Inside the $2.25B plan for a 15-minute O'Hare-to-downtown train
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Rendering: Courtesy of O'Hare Flyer
A group of business leaders wants to build a high-speed train to dramatically cut travel times between O'Hare and downtown Chicago.
Why it matters: The express rail connection could give airport travelers a faster alternative to the CTA, cabs and ride shares without relying on public subsidies.
The latest: The O'Hare Flyer plan proposes a train that would depart every 15 minutes from Terminal 2 at O'Hare for a newly built train depot near Van Buren and Canal streets in the South Loop, close to Union Station.
- The trip would take just 15 minutes.
Details: Flyover CEO Dave Lundy tells Axios the project would take up to five years to build and cost $2.25 billion, financed through private investment.
- He says the trains will use electric batteries to cut down on pollution.
What they're saying: "We are looking forward to working closely with the city and the airport to make sure this project is fully coordinated with all of the work being done at O'Hare," Lundy explains.
Context: O'Hare is undergoing a massive renovation and expansion that is expected to modernize the airport by 2033.
Zoom in: Mayor Brandon Johnson sounded receptive to the idea at his Tuesday press conference. "I welcome all forms of innovation. I believe it sends a strong signal that corporate entities are very much willing to bet on Chicago."
- When asked about any concerns, Johnson said, "I think there is still a lot more investigation to do around this proposal, but, again, to move people from downtown to O'Hare and vice versa in a faster way? I'm encouraged."
Flashback: This isn't the first time a private company has tried to speed up transit from O'Hare to downtown.
- Elon Musk and his Boring Company were selected by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to build an express train and tunnel system in 2018. The project never materialized.
State of play: Unlike Musk's proposal, the O'Hare Flyer wouldn't tunnel beneath Chicago. It would use freight rail corridors to create another option for traveling between downtown and the airport.
- The CTA Blue Line costs $5 from O'Hare, makes multiple stops and can take about 45 minutes to reach downtown.
- Cabs and ride shares can be faster, depending on traffic, but can cost upward of $60.
What we're watching: More details about cost.
- Lundy tells Axios fares haven't been set, but that they'll likely fall between a $5 Blue Line ride and the cost of a cab or ride share.
- He says they are not seeking government funding or subsidies that would otherwise go to regional transportation agencies.
The bottom line: Chicago has been chasing the dream of a fast O'Hare-to-downtown connection for decades.
- The O'Hare Flyer may offer a new approach, but it still has a long way to go before anyone boards a train.
Poll: What would you pay for an express train connecting O'Hare to downtown?