Learning from the past: Transportation investments for an 'urban' Olympic Games

Beijing spent a record $26.4 billion on transportation and other infrastructure to build a much needed airport terminal, light rail line, and bus rapid transit (BRT) network for the Olympics. Barcelona spent comparatively less in 1992; for $3.38 billion, the city mainly focused on upgrading its existing infrastructure – such as subway stations – but did construct significant projects such as a 48-mile ring-road system and a new airport terminal. To move visitors through the city, Barcelona extensively reconstructed its cable cars to connect with Olympic venues, lengthened trains and increased frequency on the Metro underground transit system, and dedicated 24 miles of lanes for authorized Olympic vehicles.

Chicago admires Barcelona’s ability to leave a meaningful legacy, is in awe of Beijing’s lavish display, and eagerly anticipates London’s opportunity to shine in the Olympic spotlight. While Chicago is no stranger to large-scale events and is accustomed to moving millions of people in and out of the city, hosting the Olympics would require better transportation connections throughout the region, as well as solid investments to upgrade our aging transit system. Imagine the possibilities for Chicago in 2016: High-speed airport express trains? Dedicated bus lanes? A citywide BRT network? New railcars, stations, and real-time information for passengers? Winning the Olympic bid presents the opportunity to impact, shape and guide the future development of Chicago as a global city. Our bid needs to be stirring and forward thinking, which means finding real dollars to make actual change to our infrastructure. The time is now.

Cable car in Barcelona Photo Courtesy of Colin Angus Mackay

For additional information:

Olympic Games Official Report: 1992 Barcelona – Olympic Museum
London looks to the beacon of Barcelona’s Olympic Regeneration – Source UK

News

Local News

Durbin pushing investment in Amtrak system – Chicago Tribune “That’s the predicament Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) lashed out at Wednesday as he called for a major reinvestment in Amtrak service and reviving rail-car manufacturing in the U.S. to create thousands of jobs.”

State budget woes hurt school bus service – Chicago Defender “The Chicago Public Schools expect to spend $12 million to $15 million this school year to operate its bus program for students who need the service. But CPS will not be able to provide bus service to students at five new magnet schools this year because additional state funding was not secured, said Malon Edwards, a CPS spokesman.”

Giving CN proposal a second thought – Chicago Tribune “Unfortunately, investment in the necessary transportation infrastructure has lagged to the point where rail and truck traffic is so congested it is reaching a breaking point.”

CPS students can soon use school IDs on CTA – Chicago Sun-Times “Under an expansion of a program approved Wednesday by the CTA, CPS high school students will receive new IDs that grant them reduced fares and can be used like CTA "Chicago Cards'' on trains and buses.”

Congestion costing region billions – Beacon News “While people often are suspicious of institutional help, when it comes to traffic congestion, government, business and planning groups are just as concerned as drivers. They say everyone in the Chicago region is in this together.”

State legislators might inch closer to an acceptable capital plan – Rockford Register Star “This year, the Senate Republicans stood with Democrats, as well as House Republicans, and backed the governor’s $34 billion road-and-school-building proposal.”

Rep. Lipinski backs CN in rail fight – Crain’s Chicago Business “Mr. Lipinski, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been an advocate of channeling federal transportation money to improve the nation’s freight railroad network.”

World News

Study finds congestion pricing doesn’t hurt the poor – Los Angeles Times “The two authors found that medium- and high-income earners tend to use the lanes the most -- and therefore are the ones paying for the debt service on the lanes.”

Downtowns across the U.S. see streetcars in their future – New York Times “’They serve to coalesce a neighborhood,’ said Jim Graebner, chairman of the American Public Transportation Association’s streetcar and vintage trolley committee.”

Americans cut back on driving at start of summer as gas prices peaked – Chicago Tribune “As summer vacation season kicked in, Americans got out of their cars, driving 12.2 billion fewer miles in June than the same month a year earlier.”

Smart Growth: The good news about high gas prices – Washington Post “The effort puts a premium on residential and commercial development that minimizes fuel use and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by maximizing density and transportation alternatives that get people out of their cars.”

Making do without the minivan – Newsweek “I love the high cost of gas. It’s forced out family to rethink our spending habits and our carbon footprint, and we’re finding we can do much more on much less than we thought.”

What can Portland teach Los Angeles about transportation? – The Los Angeles Times “She said that things people see in Portland in 2008 are really the result of smart decisions made as far back as the 1970s -- the region's decision to adopt an urban growth boundary, investment in mass transit.”

D.C. Bike Sharing Kicks Into High Gear – The Washington Post “Transforming Washington into a "world-class city" has turned into a mantra for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), and the avid cyclist will come two wheels closer to that goal this afternoon when he kicks off the program at 14th and U streets NW.”

Give that bus a makeover – The New York Times “But while we fix and replace the mundane parts of the system like tracks, ventilation and drainage, we must also repair the visible parts of the system — like stations, trains and buses.”

Transportation secretary calls for more local control of freeways – The Salt Lake Tribune “Peters is backing a ‘Metro Mobility Program’ that would decrease reliance on congressionally earmarked funds for specific projects and instead let states and metropolitan transportation authorities decide how to spend federal money.”

Resources

The Greatest Legacy: Subway Lifelines Dramatically Transform Beijing’s Urban Landscape – Jones Lang LaSalle
Truckers’ Park/Rest Area Study – Illinois Center for Transportation

Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Michael McLaughlin, Regional Policy and Transportation Director, at mmclaughlin@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6022.