This month, the city of Chicago will choose a team of engineers to brainstorm an express rail line to O'Hare Airport. The plan has come under criticism for diverting future resources away from transit in low-income areas.
Chicago is considering an express train from downtown to O'Hare Airport, even though the CTA Blue Line already serves the route. This month, John Greenfield and Steven Vance report, "the aviation department will pick an engineering team to analyze and develop conceptual designs for the rail service and lay out an overall timeline for the project."
The plan hasn't been popular with everyone. "With Emanuel under attack for multiple police scandals and the Chicago Public Schools financial crisis, it seems like an odd time to move forward with a plan that would largely benefit the well heeled folks who'd be willing to pay a premium for a faster ride to the airport." The city is considering public-private options to finance the project instead of public funds.
The article also discusses CrossRail, an alternate plan to use Chicago Metra tracks instead of CTA ones for the express line. "There's no cost estimate for the project yet, but a business plan for the airport express created for the CTA in 2006 estimated that a Blue Line-parallel service with separate tracks would cost $1.5 billion."
FULL STORY: City Will Select Engineering Team Next Month to Brainstorm O’Hare Express
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