SONGWRITER ROBBIE FULKS ON HIS
FIRST TIME GRAMMY NOMINATIONS.
FIRST, EDDIE ARRUZA AND
ARCHBISHOP TRANSPORTATION PLANS
FOR CHICAGO.
>> PHIL, MAYOR EMANUEL SAYS HE
WANTS TO RESURRECT THE LONG PLAN
TO CONSTRUCT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL
LINE BETWEEN THE LOOP AND
O'HARE.
HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CTA GREEN
LINE STATION NEAR THE UNITED
CENTER.
TWO OF THE PROJECTS HE TOUTED
TODAY.
BUT FUNDING AND LOGISTICS REMAIN
OBSTACLES.
>> THE PROJECTS WE'VE PLANNED WE
HAVE PLANNED IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS WILL CREATE OVER 40,000
MORE JOBS BUILDING A NEW
CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND JOINING US TO TONIGHT
PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF CHICAGO'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
ARER TERRY PETERSON CHAIRMAN OF
THE CHICAGO TRANSIT BOARD,
JONATHAN LEACH MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT
OF AVIATION AND REBEKAH
SCHEINFELD THE COMMISSIONER OF
THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
THE HIGH SPEED RAIL HAS BEEN ON
THE WISH LIST IS THERE REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT IT CAN GET UNDERWAY
NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT JUST GOING
BACK WHEN THE MAYOR SAID HE WAS
GOING TO MAKE CTA A PRIORITY AND
FAST FORWARD HAS HE DELIVERED ON
THAT?
SINCE 2011, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR,
CTA HAS EITHER FINISHED, BEGUN
OR ANNOUNCED OVER $8 BILLION IN
PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.
>> WHAT IS THE TANGIBLE EVIDENCE
THAT THIS HIGH SPEED RAIL CAN
GET UNDERWAY?
>> WHEN THE MAYOR SAYS HE IS
GOING TO DELIVER ON SOMETHING, I
THINK THE RECORD HAS BEEN PROVE
ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST FIVE
YEARS THAT HE DELIVERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT
BILLION PROJECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD OVER
THE PAST FIVE YEARS IN TERMS OF
HIS COMMITMENT TO TRANSIT IF HE
SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO IT HE
DELIVERED ON THAT.
>> JONATHAN LEACH WHAT IS O'HARE
AIRPORT'S ROLE IN GETTING THIS
DONE?
>> WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
TERMINALS IT MAKES SENSE AT THIS
TIME TO LOOK FOR AN IDEAL
LOCATION TO PLACE IT AT O'HARE
SO THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS RIGHT
NOW TO HELP MAKE THAT A REALITY
BY VIR USE OF THE PLANS WE ARE
EMBARKING ON TO BUILD GATES AT
THE AIRPORT.
>> ARE THE AIRLINES BEING ASKED
TO PITCH IN ON FUNDING THE
PROJECT?
>> NO.
RIGHT NOW THE FUNDING IS STILL
TO BE DETERMINED.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE
REDEVELOPING THE TERMINALS AND
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN
UP SPACE FOR THAT IS WHY IT
MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION INVOLVED.
>> REBEKAH SCHEINFELD WHAT IS
THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S ROLE IN GETTING
THIS DONE?
>> RIGHT NOW IT IS TILL IN A DUE
DILIGENCE PHASE AND WE ARE
PLAYING OUR ROLE IN SUPPORTING
THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CTA
AS APPLICABLE AS THE MAYOR MOVES
THE PROJECT FORWARD AND EXPLORES
THE APPROPRIATE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO
ENACT THIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT.
>> THERE WAS A CTA STATION
CONSTRUCTED UNDER BLOCK 3710
YEARS AGO AND IT COST $200
MILLION AND IT IS STILL
UNFINISHED AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE THE LOOP HUB FOR THIS
O'HARE LINK.
AND NOW THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION IS THE
OVERSEEING AGENCIES OF SOME OF
THESE NEW CTA STATIONS.
WILL YOU BE IN CHARGE OF
RESURRECTING THIS UNFINISHED
STATION?
>> THE PROPERTY IS UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE CTA BUT YOU ARE
RIGHT, THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION WORKS WITH THE
CTA ON BUILDING A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF THE RAIL
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY AND
WE ARE PLEASED TO BE DELIVERING
THAT FOR THE CTA WE BUILT THE
MORGAN STATION AND McCORMICK
PLACE AND DOING THE CONSTRUCTION
ON THE GREEN LINE STATION AT
DAMON THAT WE ARE PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE TODAY.
