We asked readers how they'd reimagine public transportation in Chicago. Here's what you told us, lightly edited for clarity.
Several people support reviving the proposed CTA Circle Line:
"Connect the spokes of the L with lines that circle the city instead of going downtown, where most people don't actually live or even hang out."
— John Fiebke
"Sometimes I want go from Pilsen to Logan Square and not drive or take the bus."
— Alex Valdivia
Other comments:
"Separate roads for bikers and pedestrians every few blocks, or mix with the one-ways."
— Aaron Robert Mayerle
"Remove parking and use the space for more protected bike lanes covered with solar cells to protect the riders from the elements and generate some clean energy."
— Alejandra Camacho
"Bus rapid transit on Western, Ashland, DuSable Lake Shore Drive and other arterials, creating a network of dedicated bus lanes that connect with bike and pedestrian infrastructure."
— Timothy Shambrook
"Extend the Blue Line to Mannheim instead of widening the Ike. More security on all trains and platforms. ... Lengthen the distance between stops on some bus lines; we probably don’t need a stop on every block."
— Eric Forte
"Electrify and make Metra frequent throughout the day."
— Jovan Mitrevski
"Have boats travel down the canal in the morning, bringing in people from the west burbs, then out in the evening."
— Paul Lopez
"Subsidize personalized conveyance: all-weather e-bikes (capable of hauling groceries, etc.) for the physically able, supplemented by a networked on-demand taxi-shuttle service tailored to those who aren't."
— Whitley Tee
"Free public transportation for elementary and high school students. And public transportation on the water during the summer. It would be dope to get on some type of ferry at 57th and ride all the way Downtown or further north."
— Eddie Meeks III
"Close some streets to cars and limit them to just bus and bike lanes. Example: Michigan Avenue from Wacker to Lake Shore Drive: one bus line, bikes and people. No cars. Also: express bus lanes in more parts of the city. Let the buses function as trolleys and be granted passage through red lights. If they move faster than traffic and are on time, people will use them."
— Rich Bykowski
"Bus priority signals at every intersection."
— Collin Pearsall
