by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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The CTA announced that the Ravenswood (unlike the Lake St. L) would not be closed for a $300+ million project to expand capacity. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 5/19/98 ]
Juel Marifheren, aged 53, of Oak Park was shot and killed as he entered the Blue Line subway at Congress/LaSalle. A workplace dispute was apparently the motive. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 5/20/98 ]
RTA Chairman Thomas McCraken endorsed the idea of out-sourcing of CTA routes. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 2/28/98 ]
The PACE suburban bus agency plans a ridership initiative that includes giving a free monthly pass to employees of selected suburban employers. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 5/28/98 ]
The CTA is piloting a program to post schedules for selected bus routes. These schedules will be posted on eight routes at key stops and intersecting rail stations. The routes in the pilot are: #47-47th, #49B-N Western, #52-Kedzie, #63-63rd, #66-Chicago, #81-Lawrence, and #95E-93rd/95th. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 5/29 ]. [ Unfortunately, these are all high volume routes with excellent headways. A more valuable place to post schedules would be on routes with less frequent service - AMR ]
Congress appropriated funds for the Douglas L rehab. This was accomplished through Carol Mosely-Braun earmarks. Suburban legislators criticized this move because Mosely-Braun elected not to use any of her earmarks for Metra expansion. The Ravenswood L expansion project was authorized for construction, but received no earmarks, meaning it must compete for funds with other projects every year.
Here is a complete list of transit related project authorizations for the Chicago area in the transportation bill:
Fixed Guideway Modernization: $78,169,000
Douglas L Rehabilitation: $315,000,000
North Central Commuter Rail Upgrade: (Construction authorization only)
Navy Pier-McCormick Place Busway: (Construction authorization only)
Ravenswood Line Extension: (Construction authorization only)
Southwest Extension: (Construction authorization only)
West Line Expansion: (Construction authorization only)
Comiskey Park Station: (Preliminary engineering authorization only)
Inner Circumferential Commuter Rail: (PE authorization only)
CTA busses are considered on time if they arrive within five minutes of their scheduled time. CTA trains are considered on time if they are within three minutes of their scheduled time. Metra trains are considered on time if they arrive withing five minutes of their scheduled time.
The escalator up from the Jackson subway platform on the Red Lin has been out of order for quite sometime, according to a nospam-djaco@interaccess.com. He also wonders when the Van Buren entrance is going to re-open.
5/18 - The lead car was closed on a northbound Red Line train. The speaker in my car appeared to be receiving some sort of electrical interference and squeaked loudly the whole trip.
5/19 - A southbound Red Line train was delayed at Belmont because of door problems. I boarded a northbound train and was prompted subjected to the same beggar that had been on my train the night before.
5/25 - A northbound Red Line train experienced minor delays at Belmont and Berwyn for no apparent reason. On the plus side, this ride featured an interesting railfan experience as both an old style Evanston Express and Skokie Swift car were sitting on the outside track just south of Jarivs. (Sorry, I do not know the cars well enough to give the series number).
5/30 - There were three #147's in a row on Sheridan at Devon. The second two had no passengers.
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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