What about the rest of illinois (excluding chicago & burbs

[justalicious6989]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

I do not think it will ever be possible for the CTA to be managed well without being in private hands.

it actually has to do with the REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, and how the money is dispursed since it goes for pace and metra at the same time dont tell me they didnt know there was going to be a funding crisis, look how long the fare was at for almost 10 years! insane if they would have raised it back then with the intention of worst case scenerio we would not be in this big of a sinking boat

[linicx]

Well, if you don't want potholes move to Texas. They don;'t have Chicago winters or Chicago traffic all over the state. They don't have the interstate structure either..

I don't know how high real estate taxes are in Chicago, but the taxes on my 1/1 last year was $22k after the homestead exemption. .

[Chicago60614]

I moved here from Iowa, but I have to say after 7 years in Chicago I know WAYYYYYYY more about Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan than I do about anything south of I-80. It's seriously as if it doesn't exist to anyone living north of that line. Everyone talks about going up north, around the lake, over to Indiana.

Hearing someone talk about going downstate is about as common as someone saying they're going to Springfield Missouri for the weekend.

Where?


Strange also that I talk to people every damn day who moved here from Iowa, Wisconson, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. I seriously think I've met 4 people in the past 7 years who grew up in downstate Illinois. Where do they all go??? Stay home more than the rest of us? Move to St. Louis?

[justalicious6989]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I moved here from Iowa, but I have to say after 7 years in Chicago I know WAYYYYYYY more about Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan than I do about anything south of I-80. It's seriously as if it doesn't exist to anyone living north of that line. Everyone talks about going up north, around the lake, over to Indiana.

Hearing someone talk about going downstate is about as common as someone saying they're going to Springfield Missouri for the weekend.

Where?


Strange also that I talk to people every damn day who moved here from Iowa, Wisconson, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. I seriously think I've met 4 people in the past 7 years who grew up in downstate Illinois. Where do they all go??? Stay home more than the rest of us? Move to St. Louis?

haha that is funny the only place i go south of i80 is frankfort, and thats maybe 10 blocks south

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The CTA needs more funding and better management, period. Privatization of the CTA would be a disaster. Passenger rail systems have rarely been profitable throughout history, and need to be viewed as an essential government function.

In the entire history of civilization, there has never been a single transit system that has been profitable.

[cubssoxfan]

Well, if you don't want potholes move to Texas. They don;'t have Chicago winters or Chicago traffic all over the state. They don't have the interstate structure either..

Sorry Linicx,
Texas Interstate System and road system blows away Illinois & Chicago. They have a rapidly growing economy and energy $ to help fund it. Taxes are lower and although many in TX don't like Gov. Perry, I'll trade hime for Our Gov. Taxovich any day. Now TX does have advantage of roads lasting longer due to mellow winters, although some of that is negated by buckling due to some of the big time heat they get in summer. When an area grows, they build roads quickly to handle the growth. Not the dilly-dallying we will think about approach IL , or at least Chicagoland has. The Fox Valley Expressway, canceled due to not acting quickly enough. The 53 extension, same here. Not acting quickly enough allows the NIMBYS to build houses instead of buying while the land is mostly empty in anticipation of the growth that is easy to plot. Don't get me started on all the 2 lane highways bursting beyond capacity in Lake and McHenry county.
Sorry it diverts from the thread, but you hit a raw nerve. Now don't get me started on state and Cook Co. government. That is enough temptation to seperate right there. Now maybe the suburbs and the rest of the state would have the financial means to seperate from the Windy city. On second thought, no. We may not always like each other but there is a certain Ying/Yang relationship.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

In the entire history of civilization, there has never been a single transit system that has been profitable.

Yes! Transit systems are not designed or intended to be and they should not be expected to be.