Chicago's Transit System

Chicago has a large, and in my opinion ineffective, transit system. Ranging from buses, to the L to the large commuter Metra trains. In addition to being plentiful and mismanaged, all the elements of the Chicago transit system have something else in common, they are all incredibly dated and in desperate need of a redesign. Where this money comes from is anyones guess. All the news I hear is that the city is broke, but this is all hearsay, and the mayor seems to be doing a well enough job. Regardless, its not my place or interest to debate how the mayor is doing, or where the money is coming from. I like to focus on the design and experience of our city. I'm no bean counter.

Back to the lecture at hand. First lets discuss how desperately Chicago needs more L lines, specifically ones that run not into the city, but around it. The way its set up right now is like spokes on a wheel, with all roads leading to Rome. While getting into the city is easy enough, problems occur when I'm trying to get somewhere parallel to my location. Example: I lived in Evanston for about a year a half, taking the purple line in and out. But if I wanted to get to O'Hare, I had to go all the way into the city and take the blue back out. What we really need is a second "wheel" that circles the city. If these coincided with L stops that would be fantastic. Fat chance since the CTA is cutting transit routs.

One positive thing that the CTA has been doing is updating and modernizing of many their stops, such as the beautiful new Belmont station. In fact most lines along the red/purple/brown seem to be getting a much needed makeover, and from what I have seen, they are fairly modern, although I would have added more screens to generate advertising dollars. The trains however are fugly at best. They are still using faux wood paneling on the inside of the L trains! Who decided this, and why is the company that manufactures these trains still think that we as commuters want to feel like we are in the olden days of wooden trains and horse drawn buggies?? I would love to take a stab at redesigning the L trains. I would make them use less energy, easier to maintain/clean and improve the commuting experience by incorporating larger windows on the sides and top.

The buses need improvements as well, I know that the city bought lots of new hybrid buses from New Flyer, but I don't think I have seen any of them driving around. While the design of them is so so, I think it can be modernized even further. I have not seen what the insides of these look like, but it has to be an improvement over past models. One way to improve revenue and patronage is to improve the experience of the commuter. I'm not saying to make taking the bus glamorous, maybe just enjoyable and modern.

Lastly, the Metra trains. The hulking, two floor, green windowed and often delayed behemoths of the Chicago transit system. While these trains are generally cleaner and often have much more seating than L trains, they still smack of an 80's suburban movie. I feel like my mom should be picking me up in a station wagon with wood paneling. This whole experience needs to be modernized and transformed. This is, for many, THE experience when coming into the city. Example: suburban family lives too far out for the L, goes into the city to catch a Cubs game. Instead of feeling like they are taking an experience into the 3 largest city in America, they could be on any other crappy, 1980's commuter train out there. They should market themselves as an experience, not an alternative to traffic. Oh, and PS Metra... your trains from the suburbs are only marginally faster to get downtown than braving the Chicago rush hour. I was sad to see the alcohol train go. Although I never actually got to go into this train, I wanted to. Although some said that it was $50 just to get inside. I can understand though it being that high, having to pay for insurance and a liquor license, then to have to drop drunk train riders off at their cars, maybe not the best idea. Bu I think something else should go in its place, hell a smoothy bar would be better than nothing.

Esthetic improvements to our fair city

For a time, I lived in Denver CO. One thing I was always impressed with was their attention to detail when it came to how their streets looked. Take the fact that the city is basically in the middle of a barren plain, yet at most of their intersections (especially in the affluent suburbs) there is a menagerie of rocks and plants, carefully maintained by an irrigation system. This is at their intersections... in each corner. Add to this their good looking street signs. Now I know what your thinking, street signs, but as a designer I notice these things, and the Denver area street signs are spectacular to say the least. Not only do they look like they could withstand a hurricane, but they are modern and the street names are backlit. Yes, yes, yes, and they probably cost a fortune.

Here in Chicago and her surrounding suburbs, we have nothing like this. Even our newest street signs and lamps look like they came from the discount bin of an 80's move rummage sale. Even downtown, they street signs are dismal. I know the mayor has done lots and spent plenty of taxpayer dollars to beautify Chicago, but still more must be done I say! Get those backlit street signs and continue to transform downtown into a modern marvel.

Illinois does have something that I have not seen anywhere else, in fact it’s in Arlington Heights. On Algonquin road at the intersection of Golf I believe, when turning left, lights in the road illuminate to guide drivers to stay in their lanes. At first I was taken back at how nice this looked, but when I actually had to use it, I was impressed at how efficiently it kept us in our lanes. I feel these should be added to the streets as well.

Next up, pay-phones. Where did all the pay-phones go?? People don't use them because everyone has a mobile now. Apparently they are being phased out. Regardless of this, I think it’s a shame that we don't have more pay phones around the city; I would go so far as to say it’s a hazard not to have more, especially in case of emergencies. Take these beautiful German phones for example. Now those are some good looking phones! These happen to be own and operated by T-Mobile. So why not let the big cellular companies get in on some pay phone action around the city, to hell with AT&T anyway. The phones should be able to take credit card/phone cards as well as provide internet access, for a price of course.

Finally, we need some new bridges downtown. This I'm very adamant on. I know the big bulbous riveted bridges are an iconic part of Chicago, but I think its time for those ugly things to go. And when you think of what happened last year in Minnesota, we can’t afford to have ill designed or maintained bridges. I say commission an architect to design new, modern ones, maybe with lights underneath or if you want to get crazy, video footage on large screen that can display design patterns on the water. Just some ideas.

When the mayor cleaned up downtown and added the flowers in the center of Michigan Ave, as well as many other esthetic improvements on the city, look what happened! Many more people moved to downtown, we even stole Boeing from Seattle! Let’s keep improving Chicago and we will surely grow and prosper.

Hello New Chicago

After living in this city for almost 5 years, I have found that I have become incredibly proud to be a Chicagoan and also very interested in the direction my new home is headed. I think that right now is a very exciting time to be in this city. I think there are a lot of changes going on, as well as a lot that can still be done.

Some of the more impressive events on the horizon are all of the upcoming architectural advancements. There were quite a few more than I originally knew about. The Trump (96 floors, 2009) of course, will be completed first. Say what you will about the man and his hair, the building is beautiful, large and a welcome improvement over the old sun times building. The Chicago Spire (150 floors!! 2011), which recently broke ground, is probably one of the more controversial buildings, due to its size and design. I encourage you to view some of the interior renders, simply stunning!

There is also a slew of buildings going up that have received far less publicity but are none the less breathtaking. Waterview Tower (89 floors 2009) is a great looking building going up on Wacker. Aqua (82 floors 2009) love it or hate it, is looking at architecture in a whole new light. The Legacy (73 floors 2009) is one of my favorite looking buildings, and literally builds upon the past. One Museum Park (62 floors 2008) is absolutely beautiful, and what a location! And these buildings are the ones just under construction.

There are also approved buildings that haven't started construction but are highly anticipated none the less. Mandarin Oriental Tower Chicago (78 floors 2010) looks to be amazing, as well as Canyon Ranch (64 floors 2009).

Two buildings defiantly worth mentioning that are proposed but haven't been fully approved are the towering Waldorf Astoria (109 floors 2012) and 375 East Wacker Drive (76 floors 2010).

By 2010, only two short years from now, the skyline of Chicago will be completely different. How exciting! I hope by then I have enough money to get a condo in one of these amazing buildings. I also hope that with all these new architectural developments, Chicago will continue to be a leading Alpha city of culture and style. If we are lucky, this will pave the way for more great buildings.

I'm sure there are plenty that I left out so please fill in the gaps!