>> TERRY PETERSON YOU SAY IF THE
MAYOR SAYS IT IT WILL GET DONE.
AT WHAT COST AND WHERE IS THE
FUNDING COMING FROM?
>> I SAID MORE THAN THAT THE.
I SAID IF HE SAYS IT AND YOU
LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD HE
DELIVERED ON THE PROMISES.
AGAIN AS MENTIONED WE WILL BE
WORKING AS PARTNERS IN THE
EFFORT.
THE MAYOR SAYS THAT HE IS GOING
TO HAVE SOMEONE COME ONBOARD AND
LOOK FOR PROPER FUNDING AND
PUBLIC FUNDING TO GET IT DONE.
AND HIS TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAJOR
PROJECTS THE RAIL LINE EXTENSION
AND THE RED PURPLE MODERNIZATION
FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN HE SAID HE
IS GOING TO MAKE INVESTING IN
TRANSIT A PRIORITY HE HAS DONE
IT.
>> ESTIMATE HOW MUCH IT WILL
COST?
>> DON'T KNOW.
>> THERE IS AN ENGINEERING FIRM
INVOLVED AN THEY HAVE A $2
MILLION CONTRACT TO IDENTIFY
ROUTES AND COSTS AND NOW THE
CITY HIRED A FORMER U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICIAL BOB RIFKIN TO OFFER
LEGAL ADVICE.
WHAT IS Mr. RIFKIN AND WHAT
ADVICE?
>> BOB HAS A LONG HISTORY IN
TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK BOB WAS FORMER GENERAL
COUNSEL WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
HE WAS GENERAL COUNSEL WITH
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY HE HAS
A LONG HISTORY IN
TRANSPORTATION.
>> JONATHAN LEACH THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL AND IT
IS MORE EXPANSIVE AND WE WILL
GET TO THE OTHER ASPECTS BUT IT
COMES AT A TIME WHEN O'HARE AND
THE AIRLINES ARE UNDER
NEGOTIATIONS TO DETERMINE HOW
MANY MORE GATES WILL COME TO
O'HARE AND WHO IS GOING TO GET
THEM.
THE LEASE ALSO IS UP NEXT YEAR
IN 2018 OVER WHO IS GOING TO PAY
FOR WHAT.
HOW DOES THIS ALL FACTOR INTO
THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS
ESPECIALLY THE EXPANSION?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED WE HAVE OPENED TWO
NEW RUNWAYS A NEW TRAFFIC
CONTROL TOWER THAT SAY $2
BILLION INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE $3 BILLION IN ACTIVE
PROJECTS AT BOTH O'HARE AND
MIDWAY.
WE'VE GOT GREAT RELATIONSHIPS
WITH ALL OF OUR AIRLINE
PARTNERS.
WE HAVE 900 MILLION DOLLARS IN
CONTRACTS GOING OUT ON THE
STREET THIS YEAR.
THAT INVESTMENT IN THE AIRFIELD
IS SETTING UP THE FUTURE OF
O'HARE IN TERMS OF GATE
EXPANSION.
NOW THAT THE AIRFIELD WILL BE
AMONG THE MOST EFFICIENT IN THE
COUNTRY, WILL BE GATE
CONSTRAINED AND IT'S TIME TO
LOOK AT INVESTMENT IN THE GATES
AND ALLOCATION FOR ALL OF OUR
AIRLINE PARTNERS NOT ONLY OUR
HUBS BUT EVERYBODY THERE.
>> AND I KNOW YOU CANNOT GIVE
DETAILS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH
THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT, STILL,
ARE YOU GOING TO PRESS THE
AIRLINES TO CHIP IN MORE FOR THE
EXPANSION AND EVEN
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?
>> THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE
AIRLINES RIGHT NOW INCLUDES THIS
TERMINAL AREA PLAN THAT WE
ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR AND WE'VE
MOVED QUITE A BIT ON THAT IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT HE
REDEVELOPMENT OF TERMINAL TWO AS
A NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL
FACILITY AND ADDITIONAL GATES.
>> REBEKAH SCHEINFELD YOU WERE
ON THE PROGRAM NOT LONG AGO
TALKING ABOUT A HOST OF C DOT
PROJECTS AND ONE WAS THE RETRO
FIGHTING OF THE STREET LIGHTS IN
CHICAGO.
