Quick #2034sight sketch to start the day, looking at the existing reach of the 'L' network (half-mile walksheds, black) and just how much of the rest of the city can become within walking distance of fast, frequent rail service (blue, darker = more frequent). RLE shown for scale. (Yes, this was done in Paint. If someone wants to do something like this in GIS and report out their findings, I'm happy to collaborate.)

Been stewing on some ideas on what a DLSD light rail line could look like with #2034sight and sketched up a "trunk system" of four lines that still allows for service to get into the neighborhoods while being able to express down the lakefront, with interline connections in red. Downtown these lines would commit the cardinal sin of reverse branching, but since the capacity constraint would be on surface streets anyway, I think it makes sense to split service between LaSalle and Michigan. Numerous #2034sight connections would allow for N-S connectivity.

Having intrusive thoughts This is the one. Turning the Inner Loop into an automated people mover, because I can

I love the idea of congestion charging, but the way Chicago is laid out makes it a bit nebulous as to where the cordon would be most effective.

In lieu of congestion pricing, we should focus on mainline tolls on the expressways through the city. Our current Tollway system is backwards: we toll the expressways thru the hinterlands and the belts, but routes in/out of the heart of the city are free. In other words, we subsidize driving instead of using existing transit, while charging extra for transit-inaccessible routes.

This is almost entirely false, by the way. In 2019 Metra performed a cost-benefit analysis on potential projects throughout the network, and a "Modern Metra Electric" (20-min all-day headways on all 3 branches) would cost just a third of RLX ($1.19B today) chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/30/2389…
LaSalle St Station could directly connect with 5 'L' lines with some relatively minor improvements, and MED was connected to the 'L' network **until the CTA destroyed the connection**. This is particularly egregious in the context of CTA opting out of South Cook Fair Transit.

A @cta humblebrag moment over the Ike. Climate resiliency doesn’t mean making these underpasses wider. Ike’s closed in both directions between Desplaines and Harlem, including the westbound on-ramp at Desplaines. The silence is overwhelming; you can hear the maintainers in the shops working.

Cities aren’t loud. Cars are loud.