JTA assesses Skyway; mulls where to go next

[thelakelander]

Btw, I believe the land once earmarked for the skyway on the SW corner of Forest and Riverside is no longer public. I heard it was recently sold to a private company. I assume the idea of extending the skyway south down Riverside Avenue is dying.

[fsujax]

the skyway will never be extended down Riverside Ave.

[CCMjax]

the skyway will never be extended down Riverside Ave.

And it shouldn't.  These things are big, bulky, ugly, cost a lot of money and block out the sun.  Even the more charming historic-looking elevated train in Chicago is pretty imposing, which is why it travels behind buildings through alley ways, etc.  The streets that it runs over downtown in the Loop are not as nice for pedestrians as the adjacent streets that are open with nothing blocking out the sun.  I'm not positive but I think it decreases the value of the storefronts that it runs along compared to the next streets over.  I don't see any reason for them to continue the skyway right now down Riverside when buses can service that area pretty efficiently.  If there is ever any extension of an elevated system it should be behind buildings or along streets that aren't as vibrant with pedestrian activity.

[Ocklawaha]

the skyway will never be extended down Riverside Ave.

And it shouldn't.  These things are big, bulky, ugly, cost a lot of money and block out the sun.  Even the more charming historic-looking elevated train in Chicago is pretty imposing, which is why it travels behind buildings through alley ways, etc.  The streets that it runs over downtown in the Loop are not as nice for pedestrians as the adjacent streets that are open with nothing blocking out the sun.  I'm not positive but I think it decreases the value of the storefronts that it runs along compared to the next streets over.  I don't see any reason for them to continue the skyway right now down Riverside when buses can service that area pretty efficiently.  If there is ever any extension of an elevated system it should be behind buildings or along streets that aren't as vibrant with pedestrian activity.

Which is why converting it to elevated streetcar then getting those cars to surface level at the most logical locations* makes more sense then doing ANYTHING else with a rapidly decaying monorail. Use what we have, add the modifications and go from there. If JTA/COJ would ever present a united front and a comprehensive A-Z plan for conversion and the future rapid streetcars, we'd win that TIGER money. Nickel and Dime grant requests are hardly worth the paper.
*Such as NORTH OF STATE STREET rather then short of it.

[Ocklawaha]

Look Mom! A Streetcar without a Street! EASY + CHEAP

[thelakelander]

^Where is that located?

[ProjectMaximus]

Looks like Berlin!

[thelakelander]

Thank you, Sir!

How does everyone feel about the Skyway being retroffitted to accommodate vehicles like that and those vehicles being able to drop to grade, for potential expansion into surrounding neighborhoods?

[Charles Hunter]

Thank you, Sir!

How does everyone feel about the Skyway being retroffitted to accommodate vehicles like that and those vehicles being able to drop to grade, for potential expansion into surrounding neighborhoods?

Like!

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

Thank you, Sir!

How does everyone feel about the Skyway being retroffitted to accommodate vehicles like that and those vehicles being able to drop to grade, for potential expansion into surrounding neighborhoods?

I like it but would it be easier (funding wise) to get a street car built first down to Riverside with a connector to the Skyway, or redo the whole thing at once?

[Ocklawaha]

Looks like Berlin!

You get the prize! Actually its a new Bombardier Flexity - Wagen #0041 auf der Lindenpromenade.

[Ocklawaha]

Looks like Berlin!

You get the prize! That first photo is Actually a new Bombardier Flexity - Wagen #0041 auf der Lindenpromenade.

[Tacachale]

Thank you, Sir!

How does everyone feel about the Skyway being retroffitted to accommodate vehicles like that and those vehicles being able to drop to grade, for potential expansion into surrounding neighborhoods?

If that's doable, it would be great. It would be much easier to expand that way.

[Ocklawaha]

Oh it's doable, its just a matter of how long will we have to wait for the City to catch the rest of the transit universe. Those vehicles BTW, The Flexity Classic XXL model was developed for the Dresden Transport Authority by the German factory Bombardier Transportation in Bautzen. It is 45 m (147 ft 8 in) long, runs on twelve axles and has a capacity of 260 passengers with 153 seats. Now just imagine what that could do at the stadium running entrain with two or three units per operator every 5 minutes.

The Flexity Classic XXL (classification NGT D12DD) has, because of Dresden's altitude differences of 100 metres, a power-to-weight ratio of 112 kg/hp. The tram has been in service since 2003 and serves tram lines with a high peak load of passengers. The exterior is specially designed for the Dresden Transport Authority, which owns 32 trams. That Acosta bridge is nothing that can't be overcome by streetcar from the oldest to the newest IF we can get around and under the Riverside Ramps.

[ProjectMaximus]

Sweet what do I win?? 

Thank you, Sir!

How does everyone feel about the Skyway being retroffitted to accommodate vehicles like that and those vehicles being able to drop to grade, for potential expansion into surrounding neighborhoods?

This is the best bet imo if it's doable. There's no reason to add a transfer to a new system within the urban core if we can avoid it.

But I do echo ForF's concern if this would cause a delay in implementation. Can we get the streetcar running first separately from Skyway and then tie them together in the future.