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/
Yours truly has moved. I am now living in Evanston where I have the option of riding either the CTA or Metra to work. Regardless, since I still don't own a car, I will surely continue to make heavy use of public transit and I plan to keep the Weekly Breakdown going.
Fit to be Tied: The CTA is planning to experiment with new railroad ties made from compressed recycled milk jugs. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 4/22/98.
Service Cut Snafu: The CTA's elimination of owl service on the #85 Central made it impossible for several CTA bus drivers to get to work at the Forest Glen Garage. Never fear, the CTA set up a special employees only shuttle for the drivers along the same route. Ordinary workers who can't get to their jobs are still out of luck. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 4/27/98 ]
A Tribune Editorial on 5/3 called for a "new road map" for the CTA and "fresh ideas" for reviving the agency. Unforutnately, the Tribune's ideas were little more than a warmed over rehash of calls for privatization. The Tribune believes revenue increases are impossible and thus expenses need to be trimmed (somehow without cutting service). But the real problem is on the revenue side - decline farebox revenue from riders fleeing the ineptly managed sysetm. Unfortunately, the CTA and apparently the Tribune believe that losing riders is inevitable and that there is no way to increase ridership, despite successful ridership programs in other cities. We not only need some fresh ideas at the CTA, we also need some in the Tribune editorial room.
The CTA's rail line contain about 633,000 ties.
Back on the Chain Gang: A reader reports that the Foster St. station in Evanston got the same prison yard treatment as the Main St. station.
The Weekly Breakdown is a 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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