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 RTA's study of a "Personal Rapid Transit" system to serve the Rosemont area continues. A PRT system uses small, individual rubber wheeled cars running on elevated guideways to provide point to point trips for individuals and small groups. It would link the Rosemont offices and hotels to O'Hare and the Blue Line L. A prototype of this system just had a successful trial in Massachusetts. The RTA has so far spent $23 million on PRT development and estimates that a full system would cost approximately the same as the construction of the Midway L - about $400 million. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 6/3/98 ]. [ Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy to spend tens of millions of dollars on experimental new transit technologies while service on the existing system is being chopped to the bone? - AMR ]
From the you can't please anybody any of the time department: You may recall the letter to the editor from a west side activist who decried the CTA's west side cuts and blasted the CTA for not providing transit service to the Garfield Park Conservatory (as reported in WB #16). Well, the CTA just announced a $14 million plan to re-open the historic Homan station on the Green Line two blocks to the west - right at the front door of the Garfield Park Conservatory. This plan would save the historic shell of the exising Homan Station. However, neighborhood groups immediately blasted plan, claiming that the area of the new stop is unsafe and has no connecting bus routes. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 6/2/98 ]
Joseph DiJohn, the executive director of the suburban PACE bus sytem retired last Sunday. He annouced his retirement late last year after he and other PACE executives were caught at strip clubs and betting halls while on company time. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 6/2/98 ]
The head of the PACE suburban bus agency gets paid $124,000 per year.
6/5 ~8:00am - A southbound Evanston Express train is stuck behind a slow moving Ravenswood from Belmont all the way south to the Loop. My train never got above about 25 MPH and was blocked at signals several times. This was by far my most frustrating L trip in quite some time.
nospam-petro@yin.interaccess.com says:
Usually I drive to work but since I work close to the downtown area (Ashland and Lake Streets) I take the Green Line downtown for my lunch break.
Anyway, I went this past Friday and upon entering the area to pay fares, the change machine was out of order. Normally I'll get some change to use for the turnstiles instead of having a farecard since I hardly ever use the CTA anymore. The CTA customer attendant or whatever he's called said rudely that when the orange light is on then you can't get any change. Luckily I had a $5 to get a farecard. The CTA attendant did nto even attempt to offer me change for the dollar I had, and even, upon returning, seemed to be in the same spot as when I had left him (about an hour later). [ While is may be against policy for the CTA to give change, rude behavior by these so called "customer service assistants" is inexcusable - AMR ]
Another thing: The CTA won't tell you this, but when the 95E (93/95) bus was shortened this past December, many people, especially senior citizens, lost a vital link to getting places. My grandmother who has trouble enough walking, has lost her way getting downtown during the week when no one can pick her up. She tried the paratransit system at first, but to access that service you have to call early in the morning the day before (5 or 6am??) and get a reservation. Then they make several other stops along the way to your destination picking up and dropping off people. This took 2.5 hours the one time she tried it. This inconvenience also stops a lot of seniors in that area from getting to church and doing simple errands like to the store.
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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