Dubuque: Intermodal Transit facility.

[BenRoethig]

Here are a couple images of the Neumann Monson concept for the intermodal transit facility.

[Mastermind]

Not really a fan.

[DMRyan]

Yeah, from some views it looks like a smaller version of the DSM airport terminal. I don't know if should win any design awards.

At least it's multi-modal, which is more than can be said for the new transit hub in Des Moines. The green roof is notable too, if kept in the final plans. Dubuque is doing more with sustainable design and development than any other place in Iowa.

Everybody is doing new transit hubs/intermodal hubs right now. Des Moines, Coralville, Dubuque, Moline, Ames...did I miss any of them?

[BenRoethig]

Not really a fan.

I like the layout, but I'm not happy about the building design. Too modern. I'd prefer a LEED-spec replica of the old Illinois Central station. I'd also like to see that back parking lot used for bus parking.

[WaterlooDave]

What is the exact location of this facility again?

The "facility" seems like it is a bad rehash of 1960's modern. The parking garage like 90's parking garage. Just because you cover the side of a parking garage with metal (not sure from the drawing the material) it doesn't automatically become attractive.

[BenRoethig]

Warehouse district
Parking Garage: 9th st. Between Washington and Elm
Depot: Elm between 9th and 11th. with the 151/61 freeway behind it.

Honestly, I like the layout, but dislike the buildings. Its a 2010 update of 1970s glass in steel in an area with late 1800s-early 1900s buildings.

[RDCFIC]

Yeah that's a boring design. I know cost is always a factor, but when a new building goes into a historic district, I'm looking for it to either blend in with the historic buildings near it or go for some sort of unique signature design that adds an interesting piece of architecture to the cityscape in general. Aside from the green roof, this one is just about as pedestrian as it gets. Something that mimics the black and white photo above or some of the vintage warehouse design in the area, even if obviously modernized in most of the details, would have been much better.

[vauxhall]

From what I understand, the proposed passenger train from Chicago to Dubuque, via Rockford, is still in the works, right?

I take the Amtrak service between Chicago and Milwaukee 2-3 times a year. It is a 90 minute trip that covers 90 miles and it makes 3 stops along the way before terminating in Milwaukee, but is still considered very slow by international standards. The Chicago to Dubuque route evidently will take 5 hours to cover roughly twice the miles - 182! How can that be? Evidently, not all of the track will be upgraded for 79 mph speeds? I question the rationale for implementing service that slow, since legislators who are hostile to rail will point to meager ridership numbers as justification for killing other passenger rail projects - especially in the current Iowa Legislature. I'm not certain ridership will be enough to support that line, if the journey takes that long.

[BenRoethig]

I-90 from Rockford to Chicago is frickin' mess. I would take it to not have to drive.

[vauxhall]

I-90 from Rockford to Chicago is frickin' mess. I would take it to not have to drive.

With one round-trip per day, I hope the timing of the daily schedule works out for you.

I'm all for expanding passenger rail service in the Upper Midwest, but I'm concerned about this route and the ability it would have to attract enough riders.

[BenRoethig]

The much more sparsely populated Quincy route proved so popular that it expanded and a lot of that route is also served by two transcontinental routes. There will be demand.

[vauxhall]

The much more sparsely populated Quincy route proved so popular that it expanded and a lot of that route is also served by two transcontinental routes. There will be demand.

I think that the long-haul routes definitely serve a different clientele as the arrival/departure times of the long-haul trains are not necessarily established to be convenient for west Illinois residents, but then that is why the Chicago/Quincy route is in place - to directly serve those west Illinois residents. The Chicago/Quincy route covers 258 miles in 4 1/2 hours and the departing trains make stops at 9 stations. Contrast that with the Chicago/Dubuque route which covers 182 miles in about 5 hours. Not sure how many stops are planned.

Again, I'm not dissing the Chicago/Dubuque route. I want it and I would periodically use it for little get-away days and weekends to Galena/Dubuque. I'm just a bit disenchanted over the loooonnnnnng estimated travel time. In fact, I feel it is far too long for most would-be riders and that's my concern.

