by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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The Weekly Breakdown is a little different and day early this week because of the US Memorial Day holiday. Things will be back to normal next week.
For those interested in high speed rail in the Midwest, the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest has set up a mailing list for discussion of this topic. To subscribe, send a message to high-speed-rail-request@lists.elpc.org with a subject and body of "subscribe". If you have a problem, let me know. This list is a bit dead at the moment, but if you all join and start posting, it soon won't be. You can visit the ELPC homepage at http://www.elpc.org
I received this letter from Steven Paris (nospam-sparis@world.std.com) in Boston. It is a bit long, but I liked it so much I thought I would reproduce most if it here:
"My name is Steve Paris and I'm writing from Boston. I'm a regular user of the MBTA system here. I first visited Chicago on business in 1979 and I was most impressed with the Elevated (sorry - "L"). I remember riding the 6000 series cars and I commented to my traveling companions how clean and fast everything was! We were staying on the Northwestern campus, so we were riding the trains to Howard and then transferring and riding all the way to the Loop.
After that, I never really had any reason to go into Chicago, but I changed planes at O'Hare many times and I particularly noted the extension from Jefferson Park that opened. Here in Boston, one still has to take a very short shuttle bus between the various airport terminals and the "Airport" subway stop. With a lot of luggage it's not a very practical solution.
My mother and sister always wanted to visit Chicago and I finally gave them their wish. We came for a visit in May, 1993. Naturally we did all the sights - the Loop, the Wrigley building, the Water Tower and, what I think is the most impressive nightime view in the world from the top of the John Hancock building (why hasn't that become more famous? I've been many places around the world - NONE compare to that view!). [ I agree totally - AMR ]
We were staying out in the suburbs and I left my car at the Howard lot and we rode all the way to the subway and transferred to the Loop and rode all the way around. On our way back, my mother innocently asked if there was a "senior citizen's fare" as there is here in Boston (incidentally, it's 20 cents for her to ride the subway and even for me only 85 cents - one of the best travel bargains in the country!). To make a long story short, the booth attendant practically snarled and yelled at her. My mother, no "shrinking violet", practically yelled back. He threatened to call the cops and she threatened to get him fired. To make a long story short, I yanked her through and we all got on a train heading toward Howard. We felt VERY unsafe on that car. There were about 20 teens yelling, throwing trash around and even threatening other passengers. What a relief they got off before Howard!
During this visit in 1993, I found the trains really filthy and slow. I haven't been back to Chicago since, but whenever I read your Weekly Breakdown notes, I can't help but wonder what's happened to the system I once thought was so wonderful.
Interestingly, New York's system was on the skids for many years. I go to New York all the time and it got so bad - both in terms of service and safety, I wouldn't ride the subway there for anything. But the New York subways have made a remarkable comeback! Perhaps the same will happen in Chicago - I sure hope so!
And, finally, I don't know whether you ever visit Boston, but our system used to be SO bad. The MBTA was slow, ran old cars, was limited to 4-car trains, was hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. The Green line is still in the worst shape (that's the line using trolleys - sorry, LRVs). But, in the past 25 years, however, I think about 2 billion dollars was invested replacing the old elevated lines to the north and south, building the Alewife extension, replacing ALL the subway cars, trolleys and buses and expanding the platform lengths on the Red and Orange lines for 6-car trains (Blue line is in progress). I think that's the kind of capital projects that Chicago needs." [ Note that the CTA wants to spend over $300 million to lengthen platforms on the Ravenswood L to accomodate 8 car trains - AMR ]
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.
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