Do you think the EL will ever be expanded or new lines added? (Chicago: buy, costs)

[oakparkdude]

Worth reading.

The Urbanophile: Chicago Transit: From Good to Great, Part 1 - Building the Vision

[Chi-town Native]

nice catch, thanks.

[Surfindude]

Haven't read the whole thread, but we need more than Els.We need a light rail out south as far as Joliet and Rt 30.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Surfindude

Haven't read the whole thread, but we need more than Els.We need a light rail out south as far as Joliet and Rt 30.

There isn't light rail anywhere in the metropolitan area but now you want it as far south as Joliet? What's wrong with the heavy rail that goes down there already?

[Surfindude]

Originally Posted by Drover

There isn't light rail anywhere in the metropolitan area but now you want it as far south as Joliet? What's wrong with the heavy rail that goes down there already?

There's a whole mess of areas along 80 and I 57 that aren't served by trains. See the Bay Area's BART system for reaching outside the city. They could certainly run along the above highways, or even on the medians. Certainly would help clear up traffic on those underbuilt highways during rush hour. But the reality, even if they were approved tonight, is that they wouldn't be in operation for 8 to 10 years. But that's us, let's not make any big plans.

[cubssoxfan]

EL service to I-80 & I-57? To Joliet?! What about better connectivity between existing lines! It all runs in spokes, where's the wheel(s)? Inter-modal connectivity is also needed. How about a link between Midway and O'Hare?

[SJaye]

The Rock Island District METRA line serves Midlothian, Oak Forest, and Tinley Park with two stops - on it's way to Joliet. On the METRA website, I see 24 trains each way per day that originate at Joliet Union Station. I am failing to see how this service is insufficient.

[BRU67]

Nah, that and tearing up all the farmland to build the I-355 extension wasn’t enough, darn it! Many moved to the Corn Belt under the premise that the area would keep growing and growing and become more and more convenient. They won’t be happy until we can teleport them the 30 or whatever miles to the office! I’m not slamming that desire (you take what you can) but I think we need to update the current system and better connect the inner-ring suburbs and City neighborhoods to the Loop before we spend money running the Orange Line out to Joliet and build L stops in all the subdivisions. That will encourage adaptive reuse and discourage continued expansion, two worthy goals for the future.

[Milwaukee City]

I have always wondered why their is no north-south line and north-south freeway as well. Seems like a el line from the Edens down to the tristate on Cicero ave would be a good north-south route.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I have always wondered why their is no north-south line...

There is: it is called the Red Line.