OK, so I am a transportation geek. I admit it, I own it.
Here are two articles about the Chicago L published a week apart.
From the Reader: How To Fix The L
And from Gaper's Block: A CTA Map for 2055
Both articles are VERY conceptual (read: unrealistic) but have a lot of interesting ideas. Daniel Burnham is on their side. You know, make no small plans, yadda, yadda,
Neither of these reports take into consideration the CTA Gray Line proposal for turning the Metra Electric South Shore and Blue Island lines into a CTA Line. Economical, logical and dead simple.
The other issue I have is that neither of these reports take into consideration stops or lines built to Union Station and Navy Pier. A circulator line to and from Union Station is a must if high-speed rail is going to be a success. Once passengers leave the high-speed rail, they've got to have a way to get to their final destination or at least close to it.
And Chicago must have a link to Navy Pier. With 8 million visitors a year, it is the largest tourist attraction in the Midwest.
