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After years of talking, the City of Chicago might finally get cracking on the Carroll Avenue project, which would utilize the old bridge near Kinzie and the connected tunnel that runs beneath the Merchandise Mart as a means to connect train stops (presumably both Metra and CTA) in the West Loop to Michigan Ave.
The city envisions a streetcar -- or an express bus -- picking up passengers at the train stations and carrying them north along Clinton. City officials would like to create an underpass under the Metra tracks so cars and buses wouldn't have to wait for the train.While we don't know when the whole thing will be ready, we do know it's going to take a long time and it's going to cost a whole lotta cash that the city doesn't have.The city would have to retrofit the old, raised bridge so it would carry the buses. Then, the bus or streetcar would be able to run along Carroll, without the interference of stop lights or other cars, to carry people straight east to Michigan Avenue, where they could get to shopping, Streeterville and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital complex.
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mark my words:
will. never. happen.
dream on.
I agree with Matty.
Not necessarily. Digging the tunnel is the most expensive part of building a subway. If the tunnel is already there, and just needs to be refurbished, then this project probably has a greater chance of being completed than many other transit projects that have been proposed over the years.
I would like to see a lot of the red tape cut for transit projects. The required alternatives analysis for new starts is a big waste of time and money.
http://www.rivernorthresidents.com/misc/Transitway%20map%20color2.pdf
this has actually been in the planning stages for a long time and has a high likelyhood of actually being completed, especially compared to other projects (circle line). it won't be heavy/light rail, expect bus rapid transit.
I love that bridge. I used to eat lunch under it just about every day in the summer about 20 years ago. It would be a shame if they did something to it. It a piece or urban art that should be left as it is.
i agree, bunnybear. it's so beautiful, every time i find myself passing by i have to stop and take it in. smell the chocolate, admire the bridge.
never fear, its landmarked so CDOT can't do anything to it other than use it or not use it.
This is an ongoing behind-the-scenes plan that has been discussed since the "Circulator" planning started in the early 1990's.
Many scenarios were explored during the Circulator planning. The conclusion was that using a new Carroll Avenue bridge---where the now-landmarked bridge is located---was not possible. Why? Because a new bridge at Carroll Avenue would have required constant raising and lowering to allow even squat ships to pass.
And you couldn't build a high, fixed,non-lifting bridge at that site. Why not? Because any express bus or light-rail system would have too steep of a grade to go from HIGH(over the river) to LOW (under the Apparel Center).
The final decision with the Circulator plan? To have the express buses or light rail go over the Kinzie Street bridge, then duck over to Carroll Avenue after crossing the river. The most likely scenario would be for the route to cut over to Carroll Avenue by heading south BETWEEN the Apparell Center and the Merchandise Mart. Of course, that plan also left the now-landmarked, permanently raised Carroll Avenue bridge intact.
I am not saying that the Circulator plan is Gospel, but I'll bet any future plan will come to the same conclusion.