More McHenry County Blog

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM:

Increasingly, the megatropolis of Chicagoland is a congested and difficult place to traverse. Travel times are growing exponentially and vary unpredictably. And this situation not only degrades our living environment, but our ecological and economic environment with the added pollution of automobiles stalled in traffic and inefficient transportation of goods and people across the region.

Much has been discussed about enhancing our regional airports with a third one being planned at Peotone, Illinois. However: Few look at “the big picture” that this area is increasingly a megatropolis that really encompasses a continuous area between South Bend, Indiana and Milwaukee, Wisconsin – three States in total. Too many politicians have considered their thoughts to stop at the State line. But the needs, and the taxpayers’ pocketbooks, can no longer tolerate such “selective amnesia”.

In initiating a holistic approach to this transportation problem, one needs to look not only across the entire megatropolis – but across all modes of transportation and their inter-relatedness to get to a most efficient whole. Motor vehicle, air, and train transport most all be weaved into an entire, integrated picture. And our region now has little time to start in earnest on such project – we already are playing “catch up” with the problems already upon us.

SOLUTION:

In reviewing all modes of transportation, it is undeniable that a high speed rail line traversing this megatropolis could literally provide a “backbone” to our entire transportation needs. It would link the entire region with trains going 125 MPH to perhaps 170 MPG and could help provide transportation to ALL FIVE major existing airports today. These are (from East to West):

1) South Bend International Airport
2) Gary/Chicago International Airport
3) Midway Airport
4) O’Hare Airport
5) Milwaukee Airport

It is not inconceivable, with the quick linkages between these five airports that both reduce “hopper flight” congestion and allow for plane passenger transfers between airports, that a sixth airport (Peotone) need not even be built with such coordination and integration. This is at least the case for the near and intermediate future since passenger and flight loads could be much more easily distributed between these five airports as they exist today. Additionally, given how close of proximity the analyzed right-of-way is to both Gary/Chicago International and South Bend International Airports (within approximately one mile of the right-of-way), these two airports have the capacity of being easily beefed up for even greater distribution of the load.

THE PLAN

This initiative greatly capitalizes on what exists today! The Tri-State High Speed Rail Initiative would use approx. 96 to 97 percent of existing right-of-way today. The path would be as follows:

1) Utilizing the existing South Shore Railroad right-of-way and simply adding an adjoining, high speed rail line next to the existing line, this system would span from the South Bend International Airport to the Michigan Avenue train terminal as today. It would have stops at the South Bend Airport (existing today) and Gary International Airport (one of only two stations needing to be built).

2) A second leg (the only right-of-way needing acquisition) is a segment of between two and four miles in length (depending on route) to connect the Michigan Avenue train terminal and the Metra/Canadian Pacific rail line that Amtrak currently uses for its scheduled service up to downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This downtown rail segment would be in the form of an elevated rail line that could either be located thru the city or, in innovative fashion, perhaps along the Lake Shore Drive area until more north and then head westward to connect with the Metra line’s right-of-way. [NOTE: Travelers wishing to go to O’Hare Airport need only go from the Michigan Ave. station to The Illinois Center to then catch the CTA train out to O’Hare Airport. If determined that the expense would be worth it, then the route thru the city and connecting to this CTA O’Hare line could be chosen. However: Candidate Ken Arnold does not initially deem the cost/benefits justifying this given the short transportation distance to The Illinois Center that are involved.]

3) Once connecting to the Metra line, the rail system would speed North directly to a train station located in Lake County at the former Lakehurst Mall area (ideal for its central Lake County location, location next to the rail line, and major highway systems right there).

4) Past the Lakehurst Mall station, the train line’s next stop would be the newly constructed Milwaukee Airport train terminal which opened summer of 2005.

5) And, finally, the terminus of this new line would be the rail station in downtown Milwaukee.

To implement this initiative, the Federal, State, and Local governments would NOT purchase and operate (or be involved in any way with the operations thereof) of railcars and rail lines. In pattern to our interstate highway systems, airport, as well as waterway systems, government would merely purchase any property, and build the trackage necessary for such rail system to be in operation. It would then put out to competitive bid the leasing by one or more private companies who would operating the actual rolling stock for such service. In this way, the efficient private sector operates any train systems while the government establishes the initial infrastructure (i.e. the riskiest part of any such venture).

ADVANTAGES:

The Tri-State High Speed Rail Initiative has great advantages for the general public – both by itself as well as what it can do to integrate the currently separate elements of our transportation systems in all its forms. Commuters, inter-airport travelers, and the general public would find this system extremely fast and finally convenient for their transportation the length of the region. One could likely go its entire distance in no more than approximately 2 1/2 hours of time… In addition, this system would:

1) Be an economic boon to the whole region in job, housing, and general economic opportunities.
2) Relieve airport congestion – both on the ground and in the holding patterns of the airports as passengers and flights could be more evenly distributed – greatly enhancing safety as well as convenience.
3) Currently would cause the Peotone Airport NOT to be presently built (and all such monies could pay for this initiative using existing assets – hands down.)
4) Reduce air pollution and greatly decrease auto/truck commute times as more people use this system for inter-region travel.
5) Allow for “fast freight systems” the entire length of the system since time-sensitive freight would also be hauled in such manner. (What today could take as long as six or more hours transport would now take 2 ½ hours!)
6) Would save petroleum by avoiding the use of airplane “hopper flights” between airports and greatly reduce stop and go traffic on the interstate highways between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and South Bend, Indiana.

CONCLUSION:

The Tri-State High Speed Rail Initiative is a compelling initiative to our greater Chicagoland megatropolis. It would give our citizens not only all of the above advantages and benefits – but do so in a smart and efficient manner by making maximum use of already existing assets (i.e. rail lines, airports, train stations, and highways).

Candidate Ken Arnold well predicts he can get the congressional delegations of all three directly involved States (i.e. Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin) to push for this initiative. Additionally, because of the close proximity of South Bend, Indiana to the State of Michigan (only 5 miles from the State Line) the delegation within Michigan would also find this initiative quite useful and enticing.

OurChicagoland megatropolis is in dire need of such creative initiatives. And this High Speed Rail Line would literally form “the backbone” of an efficient, integrated and effective transportation system within our area at only modest cost to the taxpayer. It is an idea that not only has surely come – but should have been here a decade ago…

To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.