Chicagoist: More Money Problems for Block 37, CTA

Tower18

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:20:37 -0600

Wait, I always understood that Washington would eventually be reopening post-construction, regardless of the use of the superstation (since they did all the work solely to have the non-revenue track connection, or so we're told). Is it permanently closed?

jmagic

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:35:38 -0600

It may be a "boondoggle," but don't worry, I have a feeling that this is something Obama can fix. I mean, the press seems to be sold that he will get Chicago the Olympics -- even despite all the asshattery and fuckery the CTA and our dear Mayor and Commissioners pull -- and I'm sure there's a glimmer of hope that if he can win the Election, that the Cubs should be able to win the World Series. I'm telling you ... just ask Obama and he'll fix it.

I_h8_toyota_and_BT

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:09:02 -0600

well, this isn't so much the CTA's fault. This is the mayor's fault. He is the ONLY person who thought this is a good idea and ramrodded it through. Blame the Mayor for this financial boondoggle. I remember when they decided to scrap the express subway and were going to run express trains on existing tracks, ignoring the fact that there are locals operating on those tracks already. And they were going to charge upwards of $20 for a trip that costs $2 otherwise. A financial boondoggle from the gitgo. In the end, we get an empty, unusable red line station for $370 million. And, for red line riders, the continued annoyance of having to walk that extra distance to Lake or Monroe. This was the Mayor's doing though. Blame the Mayor. He wanted the "Superstation." The sputtering retard didn't care that there was no way that the city could afford this hugely stupid idea. He didn't care that it would prevent much needed capital work on existing lines. He doesn't care about the people who live here. He is the WORST big city mayor in America. Thanks to all who voted for him.

Navin

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:54:06 -0600

'Tilda, No, that doesn't sound too cynical to me. Sound's about right.

Bronto

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:35:21 -0600

About $320 million. Seriously. How can they justify that price? How? Entire BUILDINGS cost that much!

Thunderbelly

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:54:16 -0600

The mothballing is referring to the train station. The express train plan was comlpetely scrapped sometime ago.

Tower18

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:27:08 -0600

That's true, now that I think about it, the plan was always for it to be mothballed...just not mothballed AND 50% over budget.

matilda

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:26:05 -0600

Do those of us who were against this from the get-go get to say I told you so now? Yes, you (we) do. We can say it all we want as we pay higher taxes to make up for such wasteful spending, or wait 30 minutes for a bus, or have our daily commutes screwed up at least once a week because of broken-down equipment, while those lucky enough to be connected in this city sit and watch their banks accounts grow fatter. Not that I'm cynical or anything.

Thunderbelly

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:01:29 -0600

The track expense for the express trains was used awhile ago to drop that program. This is about the existing station that was under construction that they have run out of money to build. Old news and new news.

Tower18

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:48:20 -0600

I don't get it. The CTA knew way back when they started that it was going to cost a bajillion dollars to build the express tracks. Yet they went ahead with the project anyway, because something like "we couldn't afford not to." NOW they're going to use the track expense as an excuse? Uh, YOU KNEW THAT AHEAD OF TIME!

peteypants

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:29:29 -0600

i for sure thought the Puma store opening would have saved the entire project.

frp

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:12:31 -0600

I wonder if we can file a class action against the city, the state and the CTA/RTA for misapprpropriation of funds and general malfeasance? I don't think we can sue for abject stupidity.

Navin

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:06:58 -0600

Do those of us who were against this from the get-go get to say I told you so now?

matty

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:37:48 -0600

^Though my claim is complete conjecture.

matty

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:27:02 -0600

Their could be some lawsuits as part of the reason some retail tenants are signing leases down there is because of the foot traffic generated by the trains.

matilda

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:10:35 -0600

And it's idotic crap like this that makes it more difficult to win capital funding for real needs: Track repair, replacement of rolling stock, any chance at El line expansion. Has anyone noticed, but Mayor Daley, with every big project in which he is involved (and make no mistake, he is the guiding hand on every big project in Chicago) ends up horribly overbudget and overschedule? Yet some people still think he is a good manager, including the national press.

mike_thoms

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:06:52 -0600

How could the CTA not realize, all those years ago, that building express trains would cost a shitload of money? In order to be express you need to add new tracks outbound and inbound, underground, through the near NW side, back underground, in the middle of the f'ing Kennedy! How did they possibly think that would not cost $1.5 bill at least? It's a great idea but the project would have been a logistical nightmare. I woke by this Block 37 building everyday and I can't figure out where the movie theater is going. anyone know?

Shannon

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:05:23 -0600

cursed, i tell you. even if it cursed by nothing but stupidity. currrrsssed.