Readers' gift lists: Elevated lanes on the Ike, an end to red-light cameras
This year, I'm very thankful for you - the readers who offer comments, ask questions and keep me on my toes.
So here's a sampling of recent e-mails and letters that let me know my relatives aren't the only ones perusing In Transit.
Readers vent
• Dennis Schlaffer of West Dundee is not thankful for red-light cameras. "At a minimum, it is scary to have the government cameras flashing pictures of us at intersections," he wrote. "I see those darn flash bulbs going off every time I sit at one of the intersections. At Routes 68 and 72, people won't turn right (westbound) onto 72 any more for fear of getting a ticket. My wife and I have not received a ticket yet, but we have heard of all sorts of friends and family getting these. They are absolutely a revenue grab."
• Rich Paul, of Vernon Hills, a self-confessed "transportation groupie," wrote in after a story about the Illinois Department of Transportation's plans to improve and possibly widen the Eisenhower Expressway from around Oak Park to Hillside.
Paul writes, "it occurs to me that highway engineers probably are among the least out-of-the-box thinkers around. In the case of the Eisenhower Expressway, I am sure to add lanes they are thinking only in two dimensions ... that is, horizontally. But why not add express-only lanes on an elevated section with the structure in the center median? They could construct this from, say, Mannheim Road, to just before downtown and take all of that through-traffic off the existing lanes (which need to be torn up and rebuilt anyway). It could be two lanes that are reversible (like the Kennedy), Two lanes with one all the time in one direction (plus shoulder) or four lanes, two in each direction. I feel sure this would contribute greatly to more efficient transportation on this heavily used corridor.
The same theory applies to the Route 53 extension into Lake County ... not an elevated roadway but innovative thinking. Why not build a 'parkway?' Sink the traffic lanes below grade and put berms on each side to block views and noise. Collect runoff water at strategic locations. Limited entrances and exits between Lake Cook and the north end."
• And, Peter VandeMotter of Mundelein agreed with my column about the difficulty of getting from suburb to suburb on public transit. "You are correct that the most glaring defect of the Chicago area transit system is the lack of circumferential routes," he wrote. "For example, Pace has terminals in Schaumburg and Bolingbrook but no express bus connecting them. Why not?
"I worked for eight years in Bensenville, which was a reasonable commute with a change at Franklin Park. And the cost ($128.25 monthly) is competitive with driving. (At one point), I worked for a few months in Downers Grove. My first thought was to go all the way to Union Station, then switch to the BNSF line. That took too long, so I tried stationing a bicycle at Franklin Park, which was a 13-mile ride to the office. Total time for the trip, 1 hour and 45 minutes. But I was in great shape."
Readers ask
• If life takes Visa, why don't Illinois Secretary of State offices? That's what Wayne Mounsey of Roselle wants to know. He pointed out that driver's license facilities do not accept Visa for payments, although they take other credit cards such as American Express.
It's all about the fees, Secretary of State Jesse White's spokesman Dave Druker replied. "The credit card companies have charges for the service of using their cards," he said. "Other companies such as American Express, MasterCard and Discover pass along those service charges to the customers. Visa does not, and as a result, we are not able to accept that credit card at our facilities. We have had discussions with Visa, and our hope is that they would see that with all of the business we do, that it would be helpful to them to participate in the program."
Incoming
• IDOT holds a meeting to discuss improvements for Route 131 aka Green Bay Road in the Waukegan area this week. The workshop runs 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Beach Park Middle School, 40667 N. Green Bay Road, Beach Park. For more info, check the Web site IL131Project.com.
• Gear-heads mark your calendars. The 2010 Chicago Auto Show runs Friday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 21 at McCormick Place. Tickets just went on sale and can be purchased at chicagoautoshow.com.
• It's so annoying when you can't get a decent baguette on Metra. Au contraire, mon ami. MetraMarket opens Thursday at the Ogilvie Transportation Center. The French market will feature shops with wine, cheese, bread, pastries, flowers and chocolates. It's located at Washington, Lake, Canal and Clinton streets in Chicago.