by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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Fred Brunner (nospam-fred@interaccess.com) wrote in to say that the PACE 960/961 supplemental bus service has been discontinued. This is the route that provided an alternate to Metra's North Central line when that train (which has limited runs) was not running.
The Oak Park village board has approved plans for the final phase of of a $17 million plan to combine all CTA, Metra, and PACE operations into one station. The CTA work is complete. Now Metra is going to complete its half of the project. Currently there is a block long walk between the CTA and Metra stations. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 8/19/98 ]
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard charged Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd and Executive Director Phil Pagano with pressuring Metra contractors to donate money to the campaign of Republican George Ryan who is Poshard's opponent in the fall election. Ladd and Pagano denied the charges with Pagano calling Poshard "an outright liar". They claim their fundraising efforts for Ryan were not improper. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 8/10/98 ]
Again this week we have a story from someone who witnessed a CTA train moving under power with doors open. This one comes to us from Bill Marszalec. Thanks for writing in, Bill. I tried to reply to you but my email bounced. Please contact me again with an address that works because I would like to discuss this incident further.
BTW: I am still trying to get the CTA to respond to my messages about the previous door incident. They don't seem to like me very much.
"The following incident happened at about 9:20 AM on a north-bound Howard Red Line train on Monday August 10, 1997. I boarded at the Jackson stop. The trip was uneventful until we arrived at the Grand Ave station. Just as the train was about to pull out, this "suburban-type" lady leaps out of her seat with her two daughters in tow runs to the door, pulls the emergency release, pushes it open, and steps out. Thanks lady! I hope you and your lovely kids had a nice day of shopping. As for me and the rest of the "working stiffs", we had to stand at the station for about ten extra minutes as the conductor/motorman attempted to fix the broken door relay.
However, it got even worst. I disembarked the train at the next stop, Chicago Ave. I was walking away from the train when it began to pull out. Suddenly, I heard a loud cry from one of the cars behind me. I turned to see that the door of one car had not closed upon the conductor/motorman's command and that a fellow was stepping off as the train pulled away. This action plus the simultaneous momentum of the train's forward motion apparently caused him to stumble on the platform and nearly fall. I heard several shouts for the train to stop, but the motorman apparently was unaware of the door situation. As the car went by me, door open, I saw an elderly lady inside clinging to the metal post for dear life. What transpired after that, I do not know.
I wonder if that stupid inconsiderate woman who originally pulled the door release (and apparently disrupted the relay control) would have ever known if her ignorance had resulted in an injury or a loss of life? Please folks, LEAVE THOSE GODDAMN EMERGENCY DOOR RELEASES ALONE!"
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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