The original goal of the Race to Chicago was to demonstrate the current state of Ohio’s Amtrak service and to bring the experience to more AAO members and folks who followed along online. Could a day trip to the Windy City from the Queen City and back work with current Amtrak service? Yes, with tired eyes and a bit of planning to fit the train’s schedule, yes. Can it be better? Absolutely. And so this year, we set out not just to send a group from Cincinnati but also from Cleveland, and to use the day in Chicago to learn from local advocates and other passionate voices in the movement for a more connected Midwest. 

Union Terminal is no doubt one of Cincinnati’s most remarkable landmarks, and its presence in our city reminds us of a time where passengers traveling across the country came to Cincinnati on business, for entertainment, to visit friends and family or simply to see the Queen City. One of the positives of Amtrak’s late Cincinnati departure time is seeing the glow of the terminal against the backdrop of the city’s hills and night sky. 

Boarding was smooth and we talked with the conductor about 3C+D, his experience working on the Cardinal line and the possibility of daily service to Cincinnati. The first break in the journey came at the Indianapolis station where we viewed the home of the Colts and discovered Track # 9 ¾. We departed before sunrise and the group was excited for the day ahead. Some of us took to the cafe car upon its opening and spent time admiring the Indiana countryside.

Upon arrival to Chicago, we admired Union Station’s architecture and excused its dust from ongoing renovations. The station recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and the fanfare was still present with banners and signs in its Great Hall. We were welcomed by our friends from Amtrak, the Environmental Policy & Law Center, Rail Passengers Association, and High Speed Rail Alliance. We learned more about the history of Chicago’s Union Station and the current state of Amtrak’s service expansion. We then set out on foot to view the bus transfer facility connected to Union Station on our way to our first L stop at Quincy station showcased CTA’s recent renovation efforts to preserve and breathe life into a station of historic prominence and feel not to mention it being an invaluable infrastructure asset serving Chicagoans and visitors.

We took the green line to ride to Morgan Station where we saw a burgeoning neighborhood embracing transit-oriented-development. We passed numerous restaurants, shops, and businesses with housing interspersed between and above. We found a food hall around the corner and stopped in for a pit stop on the hot August day. Morgan station had undergone its own recent renovation and it was clear to see how investment in this transit asset was resulting in more economic activity and housing opportunities. 

After Morgan Station, we arrived at our last station to view on the green line, Damen Station. Damen neighbors the United Center, home of the Bulls and Blackhawks, and is the site of one of CTA’s most recent renovation projects. Housing developments adjoin the shiny station while parking lots near the United Center present prime opportunities for impending transit-oriented-redevelopment. All of these L stations helped show up close how transit access encouraged more development of all stripes, and as we passed over the Chicago River, we couldn’t help but wonder what our Ohio River could look like with transit connecting the two banks.

Next up on the agenda was a roundtable with our partner organization where we gave brief updates on recent projects we were engaged in and the perspectives we bring to rail advocacy. This discussion was full of insights and ideas on combatting obstacles and building on opportunities for more impactful advocacy. ELPC graciously hosted us in their riverfront office space, which gave us the opportunity to reflect and discuss our ideas while hearing from successful rail experts and advocacy professionals. 

We wrapped up our day with a riverfront happy hour celebrating the trip and toasting to the future of Midwest intercity passenger rail. We returned to Union Station in the evening to board Ohio-bound trains and hopefully sleep a bit on the overnight trip. Our time in Chicago was jam packed with infrastructure tours and ideas about the future of Midwest rail service. We came away with inspiration from the current transit infrastructure and passenger rail history of Chicago and knowing we have amazing allies in the ELPC, RPA and HSRA. Making Ohio-based Amtrak service better with more frequent service, daytime departures, and faster trains to other connecting cities would make this trip magnitudes better, not to mention more accessible to Ohioans. And until that time comes, AAO will keep working towards a more connected Ohio and Midwest.