#2034sight calls for phased-in electrification:
* DMUs on the Blue Island-Elmhurst line, since none of it would be underground
* Battery-powered trains that charge in motion on the MED and thru the tunnel, then run on battery out to the north/northwest burbs
* Incrementally add catenary as needed
CRCL Plan CrossTowner regional rail network diagram
CRCL Plan system map with projects annotated. Download a version of this map as a PDF at yard-social.com/crcl
CRCL Plan improvements overlaid on the RTA downtown map
Chicago CrossTowner Tunnel Comparison Chart: State Street (Red Line) subway: 10 stations, 4.8 miles, opened 1943 Milwaukee-Dearborn (Blue Line) subway: 9 stations, 4.1 miles, opened 1951 Ohio-Columbus (2034sight) Tunnel: 7 stations, 3.6 miles Clinton-Roosevelt (CRCL) Tunnel: 4 stations, 3.1 miles Milwaukee-Kimball (Blue Line) subway: 2 stations, 1.2 miles, opened 1970
The six-line, 150-station #2034sight CrossTowner regional network for under $12 billion is a downright bargain, but if that's too rich for your blood, the #CRCLPlan version of the plan probably could keep everything in the single-digit billions, even at Los Angeles's current construction costs.
Abbott Park is tantalizingly close to the MD-N and filled with ideal reverse-commute jobs. One of the more overlooked #2034sight recommendations is to extend the MD-N up to Lakehurst (near the casino) and convert Fox Lake-Rondout into an interurban operation.
So tunneling costs at $1B/mi for subway, plus $200m/station (which matches the present-day D Line figures):
• #2034sight: $5.0B Ohio-Columbus + $3.0B Clinton = $8.0B
• #CRCLPlan: $3.9B Clinton-Roosevelt + $1.1B RI-CUS Connector = $5.0B
Those are entirely manageable figures to #BuildTheTunnel.
CrossTowner map with projects identified as part of the #2034sight Plan. Download this map as a PDF at yard-social.com/2034sight
CrossTowner map with projects identified as part of the #CRCLPlan. Download this map as a PDF at yard-social.com/CRCL
How would you #BuildTheTunnel? Are you Team #2034sight or Team #CRCLPlan?
www.yard-social.com/crosstowners
In our continued efforts to proselytize the good news of regional rail to the masses, we’ve created a new gateway website to CrossTowners as an introduction to #2034sight and the #CRCLPlan. Check it out, spread the word, and let’s #BuildTheTunnel.
The original #2034sight CrossTowner regional rail plan
The updated #CRCLPlan iteration of CrossTowner regional rail service, which centralizes services at Chicago Union Station without requiring use of the St. Charles Air Line bridge, but at the expense of serving fewer dense downtown neighborhoods such as River North or Lakeshore East.
A combined #2034sight + #CRCLPlan CrossTowner regional rail concept. This combination focuses primarily on the CRCL Plan for the thru-routes and adds two new shorter service patterns via 2034sight’s Ohio-Columbus Tunnel.
We released the #2034sight vision back in 2023, and the potentially cheaper and easier #CRCLPlan option will be more formally introduced later this year. However, both these visions are forward-compatible with each other, so stay tuned for more details on the updated concept later this spring.
Annotated aerial of #2034sight Phase II-A, the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to connect the Metra Electric to the Union Pacific North and Northwest lines. The caption reads: “The keystone of 2034sight, a new tunnel would connect the Metra Electric with the Union Pacific North and Union Pacific Northwest lines. From south to north, the route would diverge from the Metra Electric just northwest of Soldier Field, follow under Columbus Drive through Grant Park, then turn west under Ohio Street through River North to surface in the extent freight yard adjacent to the Bally’s Casino site near Chicago/Halsted. The tunnel provides the opportunity to interline service, tying together the various CrossTowner routes to provide Rapid Transit-style frequencies through downtown.” New stations in the tunnel would include Museum Campus, Art Institute, Lakeshore East, Cityfront Plaza, Ohio/State, Ohio/Wells, and Chicago/Halsted. Phase II-B of 2034sight calls for a Fulton Market Connector tunnel branching off between Ohio/Wells and Chicago/Halsted that would connect the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to the North Central Service/Milwaukee West line, with an infill station at Grand/Halsted, to provide direct trips from the South Side to O’Hare Transfer.