[vauxhall]

Good grief! I just pulled a document used as the feasibility study which details the 4 potential routes for the Chicago/Dubuque train. ALL of them have the eastbound train scheduled to leave Dubuque at 5:00 AM. Really? The westbound trains from Chicago have arrival times in Dubuque set anywhere between 11:25 - 11:57 PM. Not sure what benefit Dubuque residents will feel they will get from time tables such as this. Obviously, this works out much better for Rockford residents. Guess it won't really work out for pleasure trips to Galena/Dubuque.

[truth]

Not really a fan.

I like the layout, but I'm not happy about the building design. Too modern. I'd prefer a LEED-spec replica of the old Illinois Central station. I'd also like to see that back parking lot used for bus parking.

really? does your prius look like a model-T?

[truth]

Yeah that's a boring design. I know cost is always a factor, but when a new building goes into a historic district, I'm looking for it to either blend in with the historic buildings near it or go for some sort of unique signature design that adds an interesting piece of architecture to the cityscape in general. Aside from the green roof, this one is just about as pedestrian as it gets. Something that mimics the black and white photo above or some of the vintage warehouse design in the area, even if obviously modernized in most of the details, would have been much better.

i'd be interested in knowing your credentials to comment on the appropriateness of design. do you think the buildings surrounding this project tried to mimic the rotting wood shacks that had been built in the area prior to their construction?

trying to falsely recreate history is only a sign of a culture unsure of itself. do you also want the trains to be old coal-fired locomotives bellowing out acrid smoke--because that would also be the appropriate response in your world.

[DMRyan]

Are we not a culture unsure of it's self already?

[dogbo]

^ whew! That's deep.

[hawk61401]

i'd be interested in knowing your credentials to comment on the appropriateness of design. do you think the buildings surrounding this project tried to mimic the rotting wood shacks that had been built in the area prior to their construction?

trying to falsely recreate history is only a sign of a culture unsure of itself. do you also want the trains to be old coal-fired locomotives bellowing out acrid smoke--because that would also be the appropriate response in your world.

Is that what this forum has come to? We have to whip out an Engineering, Architecture, or Landscaping degree, before we are qualified to comment on a specific topic? RDCFIC was posting an opinion. That's what a forum is. There are a handful on here who don't respect other's opinions and have a snarky know it all attitude as you have shown here.

That attitude discourages others to post if they think a simple post is going to be met with a respond such as yours. Get over yourself.

[BenRoethig]

I think most people are used to people like that on message boards. Best to ignore them and they'll move on.

[hoganj300]

in terms of modern train stations, I think a Prius can look like a Model T and not some steel and glass Calatrava structure:



Champaign, IL Intermodal Station, built 1999




Legat Architects award-winning Tinley Park, Il Oak Park Ave, Metra Station, built 2002-2005

This architect, based in Chicago, has designed 16 Metra stations, almost all within the past 15 years.
http://www.legat.com

Dearborn, MI's new intermodal station design (not size) would fit right into the Millwork Warehouse district


http://www.jjr-us.com/index.aspx?id=1243&section=397

There has been a great number of new stone and brick stations built across the country and Neumann Monson, a pretty good architect, comes up with an bad design and a horrible layout of the station. The station should on the tracks and not 50 yards away with parking in front of it. It doesn't make sense.

[BenRoethig]

When it comes to newer stations, Illinois Terminal in Champaign is definitely one of my favorites, second only to Grand River station in La Crosse. They bring back some of the grandeur of the good old days.

[BenRoethig]

Bad news, the city council liked it during the work session and there's no plans to kick it back to the public.

[BenRoethig]

Here's the bid documents and engineering plans for the (ugly as sin) campus if anyone wants to take a look.

http://www.cityofdubuque.org/bids.aspx?bidID=222

[BenRoethig]

The station isn't going to be so intermodal after all. They're moving the rail platform to the third street spur after Canadian Pacific told them they didn't want it on the mainline there wasn't enough room for a spur (in other words exactly what we told them in the public meeting). City is going ahead with it as a bus only depot because they didn't want to take the parking ramp away from the Millwork district.

[Westsider]

The station isn't going to be so intermodal after all. They're moving the rail platform to the third street spur after Canadian Pacific told them they didn't want it on the mainline there wasn't enough room for a spur (in other words exactly what we told them in the public meeting). City is going ahead with it as a bus only depot because they didn't want to take the parking ramp away from the Millwork district.

Where did you learn of this information? Can you cite a source?

[BenRoethig]

Budget meetings last month. Transit section I believe.