O’Hare Express

Despite claims to the contrary from Crain's Joe Cahill, one of the project's biggest boosters, the planning agency made the right call.

If Musk, who has made questionable claims about tunnel digging technology, wins the contract, it's even more likely that this dubious project will wind up being a waste of taxpayer money.

Three other teams are also in the running to build the controversial luxury service.

After reviewing the details from the RFQ, local transportation leaders aren't sure if the project would be a boon or a boondoggle.

The project's request for qualifications identifies three possible routes and four potential stations.

Some say it will be a boon for Chicago, others say it will be a boondoggle.

The Hong Kong Airport Express train is a bad example on which to base a Chicago service because it's the Hong Kong airport's only rail link, and it was funded by private real estate operations.

Earlier this month public transit consultant Jarrett Walker ran a post on his blog Human Transit that’s highly relevant to Chicago as we weigh the pros and cons of Mayor Emanuel’s proposal for an express train to O’Hare. In Walker’s article “Keys to Great Airport Transit,” he argues that certain elements are crucial for providing useful and financially sustainable public transportation access. Let’s take a look at how the O’Hare plan, which is currently being brainstormed by the engineering firm Parsons Brinkerhoff, might measure up.

This is the second post in a two-part series on the upcoming ON TO 2050 regional plan. The first discussed public outreach goals for the new plan, and this one critiques its predecessor, GO TO 2040.