A map detailing the #2034sight proposed tunnel routing underneath Ohio Street and Columbus Drive. The primary trunk would connect with the Metra Electric near Soldier Field and follow Columbus under Grant Park with stops at Museum Campus, Art Institute, and Lakeshore East. The tunnel would then go under the Chicago River and curve west with a station in the vicinity of Cityfront Plaza before continuing under Ohio with stops at Ohio/State (at the Grand/State Red Line) and Ohio/Wells. After crossing under the North Branch, the tunnel would split, with a main line heading northwest and surfacing north of Grand Avenue with an at-grade stop at Chicago/Halsted before joining the Union Pacific North and Northwest lines, and a branch tunnel to link up with the North Central Service in the vicinity of Fulton Market, east of Ogden. The branch tunnel would also have a station at Grand/Halsted with a direct connection to the Blue Line.
A zoomed-out version of the previous map, showing all existing (blue) and proposed infill (green) stops for the CrossTowner routes that would use the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel.
An RTA downtown map with the CrossTowner #2034sight routes superimposed.
Simple solutions are generally neither, but there is a certain elegance in a straightforward improvement that would dramatically improve an entire system by repurposing how we fundamentally use what we already have.
This is #2034sight, a bold Chicagoland regional rail vision. Let’s #BuildTheTunnel.
Original 2034sight Plan
Clinton-Roosevelt Connector Line (CRCL) Plan
CRCL Plan + 2034sight
These maps keep multiplying, which means it’s time for a more formal update to #2034sight soon.
Regional rail is the future of Chicagoland transit one way or another.
This is really all #2034sight boils down to, dramatically expanding Chicagoland mobility especially on the South/West Sides:
1️⃣ Start running higher-frequency local trains between downtown and O’Hare
2️⃣ Start running higher-frequency local trains on the Metra Electric
3️⃣ #BuildTheTunnel to connect them
Diagram of CrossTowner regional rail service under a consolidated 2034sight Plan and CRCL (Clinton-Roosevelt Connector Line) Plan. Metra Electric lines would operate via the CRCL to the Union Pacific North and Northwest lines, with the BNSF line running thru Chicago Union Station to the North Central Service and the RI line running thru Chicago Union Station to the Union Pacific West line. The Ohio-Columbus Tunnel (#BuildTheTunnel) would be used for high-frequency shuttles between Clybourn (X7) or Western/Hubbard (X8) to McCormick Place to provide connectivity through River North, Streeterville, and Lakeshore East while also providing an alternative routing option for X1, X2, X3, and X4 lines in case of disruptions at Chicago Union Station. Additionally, the X8 line can be further extended to O'Hare Transfer in the future to increase frequencies between downtown and the airport once infrastructure and freight agreements allow.
Spent my day off trying to synthesize #2034sight with the #CRCLPlan and I think I might be onto something here
Network map of the proposed 2034sight Plan, creating a six-line, 150-station regional rail network on Metra’s existing system using five strategic infrastructure improvements. More information about the plan is available at yard-social.com/2034sight
Full network map of the 2034sight Plan. This original plan creates single-seat trips from the South Side along the MED to the North Shore, northwest suburbs, and O’Hare; from the western suburbs along the BNSF to the North Side; and from the South Side along the RI to the western suburbs along the UP-W. To maximize connectivity, all six lines provide direct transfers to other lines at Union Station, Ashland-Ogden, Chicago/Halsted, and elsewhere.
