He noted that a high-speed rail line, with proper grade separations, could provide an alternative to airline service to St. Louis, for example. Airlines could concentrate on long-haul service where labor costs per seat mile are less, using surface transportation for the shorter markets. Although Chicago already has a good system, more could be done. A proper plan in Chicago, RePass said, could eliminate the need for a third Chicago airport. While easier ways of getting to and from the airport are on the horizon, few involve baggage check-in downtown through to destination, and few involve ticketing through a single source.
Most improvements still involve a change of modes before one can board the airplane.