Want to speed up a road or transit project? Just host a political convention

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Cities seldom launch big-ticket infrastructure projects to host a political convention, but landing the high-profile events often provides a nudge to speed up construction. Chicago had planned to open a new elevated train station near the United Center more than four years ago, but the project kept getting delayed. But with the Democratic National Convention coming to town next week, construction crews scrambled to open the state-of-the-art station before delegates arrive. Milwaukee altered the timing of some of its road projects to account for last month’s Republican National Convention. And Cleveland officials saw the 2016 RNC that it hosted as a major impetus for finishing overdue airport upgrades, a park and a new hotel.