The #CRCLPlan variant of 2034sight. In lieu of an Ohio-Columbus Tunnel, the Clinton-Roosevelt Connector Line would allow all six lines to share a single transfer point at Chicago Union Station, at the expense of potential congestion issues at Union Station, no direct trip options from the South Side to O’Hare, and fewer new trip connections in River North, Streeterville, and Lakeshore East.
That’s why a true “regional rail” network needs to connect these lines to allow for trips not only to the Loop but *thru* it, with convenient, direct connections to other lines.
That’s the #2034sight vision, and that’s why we need to #BuildTheTunnel.
Learn more about the #2034sight Plan to bring true thru-running regional rail to Chicagoland: yard-social.com/2034sight
2034sight brochure map. Available as a PDF at yard-social.com/2034sight
2034sight map of “Suburban Service” (traditional Metra). Since CrossTowner regional rail would be serving 150 “inner” stations, on the accompanying suburban lines every train could run express with limited stops, speeding up trips for collar county residents.
You’ve seen the #2034sight maps showing how strategic investments can transform the city and more inner burbs, but #BuildTheTunnel helps the outer burbs too: with more frequent “inner” local service, the collar counties get faster and potentially more frequent trips too since they can run express.
Visit the project website to learn more about the #2034sight Plan and why we should #BuildTheTunnel.
yard-social.com/2034sight
A map and diagram of the proposed six-line, 150-station regional rail network with five key projects identified: I-A: Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) I-B: A-2 Interlocking Modernization and Fulton Market Superstation II-A: Ohio-Columbus Tunnel (#BuildTheTunnel) II-B: Fulton Market Connector III: Clinton Street Subway This map is available as a PDF brochure at yard-social.com/2034sight.
Brochure detailing the overall benefits of the 2034sight Plan. Available as a PDF at yard-social.com/2034sight.
#2034sight is our plan to take the existing Metra 11-line system and, with five strategic investments, overlay it with a new six-line, 150-station regional rail network to provide single-seat, all-day service far beyond the reaches of the ‘L’ for a fraction of the cost of new lines or extensions.
Bumping the whole thread but for cost-effectiveness this may be my favorite idea in the city that isn’t directly #2034sight related
Annotated aerial with the 2034sight X1 CrossTowner route highlighted between Highland Park and 93rd/South Chicago via River North and Hyde Park
Tunnel aerial: Annotated aerial of #2034sight Phase II-A, the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to connect the Metra Electric to the Union Pacific North and Northwest lines. The caption reads: “The keystone of 2034sight, a new tunnel would connect the Metra Electric with the Union Pacific North and Union Pacific Northwest lines. From south to north, the route would diverge from the Metra Electric just northwest of Soldier Field, follow under Columbus Drive through Grant Park, then turn west under Ohio Street through River North to surface in the extent freight yard adjacent to the Bally’s Casino site near Chicago/Halsted. The tunnel provides the opportunity to interline service, tying together the various CrossTowner routes to provide Rapid Transit-style frequencies through downtown.” New stations in the tunnel would include Museum Campus, Art Institute, Lakeshore East, Cityfront Plaza, Ohio/State, Ohio/Wells, and Chicago/Halsted. Phase II-B of 2034sight calls for a Fulton Market Connector tunnel branching off between Ohio/Wells and Chicago/Halsted that would connect the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to the North Central Service/Milwaukee West line, with an infill station at Grand/Halsted, to provide direct trips from the South Side to O’Hare Transfer.
RTA downtown transit map with the 2034sight routes overlaid
Full network schematic of 2034sight CrossTowner service
We also could really use a North Shore-to-River North/Streeterville rail line too to take more cars off NDLSD.
Wouldn’t you know it, but #2034sight helps here too. One more reason why we should #BuildTheTunnel.
The 2034sight #BuildTheTunnel regional map. As part of this version of the plan, NCS trains (shown as "G" trains under 2034sight wayfinding) would be extended from Union Station to McCormick Place via the St. Charles Air Line, providing direct express connections from McCormick Place to O'Hare Transfer via Chicago Union Station and Grand/Harlem.
