by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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Metra has approved a 1999 budget that does not change fares and increases the level of capital spending. This was partially made possible by a sale/leaseback transaction for several coaches that netted one time proceeds of $43.7 million. The capital plan calls for $49.6 million to be spent on rolling stock, $46.4 million for tracks and bridges, $43.5 million for stations and parking, and $33.1 million for signals and electrical work, including backup generators at key locations which should help prevent a repeat of last March 9th's fiasco (see WB #8 for details). [ Source: Metra On The Bi-Level Newsletter, November 1998 ]
John C. Thomas (nospam-jthoma1@uic.edu) wrote in to tell us:
"Because of debris from the winds on the tracks, it took me 1:25 via train and bus to get from the Chicago Avenue Red Line station to Devon and Glenwood on Tuesday night. My question is, why does it sometimes take 1 hour and six minutes to get to the loop from the same location during perfect weather? The lowest travel time (on-board vehicles only) for my 8.2 mile commute so far this week has been 42 minutes. Last Friday afternoon, everything went (apparently) flawlessly, and it took 31 minutes on board vehicles to get from Quincy to Loyola." [ I wish I knew the answer to your questions - AMR ]
Adam Baily (nospam-adamb@tezcat.com) had this interesting story to relate:
"Yesterday (11/3) at approximately 5:25 PM, the Northwest (O'Hare)-bound Blue Line train I was riding on (lead car #2224), which had been going along at a pretty good clip, stopped about halfway between Clark St. and Chicago Ave.
After a few moments, the conductor came on the line. He spoke very softly, and I missed the first half of what he said, but it ended with "...check out the train." He then came out of his cab, pushed his way through the crowd (which was thick), and manually opened up the front-right doors. He climbed down from the train, and went foreward.
He was gone for about two minutes (which can be a strikingly-long time sitting still in a darkened tunnel) before returning. He closed up the doors, went back into his cab, and started the train up again. Nothing further was said, and the rest of my trip (through Belmont) went fine." [ Interesting story. Anybody have an idea about what might have happened? - AMR ]
John Petrosky (nospam-jpetrosky@21stcentury.net) wrote in with several problems he experienced riding the bus. He also sent this to the CTA's email address. I'm guessing John will soon discover that the CTA's email accounts are a black hole. Note that John is the sort of guy the CTA should be catering to. He doesn't own a car and rides transit exclusively. I wonder for how much longer though?
"... the 145 bus route -- especially where I live on Clarendon at Bittersweet. To begin with, drivers have a horrendous tendency to drive right by if the passenger is not STANDING IN THE STREET. Several friends and neighbors, as well as myself, have been sitting on the bench waiting for the 145 to pass -- and that's exactly what it does: pass, until I LITERALLY chase it down the street. This problem is especially bad during off hours like mid-day when it is THE ONLY BUS PASSING THAT STOP, so the drivers' excuse of "I thought you were waiting on a different bus" is a load of crap.
ALSO a big problem on that line has to do with the recent sewer line construction that closed down Clarendon Avenue for several days last week. THIS problem began with the fact that THERE WERE NO RE-ROUTE SIGNS at the stop(s) at 4040 N. Clarendon. The Website had no information and the toll free number had no information; this meant that I had to wander the neighborhood for several blocks to find the nearest re-route stop. This was on Monday, the 26th. The following day (Tuesday, the 27th), I walked the three extra blocks to what I knew as the nearest reroute location for the Southbound 145 and one passed very shortly -- and once again kept on going. I screamed and pointed at the yellow sign posted right next to me and he motioned back as though he thought that I should have been at some other stop down the block -- even though, once again, I was standing right next to a yellow re-route sign that read "145 -- HERE". (There might be a record of this incident as I called the toll free immediately on Tuesday, October 27).
The second on-going problem has to do with the 135 line. Yesterday, for the second or third time in as many weeks, I attempted to catch a NORTHBOUND 135 at Jackson & Franklin. I got on a bus that was reading 135 on the marquee, but when I asked the driver, was told it was a 136. I watched two more 136s go by until I finally got on a marked 135 with a driver saying it was a 135. HOWEVER, when I confirmed with the driver while we were northbound on LaSalle passing North Ave.., he said, "I just became a 136. I won't get off the outer drive until Lawrence (or Foster or some other too far north street)." He let me off with a free transfer, but the next 2 busses that came by also stated that they got off the outer drive beyond even Irving Park. I ended up hailing a cab, hence the attached receipt -- but I'll get back to that in a moment....
Shortly after moving to Chicago two and a half years ago, I got rid of my car due to the high gas, maintenance and insurance costs -- and because I believed that there was an extensive, reliable public transportation system. However, it seems to me, along with the rest of the city as indicated by recent events, that the CTA at times means Can't Takeya Anywhere. I even considered the bus stop immediately in front of my apartment when I signed the lease here 6 months ago."
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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