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South Shore expansion studies forthcoming
I wonder if this extension equates to an extension of catenary,
I’d love to see a break down of how eight miles of track could cost 571 million. I’m all for commuter and light rail but why does it seem to be so expensive to build?
571 million for 8 miles of tracks? 1.sumthin for the study to see if one should spend 571 million for 8 miles of track? And this is on EXISTING right of way…sans trains for years but still there. Fascinating…I wish I could get in on some of that cheese…but I am just a mere mouse in the scheme…
Why so much money for only a little bit of track? The article is very clear. You have the environ-mentalists with their massive amounts of regulations, red tape, studies, changes, more changes, impacts, more changes, still more changes, did I forget any changes? All to make sure the spotted whooping fish living 100 miles away in some swamp in Michigan isn’t affected. Not mentioned in the article, but can be assumed, are the NIMBY gangs, which will require more court costs, impact studies, diversions, expenses, delays, and so on. Finally, adding to the mess is big socialist government trying to do something using people with masters degrees in underwater anthropology. Which would be those politicians and their underlings who can’t hold a job in the private sector where performance and competence is required.
Of course if this was in Chicago proper and Richard M Daley was still running city hall instead of Deadfish, he would have a crew out there installing 8 miles of track and wire overnight, screw everybody else. Much like Meigs Field, only in reverse. Because his wife wanted it that way.
It is important to remember that engineering/consulting firms like to make money-lots of it! That is where a significant amount of the astronomical cost goes. Engineers like to gold-plate all of their plans until someone of authority tells them that they have to sharpen their pencils and do some “value-engineering.” The number can come down but the question is: Will anyone make it come down?
It is important to remember that engineering/consulting firms like to make money-lots of it! That is where a significant amount of the astronomical cost goes. Engineers like to gold-plate all of their plans until someone of authority tells them that they have to sharpen their pencils and do some “value-engineering.” The number can come down but the question is: Will anyone make it come down?
How about the New York-Chicago Air Line, Mr. K?
Gary Railways returns?
A bus line would be a heck of a lot cheaper.
Some clarifications. First the plan is to extend the overhead catenary from Hammond to Dyer. Second, the plan includes several stations as well as upgraded grade crossing protection at multiple locations. Third, ROW fencing is also planned to prevent ignorant, uninformed people from trespassing on the property.
Finally, the largest single expense is the flyover planned for Hammond. This flyover would carry the NICTD tracks over NS, CSX and IHB freight main lines to connect with the existing NICTD main line. The current NICTD main line runs along the north side of these multiple main lines and reportedly the flyover was the price of cooperation from the various freight railroads. The Englewood Flyover currently under construction cost approximately $145 million.
The original Monon main line connected with the C&WI at Hammond for the journey into Chicago’s Dearborn Station. Obviously this is not an option for NICTD.
Finally, there is commuter bus service available today but the route between the Loop and Lake County, Indiana already uses some of the most congested highways in the region.
Screw the bus, Les Coburn. Commuters DON’T like busses!
Don’t worry the NIMBY crown and their colaborators in the state and Federal EPA will do their best to deep 6 the hopes of new passenger service extension.
I was driving in Chicago yesterday and despite the threats of an incoming snowstorm during the heart of rush hour, traffic was visibly backed up for miles, and a shorter route option was available, hardly any commuters at all opted to use the Dan Ryan Skyway, which had sparse traffic a baby could have safely crawled across the highway.
Since there is no demand for toll roads and the Dan Ryan is crumbling apart, its time to tear down the ugly behemoth and downgrade that section of I-90 to a four-lane road on one side of the highway, and convert the other half side to an exclusive double-track right-of-way for passenger trains only.
Amtrak and the South Shore could benefit from it, as well as the airport in Gary, since it is along the line, and it would be far cheaper to do that than to build the Illiana Turnpike and the airport in Peotone that is way out of the way. Do it now before the private operator declares bankruptcy and its wealthy dictators make the taxpayers pay for building it later at much higher cost.
Does anybody have any thoughts on comparing the South Shore expansion with the cost (perhaps on a per mile basis) for the proposed electrification of Cal Train in the Bay Area? A direct comparison would probably be inappropriate since there does not appear to be any new track construction involved with the Cal Train project, but I would appreciate any related comments.
Does anybody have any thoughts on comparing the South Shore expansion with the cost (perhaps on a per mile basis) for the proposed electrification of Cal Train in the Bay Area? A direct comparison would probably be inappropriate since there does not appear to be any new track construction involved with the Cal Train project, but I would appreciate any related comments.
They’d better figure out who will sweep the platforms in Dyer.