The 2034sight #CRCLPlan regional map. The CRCL Plan would construct a new regional rail tunnel under Clinton Street and Roosevelt Road, with local trains every 7.5 minutes between Union Station and McCormick Place.
I'm at Union Station and I'm heading down to Wintrust Arena for the Marquette/DePaul game so it's a great time to talk about why we need #2034sight. #BuildTheTunnel or #CRCLPlan both provide convenient single-seat trips instead of whatever CTA adventures I'm about to subject myself to in this cold.
Tunnel aerial: Annotated aerial of #2034sight Phase II-A, the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to connect the Metra Electric to the Union Pacific North and Northwest lines. The caption reads: “The keystone of 2034sight, a new tunnel would connect the Metra Electric with the Union Pacific North and Union Pacific Northwest lines. From south to north, the route would diverge from the Metra Electric just northwest of Soldier Field, follow under Columbus Drive through Grant Park, then turn west under Ohio Street through River North to surface in the extent freight yard adjacent to the Bally’s Casino site near Chicago/Halsted. The tunnel provides the opportunity to interline service, tying together the various CrossTowner routes to provide Rapid Transit-style frequencies through downtown.” New stations in the tunnel would include Museum Campus, Art Institute, Lakeshore East, Cityfront Plaza, Ohio/State, Ohio/Wells, and Chicago/Halsted. Phase II-B of 2034sight calls for a Fulton Market Connector tunnel branching off between Ohio/Wells and Chicago/Halsted that would connect the Ohio-Columbus Tunnel to the North Central Service/Milwaukee West line, with an infill station at Grand/Halsted, to provide direct trips from the South Side to O’Hare Transfer.
2034sight Map of proposed CrossTowner regional rail service, a six-line, 150-station network throughout Cook and DuPage Counties
Anyway the Tollway should use their existing statutory powers to #BuildTheTunnel to create a true regional rail system for Chicagoland and then we should expand tolling to all the expressways to help cover transit operations
Learn more about #2034sight: yard-social.com/2034sight
Chicago deserves true regional rail, which is why I believe we should #BuildTheTunnel
Learn more about the #2034sight Plan:
yard-social.com/2034sight
A regional transit map of the 2034sight Plan with a new regional rail connection tunnel via Ohio Street and Columbus Drive. Download the full version: https://yard-social.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241220-split-loop-map.png
A regional rail map of the 2034sight Plan showing the Clinton-Roosevelt Connector Line (CRCL) variation. Download the full version: https://yard-social.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2034sight-20250106-crcl-plan-region-map-1.png
Choose your #2034sight adventure:
1️⃣ Ohio-Columbus ( #BuildTheTunnel )
2️⃣ Clinton-Roosevelt ( #CRCLPlan )
Good morning, a #2034sight variant just dropped because I also hold myself to the principles of continuous improvement
Never negotiate with yourself, but I’ve been taking a stab at value-engineering #2034sight. While the result so far does reduce the utility of #BuildTheTunnel this more “bare bones” approach would be significantly cheaper and still be forward-compatible with a future Ohio-Columbus Tunnel.
I would like to accomplish getting some decision-makers to explore the #2034sight Plan so we can #BuildTheTunnel and bring regional rail to Chicagoland
As always, more details about the larger #2034sight regional rail plan can be found here: yard-social.com/2034sight
When we talk about #2034sight, some terms like "thru-running" and "interlining" can get a bit wonkish for non-transit nerds, so I threw together a quick video to help illustrate the overall concepts.
We can do this in Chicago if we #BuildTheTunnel. Learn more at www.yard-social.com/2034sight.
Following up on this: whether in conjunction with #2034sight or not, I think creating a regional vision of “outer superstations” to focus bus/rail(/‘L’?) interagency connections has a lot of merit.
