The Weekly Breakdown - A new, small Internet journal chronicling my all too frequent problems with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) CTA News and Rumors ------------------- In a moment worthy of News of the Weird, the CTA announced that it wants to re-number all bus routes to be more "logical", figuring that the reason for their decline in ridership is due more to a bad numbering scheme than poor service or socioeconomic trends. This proposal has been roundly denouced as ludicrous by riders and the Chicago news media. The 1/19/98 Crain's Chicago Business reports that the CTA is planning a sale/leaseback of its newly rehabbed Green Line "L" that will generate approximately $40 million in cash. (This transaction works because private owners can deduct depreciation off their taxes, a benefit not available to the CTA). Metra is considering similar transactions. The funds are to be used to partially offset a large capital maintenance funding gap. CTA Breakdowns -------------- On Monday 1/19, a Green Line "L" train remained parked at the Clark/Lake station (headed west) for approximately 1 1/2 minutes while the driver said "Doors are closing" about 15 times. On Tuesday 1/20, a northbound Howard train stopped at Fullerton for approximately 5 minutes for what appeared to be a door problem. At least 3 trains were backed up immediately behind it. On Tuesday 1/20, CTA announcer at Fullerton station says that the Evanston Express will be 5 minutes late. On Tuesday 1/20, The CTA "customer service" agent at the Main St. station refuses to answer questions or assist a customer who wants a transfer after exiting the train repeating only "I ain't got no transfers" over and over again. The frustrated customer gives up and leaves the station. On Wednesday 1/21, CTA announcer at Howard station states that the first southbound Evanston Express will be three minutes late. Train arrives late, starts south and stops near Morse for no apparent reason. It starts moving briefly, stops again, then resumes its trip. (As the first express train, it is physically impossible that there was another train blocking the tracks ahead). About the Weekly Breakdown -------------------------- I'm now working in the Loop for the forseeable future. Riding the CTA to and from work (and around town) always brings a myriad of inexplicable annoyances and problems. So many in fact, that I figure I have enough to fill up a short weekly Internet posting with all the bad things that happen just to me. Hopefully this will help to illuminate in some small way how the CTA's poor operations can drive riders crazy, even if many of the problems are pretty minor. Call it death of a thousand cuts. The cumulative weight of so many minor screw-ups is enough to make almost anyone who can afford one just buy a car and give up on transit completely. If you have any problems you'd like to share, please send them to me at breakdown@urbanophile.com Aaron. ------------------------- The CTA - celebrating 100 years of the LOOT Elevated.