If the Olympics mean high-speed rail in Chicago, count me in

May 29th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

I’m still torn on Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bid. On one hand, it would bring a once-in-a-lifetime experience to my front door. On the other, it would be an absolute clusterfuck of a circus of a freakshow. Part of the reason I live in Chicago is because it’s all the fun of a big city without the cramped chaos of New York. I don’t need that stress in my life.

So, like I say: torn. Something is going to have to give. Potential long-term improvements to Chicago’s public transportation could be one such tipping point — this city needs modern high speed rail. Badly. And the International Olympics Committee likely agrees:

Politics, friendships and emotions become factors when the IOC members choose the winner Oct. 2, 2009, but weaknesses exposed by the working group’s report will be persistent negatives if a city cannot find ways to defuse them. According to Doug Arnot, Chicago 2016 venues and games operations director, transportation is a potential weakness, particularly for a bid working with a largely antiquated public transportation system. Among the other strong bids, Tokyo and Madrid have more modern subway systems and more extensive rail networks. ”We wouldn’t be surprised to see some remarks (in the report) on transportation,” Arnot said. “They (the IOC) know there is good infrastructure, but it has a bit of history to it. We expect that is going to be a bit of concern on their part.”

Many cities have used the Olympics as a catalyst for improvements in transportation. Salt Lake City found federal money for highway upgrades suddenly become much more available after it was named 2002 Winter Games host.

Do Chicagoans care enough about the Olympics to toss money at the city for high speed rail? Meh. Maybe not. But they probably care about fewer broken El stops. That’s personally bothersome ish, and nothing gets a political movement going like slightly inconveniencing the upper middle class.

Me? I don’t even care if the new railroads are privately or publicly funded. Just build them. I’ll chip in. Hell, I’ll help lay track down. Just no more 40-minute, four-mile bus rides, k?