Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Blue Line

The main reason that the Uber trip from Randolph/Michigan to O'Hare's Terminal 1 was 11 minutes faster than the Blue Line journey was that the CTA rider wasted time heading towards Terminal 3. Image: Chicago Tribune

Sure, Uber Is Faster Than CTA for Getting to O’Hare — If the CTA Rider Gets Lost

By John Greenfield | Jul 17, 2019 | 26 Comments

The Tribune reported that an Uber trip to O'Hare took 11 minutes less than doing the same journey via CTA. But the online version of the article didn't explain that the longer Blue Line trip included getting lost at the airport.

A Blue Line train at the Damen stop in Wicker Park. Photo: Jeff Zoline

Blue Line Service Disruptions in May for $207M Signal Upgrade

By John Greenfield | May 2, 2019 | 16 Comments

Meanwhile, the CTA is working on adding new electrical substations that will allow them to add still more trains.

The O'Hare Blue Line station. Photo: John Greenfield

Q & A: Why Does Catching the ‘L’ From O’Hare Cost $5, and Should I Use a Bike Bell?

By John Greenfield | Mar 24, 2019 | 19 Comments

The Chicago Transportation Authority looks at the $2.50 surcharge from the airport, and the pros and cons of chiming in on trails and bike lanes.

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Blue Line Needs Better Signals, More Electricity, Articulated Trains to Alleviate Crowding

By Steven Vance | Jul 7, 2017 | 22 Comments

A new study from the Chicago Transit Authority on ‘L’ capacity highlights where trains are running at capacity, and how the CTA can alleviate crowding.

Rosemont Transit Center Rehab, Bus Lanes on I-90 Could Spur New Ridership

By Jeff Zoline | Jun 28, 2016 | 6 Comments

Pace Suburban Bus is starting a $1.5 million dollar project to modernize and rebuild the Rosemont Transit Center to increase capacity, improve service and maximize efficiency of traffic flow between buses, cars and pedestrians. The project is being coordinated with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways and the Chicago Transit Authority. The scope […]

Critics Say the O’Hare Express Plan Is Lousy. Could CrossRail Improve It?

By John Greenfield | Feb 29, 2016 | 16 Comments

[The Chicago Reader recently launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership allows Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We syndicate a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website or in […]

Proposed Development Will Make Blue Line’s Grand Stop a TOD Hotspot

By Steven Vance | Feb 16, 2016 | 55 Comments

Yet another developer is becoming prolific at creating mixed-used, transit-oriented developments. Mark Sutherland has proposed a new TOD building called 710 Grand, first revealed by Curbed in August, at 710 W. Grand Ave., one block east of the Grand Blue Line station in the River West neighborhood. This will be the third TOD building in Sutherland’s Wicker Park […]

The ‘L’ Reduces Congestion on Highways More Than Widening Would

By Steven Vance | Nov 24, 2015 | 13 Comments

Yesterday, a road construction lobbying group tricked many local publications into promoting their highway expansion agenda. In what’s become a common strategy for the road-building industry, the American Highway Users Alliance conducted a study called “Unclogging America’s Arteries 2015,” which reported that traffic congestion is really bad and, of course, adding more capacity for cars is the […]

More Ideas for Improving Rail Service at O’Hare Right Now

By Steven Vance | Jul 9, 2015 | 10 Comments

Last week’s Streetblog Chicago post about Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s O’Hare express train proposal struck a chord with readers, with dozens of retweets and almost 100 comments. Lots of people agreed that the existing CTA Blue Line run between the Loop and “the world’s busiest airport” is already a relatively fast, high-quality service. Many readers also concurred that […]

Express Train to O’Hare? We Already Have One and It’s Called The Blue Line

By Steven Vance | Jul 1, 2015 | 118 Comments

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and recently appointed aviation commissioner Ginger Evans have been calling for new, faster, premium train service from O’Hare to downtown in a bid to improve the airport’s standing among its domestic and international peers. They argue that the airport is causing the city to lose business. However, while O’Hare is a low-performing […]

Mega Mall Developer Adds Housing, Reduces Number of Car Parking Spots

By Steven Vance | May 5, 2015 | 16 Comments

The company that’s redeveloping the Discount Mega Mall site in Logan Square has released a reworked proposal that adds much needed housing and dials back the number of car parking spaces, which makes the project a better fit for the walkable, transit accessible neighborhood. Terraco Real Estate and 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack are hosting a public […]

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