The Arlanda Express – High-Speed Rail in Stockholm

Transportation planners in Stockholm, Sweden, have found the solution to carry passengers to/from the airport and the central business district with its high-speed rail system, the Arlanda Express. With 98% of trains arriving within 2 minutes of their scheduled arrival, and four-to-six trains per hour departing from 4 separate stations, passengers enjoy a reliable, predictable and speedy service.

The Arlanda Express is remarkable not only because of its speed – it is built to reach a maximum of 125 mph – but because it was Sweden’s first major public-private partnership project in over 100 years. Traditionally, federal funding would have covered the costs of the project but a weak economy forced Sweden’s policymakers to consider alternative funding sources. In 1995, the preferred bidder signed a 45-year concession agreement for $540 million USD. The Swedish Railway Administration managed the construction while private banks provided the loans with future fare revenues as collateral. The Administration worked to ensure the new high-speed rail line had the same feel as the airport terminals in its design and closely monitored the project’s environmental impacts throughout the construction phases. Because of the public-private partnership, Stockholm was able to deliver a state-the-art transportation system in only five years from start to finish.

Chicago’s congestion ranks third in the nation. Gridlock in the Chicago area rose 42% from 2007 to 2008, despite a 5% decline in vehicle miles traveled. According to a recent MPC study, congestion costs the Chicago region $7.3 billion is wasted time, fuel, and environmental damages. Travelers must factor city’s traffic into their travel plans, so as not to miss their scheduled flights. While the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line currently provides public transit to and from O’Hare International Airport, the 18-mile journey from downtown to O’Hare is scheduled to take at least 41 minutes during rush hour. Chicago travelers would certainly benefit from fast, direct transit to the airport. With the 2016 Olympic bid looming, a high-speed rail system connecting Chicago with the world is an investment worthy of consideration.

Arlanda Express at the Airport Terminal: Photo Courtesy of Rick Oberg

For additional information:

The Arlanda Express – Official Website
Arlanda Express High-Speed Rail Link – Railway-Technology

NEWS

Local News

Ill. may get $105M for transit in stimulus bill – Crain’s Chicago Business “In response to criticism that the bill was relatively light on mass-transportation improvements, an amendment raising transit spending to $12 billion from $9 billion passed easily by a voice vote.”

Chicago slow to produce 'to-do' list for federal stimulus package – Chicago Tribune “All told, 779 cities and towns have listed 18,750 local infrastructure projects that are "shovel-ready," according to the mayors group… Chicago has no projects on the list.”

Sizing up Illinois’ share of stimulus bill – Crain’s “Federal budget experts have identified at least $22.3 billion in tax cuts and increased spending for Illinois in the Obama administration’s $825-billion stimulus package now pending in Congress.”

When CTA driver runs light, you pay – Chicago Tribune “Traffic-enforcement cameras are catching hundreds of buses running red lights in Chicago and the suburbs, and taxpayers are paying most of the tickets.”

Legislators shoot for STAR line again – Daily Herald “Hoping to draw on President Obama's federal stimulus plan from an infrastructure angle, a band of suburban legislators have proposed rules to set aside area rail lines for commuter use.”

A never-ending fight to fix roads – Chicago Tribune “There's a reason drivers say it literally feels like the roads here are in much worse shape: The resurfacing of arterial streets in Chicago has ground almost to a halt since 2006 because of a cutoff in funding for capital projects like road repair by the state.”

World News

U.S. Infrastructure Is in Dire Straits, Report Says – New York Times “The American Society of Civil Engineers assigned an overall D grade to the nation’s infrastructure and estimated that it would take a $2.2 trillion investment from all levels of government over the next five years to bring it into a state of good repair.”

A mass transit dilemma: Ridership up, funds down – Los Angeles Times “Public transport systems are reeling from an economic crisis that has dried up tax revenue and blown gaps in state budgets. They are having to raise fares and cut services.”

Lawmakers push government 'garage sale' – CNN “Two Minnesota lawmakers are asking the state's legislature to consider a proposal that would sell to private firms the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, along with other state property and programs, in an effort to bring in roughly $6 billion or more.”

Officials eye rapid rail service from N.C. to Atlanta – USA Today “Transportation officials are considering the development of a rapid passenger rail service that would link Charlotte and Atlanta with a train that would travel at about 100 mph.”

Despite prices, Americans driving less – MSNBC “Even though gas prices have dropped from sky high levels of last summer, it hasn't caused Americans to drive more. In fact, the Department of Transportation reports a declining trend in driving.”

A driving force to change Paris – International Herald Tribune “As the transportation chief of the French capital for seven years, Baupin has changed the face of mobility in Paris, making it, by most accounts, easier for users of public transportation, pedestrians and bikers, and less accessible to car drivers.”

Panel Approves Transportation Nominee – New York Times “President Obama’s nominee for transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, answered many questions and dodged a few others at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday and was effectively approved by acclamation.”

Bombardier Presents First Catenary-Free and Contactless Operating Tram—MSNBC “The catenary-free operation offers an entirely new prospect, particularly for trams operating in historic city centres where impressive cityscapes can now exist unencumbered by visual pollution from overhead lines.”

Boise Region Grapples With Smog – New York Times “After years of growth and suburban development, the region that includes Boise and its suburbs, known as the Treasure Valley, is on the brink of violating federal clean air standards, and experts say the only real solution is one that might seem awfully un-Idahoan: persuading people to drive less.”

Resources

Approaches to mitigate freight congestion – Government Accountability Office
Value Pricing Pilot Program: Lessons Learned – U.S. DOT

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Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.