The reduced travel times associated with the Chicago Transit Authority’s plan to offer express service between the city’s two airports hinge on infrastructural changes that could cost anywhere from $771 million to $1.5 billion, according to a report from an independent consultant.
Express service to O’Hare and Midway airports has been one of the proposed highlights of the Block 37 project, which would include a new $200-million subway station at 108 N. State St.
As an intermediate step, the Chicago Transit Authority would partner with a private investor to set up non-stop train service from the new station to the airports at a cost of $64 million, the report from PB Consult Inc. said. Commuters would pay $10 per trip.
But without major system enhancements that would allow airport-only trains to bypass regular Blue and Orange Line trains [that stop at every station along the route], the non-stop service wouldn’t reduce travel times.
It would still take 45 minutes to get from downtown to O’Hare and 30 minutes to get to Midway. The primary difference would be “significant comfort enhancements” for people with luggage, the report said. [My note: “significant comfort enhancements for people with luggage” means with no stops, the chances of a local thief grabbing your briefcase and jumping off just as the train starts to leave a neighborhood station would be nil.]
However, travel times to O’Hare could be cut to 30 minutes with modifications to the el
This actually seems cheap to me. I don’t have my map of Chicago near to hand but if I remember correctly the area between the airports is almost completely build up. However you want to make a connection between the two airports it is going to cost money. Even if it is going via a freight rail route or the expressway. And probably it will still be considered cheap if it turns out to cost twice the amount of money but how many people will be making use of such a service?
How many people are actually changing planes between the airports?
What is the road traffic between them?
It seems reasonable to start with a “direct” non stop service via down town.
I just don’t see any cost benefit compared to the seemingly non existant potential for any market segment that would use this service on either a practical or regular basis. Indirectly, it brings up a major weakness in both the business community and urban planning…perhaps transit planning as well… a lack of anticipation of future trends… If this is such a burning priority, it certainly points out that express service at the time of the line’s construction would have been consequently, a “no-brainer” that was overlooked, or more likely, guess what? …too expensive, in terms of adding run around trackage in a narrow right of way hemmed in by eight lanes of expressway. This boondogle of inept planning is especially painful when you consider the Yellow line extension has been languishing for decades, which parallels the Edens Expressway aka The Parking Lot. This brings up an additional facet of newer transit systems and \or new additions to existing systems, which are hard pressed due the lack of redundant capacity for futiure expansions of service. Washington’s Metro, among others in addition to the CTA O’Hara line, that are maxed out in terms of capacity or the capability to add express trains. In retrospect, this is also painful when you consider the ill advised but understandable, premature deaths of the CA&E and CNS&M which really were efficent, unofficial extensions of the CTA. “It begins with a blessing and ends with a curse, Making things better by making them worse…”
and dont forget other local politics…I had heard some folks were pushing to close Midway, especially after the accident last year where an airplane skided off teh end of the runway and killed a young boy. Even before that, the city was trying to discuourage the use of Midway, in favor of Butch’s Place. (Butch O’Hare, a decorated Naval Aviator).
After it leaves the Kennedy Expressway median, the Blue Line is the pokiest train I’ve ever been on. I’ve always thought no traveler to Chicago should be subjected to a jail sentence – leaves a bad impression. Chicago Transit Authority Map
Actually the layout of the two airports and downtown is triangular. (See the map.) When I first heard about the plan, I thought they were talking about a direct route between the airports (red line). When the newspaper article speaks of an express service, however, I think that means going through downtown (blue line). That adds a lot of distance and time.
The UP-NW line is a commuter rail route. If they run freight it must be at night. Maybe someone can add to this.
By the number of people I usually see boarding at O’Hare, I would guess it to be very few presently.
How I Avoid the O’Hare Hassle
At O’Hare the worst traffic is usually within a few miles of the airport. After landing, I take the Blue line to Harlem Ave. and have my relative pick me up at the parking lot. Although the Cumberland station is closer and has ramps in both directions, there’s no p
Another good option that I have used several times, is to take the North Central Metra line and get off at OHara Transfer…there’s always a transfer bus waiting and it’s pretty easy to use except that it does not run on weekends.
I would consider the proposal by the CTA for express service to the airports to be in a similar vein to the 1958 proposal to operate modified 1936 PCC cars on the CA&E between Forest Park and Wheaton. Since no funding sources were included in either proposal, they may have been made to keep clueless politicians off CTA’s back. CTA may have been saying in both situations that the plans are technically feasible, but show us the money to carry them out.
