Regarding your June 3 editorial on the CTA’s Green Line: With the visionaries you have on the editorial board, Chicago would never have had a World’s Fair. By building the elevated for the Columbian Exposition, our forefathers created a means of travel that was convenient, fast, reliable and affordable way to get to Jackson Park. It also opened up the neighborhoods along the way for residential development between downtown and Jackson Park.
Now that the CTA is rebuilding this line, the City of Chicago has an outstanding opportunity to direct the rebuilding of the area through which the Jackson Park line traverses. Much of this area is a virtual wasteland. The need for convenient, fast, reliable and affordable transportation is as important now as it was in the late 19th Century.
The 63rd Street commercial area under the elevated can become viable again with some innovative ideas. It hasn’t hurt the Loop. Perhaps the Tribune can locate a modern-day Daniel Burnham who could incorporate commuter parking and shopping in the vicinity of a station.
Instead of tearing down the line, it should be extended. Trains should continue to Stony Island, then dive into a tunnel under Jackson Park and run to a station in the basement of the Museum of Science and Industry.
Let’s not tear something down until we have a positive alternative.
