Thanks for the video! The comment about Harrison Street access to the mail platform befuddles me. In the CUS Master Plan, a set of emergency exits from the mail platform opening onto the Main Post Office plaza on the south side of Harrison is included. But does Harrison and/or Van Buren Street access to new waiting areas still mean converting the Union Station basement steam tunnels, as envisioned in the Master Plan? Or is Mr. Shacter referring to waiting areas located elsewhere, such as inside the Old Post Office? Would Harrison access become the only means to get to the mail platforms? It's a fairly long distance from the Union Station headhouse, where the ticket office and the Metropolitan Lounge are located. An interesting possibility might be to convert part of the first floor of the old Chicago and Alton Railroad freight building, also known as the "Sugar House", which is located on Old Post Office property, over the mail platform, into a waiting area. It allows 601W Companies (owners of the Old Post Office) to generate some extra cash from that building. Perhaps once the MEGA grant is secured, HSRA could invite Suzanne Mosher for a presentation/Q&A? In the meantime, could you convince Amtrak to part with a copy of the presentation Mr. Shacter alluded to, which includes a better illustration of the Harrison access idea? It's also a little confusing that Mr. Shacter mentions that Amtrak has interest in sending some Midwest corridor trains up to O'Hare, when last year Derrick James expressed the opposite sentiment. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's happening. Perhaps Amtrak, along with IDOT, CDOT, Metra, and Chicago Dept, of Aviation could all work together in upgrading O'Hare Transfer station, with an eye towards a groundside terminal station in the future.
Do Rail roundabouts exist? Not round houses roundabouts. Drum up exposure with a UNITE the Americas Road/Railway network proposal. Love your Americas neighbour. Close the Darian Gap.
Learn more about the Chicago Access Program on our website at www.hsrail.org/chicago-access
Thanks for the video! The comment about Harrison Street access to the mail platform befuddles me. In the CUS Master Plan, a set of emergency exits from the mail platform opening onto the Main Post Office plaza on the south side of Harrison is included. But does Harrison and/or Van Buren Street access to new waiting areas still mean converting the Union Station basement steam tunnels, as envisioned in the Master Plan?
Or is Mr. Shacter referring to waiting areas located elsewhere, such as inside the Old Post Office? Would Harrison access become the only means to get to the mail platforms? It's a fairly long distance from the Union Station headhouse, where the ticket office and the Metropolitan Lounge are located.
An interesting possibility might be to convert part of the first floor of the old Chicago and Alton Railroad freight building, also known as the "Sugar House", which is located on Old Post Office property, over the mail platform, into a waiting area. It allows 601W Companies (owners of the Old Post Office) to generate some extra cash from that building.
Perhaps once the MEGA grant is secured, HSRA could invite Suzanne Mosher for a presentation/Q&A? In the meantime, could you convince Amtrak to part with a copy of the presentation Mr. Shacter alluded to, which includes a better illustration of the Harrison access idea?
It's also a little confusing that Mr. Shacter mentions that Amtrak has interest in sending some Midwest corridor trains up to O'Hare, when last year Derrick James expressed the opposite sentiment. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's happening. Perhaps Amtrak, along with IDOT, CDOT, Metra, and Chicago Dept, of Aviation could all work together in upgrading O'Hare Transfer station, with an eye towards a groundside terminal station in the future.
You need 2 tracks
ALWAYS!
Move metra milwakuee to northwestern station
Do Rail roundabouts exist? Not round houses roundabouts.
Drum up exposure with a UNITE the Americas Road/Railway network proposal. Love your Americas neighbour. Close the Darian Gap.
Terminal tower
A flag stop at union irm
The post-office should be a hotel entertainment complex