by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Visit The Weekly Breakdown on the web at http://www.urbanophile.com/breakdown/
The CTA cutback list is available on the web at: http://www.transitchicago.com/announce.htm#CA426
The CTA is going to spend $4.4 million to update signs at all rail stations to make them more consistent and "customer friendly". [Source: Chicago Tribune 4/9]
The $350,000 expansion of the Fullerton L station opened this week. It only added one "mainline" turnstile, but did add two additional fare card dispensers. There are now five main turnstiles, a handicapped entrance (though no elevator to get the disabled up to the platform), five fare card dispensers and two change machines.
The CTA told community leaders in neighborhoods affected by the recent service cutbacks that it would consider restoring some service if ridership on remaining lines in the neighborhood grows. No specifics for ridershipr requirments or types of service restoration were given.
Fullerton Station is the 8th busiest L stop.
4/12 - Door out of order on southbound Howard train.
4/15 - The brand new Fullerton Station entrace already has a broken turnstile.
Jeff Williamson (nospam-docangst@mcs.com) reports:
4/10 ~2:30pm - Southbound Red line train stops a full train length off the Loyola platform. Due to the curved nature of the track, it is easy to see why: another Red line train is at the south end of the Loyola platform. After a 10 minute delay, the train approaching Loyola pulls alongside the north side of the platform. The other train still does not move. After ~7 more minutes, a young man in the last car pulls the "emergency" handle to open the doors. Several other passengers follow his lead in departing the train. [ Fortunately for Mr. Williamson, this included him - AMR ]. The train at the south end of the platform does not leave in the 2-3 minutes Jeff lingered at the station.
The Weekly Breakdown is small Internet journal devoted to the trials and tribulations of being a regular rider of the Chicago Transit Authority. I would be happy to hear about and include your experiences. Just send mail to breakdown@urbanophile.com.
Aaron.
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