Mayor Daley to pursue premium rail service to O’Hare Field
Written by jrood
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced the formation of a new O'Hare Express Blue Ribbon Committee to undertake a comprehensive study for express train service between O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago.
The new express rail
service would provide a cost-effective and efficient transportation option for
O’Hare travelers and help to mitigate congestion on the region’s roadway.
"In Chicago we’re looking
at how we might build a more efficient express transit service between O’Hare
Airport and downtown," Daley said. "The new rapid rail line will help us better
connect people, and will expand economic opportunity and create jobs for our
residents."
Mayor Daley introduced
the O’Hare Express Blue Ribbon Committee formed to study the feasibility of the
new train service and to identify the plan for developing it.
Lester Crown, chairman of
Henry Crown and Company, has accepted the role of Chair of the O’Hare Express
Blue Ribbon Committee.
"I am honored to lead
this committee with its many distinguished members, and to take on the mission
of recommending a viable sustainable business model for the express train
service," said Crown.
The O’Hare Express Blue
Ribbon Committee is made up of a group of 16 leaders from the transportation
sector, business community, construction industry and organized labor. The
Committee members will review financing and downtown area terminus options,
potential routes, implementation schedules and the amenities needed to make
this premium service attractive to potential customers.
The new service has the
potential to significantly reduce travel times between the airport and
downtown, benefiting both business and leisure travelers. Several other global
cities have similar infrastructure in place such as London, Shanghai, Hong Kong
and Tokyo, as well as others under development, like Paris.
The express train service
would not replace the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line service. The
Committee expects the new train service can be complementary to the
cost-effective service provided by the CTA.
