Congratulations to the city of Chicago for making the U.S. Olympic Committee cut to bid for the 2016 Summer Games.

The odds are strong for Chi-town due to a couple of factors. The International Olympic Committee likes to alternate continents, and the next two Summer Olympics going to Asia (Beijing 2008) and Europe (London 2012), so the Americas would be up after that (Rio de Janeiro is also in the running, and the feeling is that if they can put together a credible bid, they’ll get the first South American-hosted Olympiad). Chicago has never hosted a Games before, so it’s virgin territory.

Before all that, though, the Windy City has to address an already-pressing infrastructure issue. Its legendary El mass transport train system, a century old, is already buckling under the strain of everyday commuting grinds.

Actually, a successful Olympic bid is part of the long-term plan for rehabbing the El:

[Mayor] Daley, who by law appoints several members of the C.T.A.’s oversight board, has said that luring the Olympics to Chicago could draw more federal money to assist with long-term upgrades to the system.

So in addition to new sports venues around town, the five-ring circus could also bring Chicagoans a better train ride.