Table Of Contents - Chicago Transit Authority

1.0 Executive Summary
1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW
CTA Express Airport Train Service Business Plan
Chicago is continually making infrastructure enhancements that support its status as a world-class city.
Through an innovative arrangement with private sector partners, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has
an immediate opportunity to contribute to these efforts through the establishment of high-quality, direct
airport train service (Direct Service) between downtown and O’Hare and Midway Airports. Key to this
opportunity are CTA’s agreements with The Mills Corporation and the City of Chicago, in which a private
developer and the City are contributing a substantial share of the cost of a new downtown station that
will anchor the airport train service.
This unique private investment in Chicago’s public transportation system can facilitate CTA’s plans to
provide the type of airport service that has been successfully implemented in major cities around the
world. In both its size and proportion to total project cost, this private investment is unprecedented and,
most importantly, is already in place. Based on this landmark agreement, CTA should move ahead with
the implementation of a business plan for the new service.
The airport train service is an extension of CTA’s core mission to support regional mobility, and will
leverage and complement capital improvements being made at both airports. The proposed Direct
Service leverages existing CTA resources and assets and can potentially create new revenue streams or
offset costs carried by CTA’s local transit services. The Direct Service would also enhance CTA’s overall
abilities to innovatively link people, jobs, and communities with quality, affordable transit services.
A viable direct airport service can be initiated by CTA from the new downtown station to both airports in
approximately two years in order to meet contractual obligations with the developer of the station site.
Through the use of rail cars specially outfitted for airline passengers, this initial Direct Service would
provide customers with direct, closed-door service (non-stop via CTA’s existing Blue and Orange Lines).
The Direct Service would enable CTA to improve airport mobility within two years and provide flexibility
for the ultimate phasing in of a full express airport service (Express Service).
As funding becomes available to finance a series of infrastructure investments, the Direct Service can be
transitioned to full Express Service that will result in greater time savings and travel time reliability.
Several important components must be added including new or upgraded station facilities and
infrastructure to enable the future express airport trains to pass local trains. Prompt phasing in of
Express Service will become even more important if the Chicago region is successful in its bid to host the
2016 Summer Olympics. Premium amenity airport train service will be a desirable option for Olympic
visitors to Chicago. Concurrently, CTA’s local rail service would also benefit from upgrades associated
with the phased airport train service infrastructure improvements.
Premium fare single market services are not CTA’s traditional business. Therefore, it is recommended
that CTA tap into the existing domestic and international market of transportation service providers to
enlist the private sector to manage both the initial Direct Service and the ultimate Express Service. The
selected management company would be the “face” of the new service by providing all marketing and
customer service, while utilizing CTA to operate and maintain the trains. A public/private partnership
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