This seems to the most likely scenario, however it would be interesting to know what or whom prompted the apparently unsolicited “plan” at CTA…if it is to lessen automobile traffic as part of some quasi EPA-type pollution study…then it would be understandable, but , to my way of thinking…still a misbegotten boondogle none the less…I cannot imagine that any legal business entity in their right mind as a “private investor” seeing any return on their investment. It’s like suggesting the return of the CRT with a straight face…
The issue should be is the Midway Airport going to close? [The surrounding real estate is built up to the roads that surround the entire airport perimeter; meaning no size increase is easily available in the airport]. There was a plan, afoot at one time to move the traffic from Midway to a new location, allowing that expensive real estate to become otherwise occupied. The major plan that was talked about a few years back, was to move the new airport to the area of Gary, In. To relieve the crowded conditions at both Midway and Ohare. [A plan pushed by local politicians in Gary,In, as it was a pretty economically depressed area]; Another plan was to move it south, to an area around Monee,Il or Kankakee,Il- south I-80 and the major urban growth areas of Chicago. Although the airport itself will spark much development, and be a real plum for the area chosen for it. Before spending a lot of money seems like the best plan would be to decide where the prime airport for Chicagoland was gonna be placed.[2c]
Anything you hear about closing Midway Airport is strictly rumor.
To illustrate the point that it will not happen, consider: the City of Chicago has spent in excess of $900 million since 2001 in a Midway-makeover that includes a new 1 million-square foot terminal with 50,000sf of retail space plus a 25,000sf food court, a new multi-level parking garage, rerouting Cicero Avenue (
All to consultants who were boyhood chums of Mayor Daley in Bridgeport. And don’t have fishhooks in their pockets when Da Mayor is raising political donations.
I can’t see them closing Midway, either. That would completely shut out general aviation (e.g. small planes, private jets) access to Chicago, not a popular thing with corporations, nor with private pilots. For example, where would Boeing corporate jets land? That was part of the deal for moving their CHQ to Chicago. Mayor Daley has already done enough to discredit himself to the aviation community (the peremptory closing of Meigs) and make Chicago less accessible to general aviation. The land is valuable – if you’re a railroad nut – several huge yards within a few miles, and plenty of industry. Otherwise, it’ll remain a lower-, lower-middle class neighborhood.
Note that the ‘plan’ WAS done by a consultant. I don’t think the primary purpose is to link the 2 airports, there are faster ways to get between them. There would be some benefit to out-of town travelers in having a dedicated station, as many don’t know where to get on or off the present system or are reluctant to ride it especially if hauling more than an overnight bag. I’m not sure block 37 is the best place, although it is centrally located.
I wonder if the corporate expense bean counters would allow the average business traveler to use it. Now that Marshall Fields is no more there’s not much reason for tourists to go there [:)]
I wasn’t aware that there was that much demand for fast transportation service between O’Hare and Midway to justify such an expense. Except when during bad weather Midway flights are diverted to O’Hare, but in the past the MO has been to park the plane on the tarmac at O’Hare and wait for Midway to reopen its runways.
Here’s another thought: Why should Chicago spend so much money for travellers who are only changing airlines in Chicago – which most often means going to the other airport. They don’t stay long enough in Chicago to spend any money, right?
Isn’t there already a shuttle bus or copter service? (See below.) It’s not hard to figure why there might not be much demand. Southwest is the major user of Midway, and they don’t have flights at ORD to transfer to.
In New York there is demand for movement between the three airports, and it is largely filled by the private sector, cabs, copters, shuttle buses, limos, etc. If you’ve got plenty of time you can take public transportation, just like in Chicago.
If you take a look at the map I included above, you can see that all you need is a shuttle bus between ORD and MDW. It’s pretty direct, I-55 and I-294. I don’t live in Chicago, and figure this controversy has something to do with the politics of building a third airport, Richard Daley (Senior) International.
Your are absolutely right. There is plenty of ground transportation available at all price levels at both places. Why should the federal government or local taxpayers subsidize airline travelers that are just moving from an inbound flight at one location to an outbound flight at the other? You can use the current carriers at O’Hare to reach just about any destination (I’d say 98 percent) Southwest and AirTran visit from Midway. The only thing is they’re cheaper flights. Let the out-of-towners make their own decisions and pay for their own ground transportation.
$1.5 billion in the transportation infrastructure world is almost pocket change. A single interchange reconstruction where two Interstate highways meet costs $1 to $2 billion.