AND YOU HAVE DECIDED TO SEND IT
OUT FORBID AND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST IS GOING TO
PAY FOR THIS.
IN TERMS OF OTHER PROJECTS
ESPECIALLY THESE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS INVOLVING THE CTA, THE
MAYOR IS SAYING THERE ARE
PRIVATE INVESTORS FROM ALL
AROUND THE WORLD INTERESTED IN
INVESTING.
CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT?
AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE EXPECTED
TO CONTRIBUTE?
>> I THINK THE REFERENCE WAS
TODAY IN RELATION TO THE AIRPORT
EXPRESS RAIL IN PROTECT.
BUT AS YOU KNOW THE MAYOR HAS A
STRONG TRACK RECORD OF
ATTRACTING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN
THE CITY WHEN IT'S HEADQUARTERS
RELOCATION OR CAPITAL
INVESTMENT.
THE WANDA TOWER BUILDINGS
DOWNTOWN ON THE RIVER THAT IS $1
BILLION OF CAPITAL COMING IN AND
A LOT FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.
CHICAGO IS A LEADER IN
ATTRACTING PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
>> HOW WOULD THAT WORK FOR THE
O'HARE LINE?
WHAT WOULD THE INVESTORS WANT IN
RETURN?
>> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT BOB RIFKIN WILL BE
EXPLORING FURTHER.
AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE IDEA OF
AN EXPRESS RAIL TO THE AIRPORT
IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP
OVER THE YEARS.
AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ENVISIONED
OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A
GREAT PROJECT FOR A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND
MINIMIZE TAXPAYER FUNDS AND BE
MORE OF A PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHO IS THE ONE
TO ASK ABOUT THIS QUESTION SINCE
YOU ARE HANDLING THE CTA AT
LEAST THE WHAT BASH MAD WABASH
MADISON STOP BUT THE RED LINE
EXTENSION IS PROPOSED NOW DOWN
TO 130TH STREET AND THE GREEN
LINE STOP L STATION NEAR THE
UNITED CENTER IS SOMETHING NEW.
WHO CAN BE THE SPOKES PERSON.
>> THAT IS ANOTHER GOOD
PARTNERSHIP WITH C DOT.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE FUNDING AND
WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE NEW GREEN
LINE STATION?
>> THE ONE AT DAMON LAKE IS THE
ONE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
THAT THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED TODAY.
ALDERMAN BARNETT AND THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THAT PROJECT FOR ALMOST 15
YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT.
RESIDENTS IN THE AREA HAVE TO
TRAVEL A MILE TO A
MILE-AND-A-HALF TO GET TO RAIL.
AND SO THE DAY THE MAYOR
ANNOUNCED IT AND IT'S GOING TO
BE SIMILAR TO THE MORGAN STREET
STATION BETWEEN 40-60 MILLION
DOLLARS THAT MONEY WILL COME OUT
OF THE NEARBY TIF.
>> SO WILL IT BE FUNDED BY TIF.
FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN SECURED?
>> THE WAY WE ENDED UP FUNDING
AND BUILDING THE MORGAN STREET
STATION.
>> AND HOW MUCH IS THAT STATION
GOING TO COST?
>> I SAID THE MORGAN STREET
STATION WAS AROUND $40-$60
MILLION AND THE STATION WE WILL
BUILD AT DAMON AND LAKE WILL
ALSO BE IN THAT PRICE RANGE AND
IT WILL BE FUNDED OUT OF THE TIF
NEAR THERE.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE RED LINE
EXPANSION?
THAT IS A BOLD PROPOSAL.
>> BOLD PROPOSAL.
>> AND TELL ME THE FUNDING FOR
THAT?
>> IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING IT'S
IN OUR BUDGET IN FY17 TO
CONTINUE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND
THE ENGINEERING STUDY THAT IS
NEEDED TO KEEP THE PROJECT IN
THE CAN QUEUE MANY AND WE THINK
THE PROJECT WILL COST AROUND
$2.3 BILLION AND WE CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD AND STAYING IN THE
PROCESS AND MEETING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
SOME OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO
WITH THE RED LINE PURPLE
MODERNIZATION.
WHEN WE GOT THE LEGISLATION
THROUGH SPRINGFIELD THE RED LINE
EXTENSION IS INCLUDED SO WE CAN
ALSO TIP THAT AREA WHICH WILL
HELP US TO COME UP WITH THE
LOCAL FUNDING.
>> WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO COVER
IT?
AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU RELYING ON
FEDERAL FUNDS WITH THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION THREATENING TO
PULL FUNDS TO SANCTUARY CITIES
LIKE CHICAGO?
>> YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT IS TALKING ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE A
PRIORITY FOR THEM.
AGAIN, I THINK CHICAGO HAS A
PROVEN TRACK RECORD.
IF YOU TAKE THE RED LINE PURPLE
MODERNIZATION PROJECT $1.1
BILLION WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND COME OUT WITH A
BILLION MATCH.
>> THAT WAS UNDER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
>> BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I'VE GOT
A MAYOR WHO SAYS THAT HE IS
GOING TO GET SOMETHING DONE HE
IS GOING TO WORK ON SOMETHING I
HAVE FAITH IN HIM THAT HE L.
>> REBEKAH SCHEINFELD DO YOU
FEAR THAT FEDERAL FUNDS MY DRY
UP OR NOT BE AS FORTHCOMING?
>> I THINK THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE CLEAR
THAT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
IS A PRIORITY.
THE MAYOR MADE CLEAR THAT HE IS
GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP
FOR THE VALUES BUT WHERE THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER HE
IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THOSE.
AND THE LAST FIVE YEARS HE HAS
BEEN AGGRESSIVE ABOUT MAKING THE
MOST EFFICIENT USE OF THE FUNDS
WE HAVE AND AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING
AND SECURING COMPETITIVE DOLLAR
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND I
EXPECT THAT WILL CONTINUE.
>> AND THE RIVERWALK FOR EXAMPLE
THAT ONE-FOURTH IS BEING FUNDED
BY FEDERAL FUNDS OF I BELIEVE IT
IS A $499 MILLION PROJECT.
>> $108 MILLION AND ABOUT $100
MILONE FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT A GREAT EXAMPLE HOW
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE
AND SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING
CREATIVE FINANCING
OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT IS A LOAN SECURED BY THE
REVENUES COMING FROM THE
CONCESSIONS ON THE RIVERWALK.
>> JONATHAN LEACH LET ME ASK YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND
THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROPOSAL
BY ALDERMAN TO ARM GUARDS AT
O'HARE IN THE WAKE OF THE
TRAGEDY IN FORT LAUDERDALE WHAT
DO YOU THINK OF THAT PROPOSAL?
>> SECURITY IS OF COURSE THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AT OUR
AIRPORT AND WE HAVE A
MULTILAYERED APPROACH TO
SECURITY RIGHT NOW BETWEEN OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS, STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
OUR LEAD LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
IT IS AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM THAT
HAS WORKED WITH OUR TERMINAL
DEVELOPMENT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK
FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT
SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
>> SHOULD THE GUARDS BE ARMED?
DO YOU HAVE THOUGHT ON THAT.
>> WE HAVE CHICAGO POLICE THERE
THAT HAVE GUNS.
>> AND TERRY PETERSON LET ME ASK
YOU ABOUT HOW 2016 FOR THE CTA,
WAS RIDERSHIP UP?
>> RIDERSHIP WAS DOWN BOTH ON
RAIL AND BUS BUT WE CONTINUE TO
MAKE INVESTMENTS IN IT AND WE
THINK WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT
WILL BRING BACK RIDERS.
WE'VE GOT 4G ON THE RAIL STATION
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST AND PARTS OF THE CITY WE
ARE SEEING INCREASES BUT OVERALL
RIDERSHIP WAS DOWN.
>> HOW MUCH DOWN WAS IT?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE PERCENTAGE
OFFHAND I CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
>> AND DO YOU HAVE IDEAS WHY IT
HAPPENED?
COSTS?
>> I THINK IT'S COMPETITION.
I MEAN TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I
THINK UBER AND LYFT, I THINK
HAVE COME INTO THE MARKET AND I
THINK THAT YOU KNOW THAT HAS
PROBABLY CAUSED SOME --
ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE SEEN
A DROP OFF IN RIDERSHIP.
>> GIVEN THAT YOUR RIDERSHIP IS
DOWN, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE
THESE AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PLANS
WHEN THE RIDERSHIP DOES NOT SEEM
TO BE THERE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SEE IS AN INVESTMENT IN
TRANSIT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF
JOBS THAT GET CREATED.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE MORGAN
STREET STATION LESS THAN THREE
YEARS OF BEING IN PLACE OVER ONE
MILLION RIDERS.
AND YOU LOOK WHAT WE HAVE
INVESTED ON THE SOUTH SIDE.