Up, Down, and Around

Transit and Community Identity

DDai — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:23:01 +0000

The 18th Street Stop on the Pink Line: Colorful Pilsen.

Train Wrecks

DDai — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:02:07 +0000

Last week, I found myself less concerned around the buzz of Michael Jackson’s death and more astonished by, what I perceived at the time to be, an anomaly: three major rail accidents occuring within the same week. First, on June 22nd, two Washington D.C. metro trains collided right into each other during rush hour. One of the deadliest rail accidents in D.C. Metro history, the crash killed nine. Then, on June 29th, a freight train in Viareggio, Italy derailed and its contents (liquefied petroleum gas) killed 22. On the same day, two passenger trains in Chenzhou, Hunan collided, killing 3 and injuring 63.

What fascinates me is the short amount of time in which all these accidents occurred, and furthermore, what this means as far as transit safety. While only one of the accidents was technically associated with mass transit [during rush hour too!], it makes me reflect on the CTA [and to a lesser degree, the MTA]. It’s known that the conditions of mass transit rails are not great, many are too worn out, and grand financial crises prevent rail upgrades and replacements. I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that I’ve imagined worst case scenarios: Pink or Orange or Purple train miscommunicating on the same tracks and colliding, or the shaky Red line train finally shaking off the tracks. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what policy and changes arise to increase the safety of rails, especially as we urban enthusiasts promote more TODs (transit-oriented development).

Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what policy or changes do arise to increase the safety of rails, especially as we try to create more TODs (transit-oriented development).

Further interesting reads:

“Ten Lessons Learned from Past Rail Accidents”

List of Rail Accidents (2000-present): Unfortunately, a number of rail accidents do occur. List of rail accidents pre-1950 and between 1950-1999 are available as well.

List of Accidents and Disasters by Death Toll: Included are the most tragic train accidents, killing 100+ people. Besides train accidents, other categories in this article include: stampedes and panics, animal attacks, and probably most interesting – structural collapses.

If you build it closer to transportation, will they come?

hydrophile — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:28:19 +0000

Transit-oriented development (TOD) and cargo-oriented development (COD) together make for a powerful community growth strategy…and give new hope to the weary developer’s fallacy, “if you build it, they will come.” In this case, TOD may spark new housing and shopping districts in improved neighborhoods, while jobs from COD may provide the income to own homes and support local businesses. Through strategic development near cargo and transit transportation routes, developers may revitalize both downtown and industrial areas of older suburbs. Case studies: Blue Island, Harvey.

Traditional manufacturing may be growing phased out by the service economy, but its underlying infrastructure, consisting of elements such as the transportation grid and industrial brownfield sites, still hold much potential for business development and job creation…particularly insofar as this region remains the hub of freight transportation in the nation. With the help of Full Circle asset mapping, SSMMA and CNT helped oversee COD site identification in the Chicago Southland. I’m curious to see how rigorously developers are actually taking advantage of the identified sites. It’s one thing to increase the region’s marketability to developers, and yet another to drive sustainability (both in the environmental and time-bound definitions of the word). How much of the COD sites will go towards green manufacturing? How much will actually contribute to solid businesses and jobs? Will update this with statistics if/when I find them.

Urban Explorers

DDai — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:38:13 +0000

When Carl finally reaches Paradise Falls and keeps his promise to the love of his life, he reflects on their life-long journey through her “Adventure Book.” Here, he stumbles upon something of utmost significance: on the last page, she writes, “Thanks for the adventure. Now go have one of your own.”

This blog is inspired, dedicated, and happily warmed by the magic and love of adventures and exploration. To Carl, to Ellie, to Russell (the Junior Wilderness Explorer!), to the magicians at Pixar, and to all adventurers – may you keep on exploring. It is my hope to create an “adventure book” of sorts and to use this last summer before my final year of undergrad to self-enrich and learn.

As D1 so wonderfully puts, this blog is mostly for education and amusement: “posting whatever strikes us as interesting…whether from the web, project records, or from swiping our CTA passes a good too many times and working out our calves on the streets.” To chronicle exciting happenings, record future events to attend, detail the more dorky academic pieces we find, etc.

So, what moments and experiences await that will capture the essence of summer? Let’s explore UP, down, and around… [the city of Chicago... and beyond!]