The Weekly Breakdown #4, by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

CTA News and Rumors
-------------------

Two stories this week go to show that not all bad things on the CTA 
are just minor irritations and that they don't just affect customers.  
Some things are far more serious.

- On Sunday night (2/8) a CTA employee was stabbed and raped after
leaving the ticket booth at the Pulaski Station on the Lake St. L
in order to assist a customer who claimed he was having trouble 
using the fare card machine. CTA union leaders have told their
members to disregard orders and stay inside a locked booth rather
than assist customers if they feel unsafe.

- A letter to the editor in the 2/9 Tribune recounted a story of
a minor assault on the Green Line that has made the author decide not 
to ride the CTA any longer. 

One other CTA related article appeared in the 2/9 Tribune.  The
Getting Around column recounted the story of how the CTA was
prepared to spend $100 apiece to have replacement light shields
custom manufactured for the Red Line subway.  Two motormen took
a quick peek inside a Grainger catalog and found suitable parts
for a mere $1.57.  I wonder if any of the CTA's management has
experience at the Pentagon?

On 2/14 the Sun-Times reported that a group of Little Village
business owners are banding together in an attempt to boost CTA
ridership in their neighborhood and stave off cuts in service
on the Douglas L scheduled for April.  A CTA spokesman said thanks,
but the cuts must go on.  She also said that the Douglas L is in 
need of $420 million in renovations.

Factoid
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Number of CTA Bus Stops: About 13,000

CTA Breakdowns
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2/10 - Farecard reader out of order at Fullerton Station.

2/12 - Out of 4 farecard readers at Fullerton, 2 are out of order
completely and another has a hand written sign saying "No Transfers".

About the Weekly Breakdown
--------------------------

The Weekly Breakdown is small Internet journal devoted to the trials
and tribulations of being a regular rider of the Chicago Transit
Authority. While it is primarily devoted to my experiences, I am 
happy to hear about an include yours.  Just send mail to 
breakdown@urbanophile.com.

Aaron.