide more incentive for riders if they know that a train will be there and although it wont be as quick as the commuter service, it can get them to their destinations (infill stations would be possible at this level of service as the distance requirements between stations decrease with a smaller, agile train car).
We need to build the STAR line, the circle line, the Gold Line, expand the South Shore Line, and overhaul the L system. We need to build express services to our major airports. Replacing the current steel structure with a 21st century engineering solution would be ideal. Updating the Loop so that all the stations are code compliant and ADA accessible and are no longer bird nests for the city's pigeon population would be great too.
And of course there is the High Speed Rail Network currently running through the legislative people. Updating and expanding Union Station will be needed for this as well as all of the necessary signaling and CREATE projects that are listed out there.
WHEW! that's a lot of work. Can it be done? Sure. We just need the will of the people to talk to their representatives and push for a better system. Until then, we won't get it. There is plenty of money coming down the pipeline and the Chicago Region might lose out if we don't have a unified voice for it and have a compelling argument as to why we deserve it.
Part of the big push for the Olympics is jobs. Seven years of non stop construction, prep, even hiring all of those dancers and children to wow the audience at the opening ceremonies. Plenty of jobs for everyone. But if we don't get it, rebuilding, expanding and improving our infrastructure could be a great way to create jobs, which could in turn lead to more jobs in other sectors.
Beyond transit, the City of Chicago has released and adopted the Central Area Action Plan, a multi-billion dollar vision to improve the quality of the downtown area. Everything from pushing Lake Shore drive further into Lake Michigan to ease the Curve at Oakton St Beach and creating much needed space and parkland in that area to capping the Eisenhower in the west loop to create a series of parks and link that portion to the rest of downtown are on the table. Again more jobs and more money of course but they have identified funding sources locally, statewide and federally. In the suburbs i am sure there are plenty of projects to be had, in Evanston alone I can think of a laundry list of "wouldn't that be nice."
My point is, if we don't get the Olympics, let's focus on the things that haven't gotten the attention of our leaders in the last year. Let's use that energy to improve our city and make it the best it can be so that if we ever go after the Olympics in the future there will never be a question of whether or not our transit system can handle the crush of visitors or if our parks aren't good enough or if we are forcing poorer citizens out of their homes. We need a vision to hold on to and move forward, why not the best city in the world as our vision? We all know it can be that, or else we wouldn't be living here.
With you,
CDS
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