I got a lot of documents from RTA but most of them did not contribute to this report and were already public. However, the one document I did use was the March 2024 budget for the RLE which is included in Figure 4.
Nik, excellent analysis, thank you. Another opportunity cost lay in the lost opportunity to collaborate with Metra on connections to an improved Rock Island line, which could be upgraded to high-speed, high frequency service and get downtown a lot faster than the Red Line, which is truly a slow boat to China. Honestly, what benefit will a long, tedious, depressing Red Line ride through the middle of I-94 really provide to far south siders? Metra offers more possibilities.
Great article. I'm sure the next RPM next phase will easily eclipse the price of the RLE due to the fact that more stations are involved and 4 track construction from Howard to just south of Thorndale. Straightening out the Sheridan station curve and rebuilding that station will also add to the price tag.
Yeah, so there are 7 versions of the FFGA submission packet and about 20 different supporting documents with anywhere from 2-13 revisions. I got the 7th version of the FFGA from FTA. I asked for the other six and some of the supporting documentation from CTA which quickly denied them and I need to appeal to the courts. The FTA FOIA dept. is remarkably slow these days and the documents are long. I can't get them without having to shell out lots of money. I never have to pay CTA which is why I went to them for the rest. CTA is also required to respond faster so I went there first.
Great article. In your research did the RTA have any useful information or analysis on the issue. They, in theory, are the regions oversight agency.
I got a lot of documents from RTA but most of them did not contribute to this report and were already public. However, the one document I did use was the March 2024 budget for the RLE which is included in Figure 4.
Looks to me that the CTA could eat every capital dollar that might be provided by the Illinois General Assembly,
Nik, excellent analysis, thank you. Another opportunity cost lay in the lost opportunity to collaborate with Metra on connections to an improved Rock Island line, which could be upgraded to high-speed, high frequency service and get downtown a lot faster than the Red Line, which is truly a slow boat to China. Honestly, what benefit will a long, tedious, depressing Red Line ride through the middle of I-94 really provide to far south siders? Metra offers more possibilities.
Great article. I'm sure the next RPM next phase will easily eclipse the price of the RLE due to the fact that more stations are involved and 4 track construction from Howard to just south of Thorndale. Straightening out the Sheridan station curve and rebuilding that station will also add to the price tag.
Have you tried FOIAing the FTA wrt to the CIG submissions they’ve already received their grant so the submitted stuff is FOIAble I think.
Yeah, so there are 7 versions of the FFGA submission packet and about 20 different supporting documents with anywhere from 2-13 revisions. I got the 7th version of the FFGA from FTA. I asked for the other six and some of the supporting documentation from CTA which quickly denied them and I need to appeal to the courts. The FTA FOIA dept. is remarkably slow these days and the documents are long. I can't get them without having to shell out lots of money. I never have to pay CTA which is why I went to them for the rest. CTA is also required to respond faster so I went there first.
Tl;dr. Yes FOIAble, despite agency roadblocks