by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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Mayor Daley has announced a plan to crack down on "nuisance" crimes such as littering and loud radio playing on the CTA. He is frustrated with the fact that these offenses are routinely dismissed in courts and wants to switch them to administrative adjudication. Mayor Daley likes this idea because the police do not have to be present for the hearing. [ Which makes me think it will be like getting a parking ticket - the mere fact that you are accused means you are guilty - AMR ] Also, the CTA has decided to triple its maximum fine for misbehavior on the train to $300. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 12/3/98 ]
The city of Chicago has decided to keep its annual contribution to the CTA at $3 million. The CTA's total budget is over $1 billion. While the city government provides virtually no funding for the CTA, it effectively runs the organization as a city department because the mayor appoints a majority of the board. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 12/2/98 ]
The city plans to build a $35 million express bus lane in the Illinois Central right of way to link downtown to McCormick Place. A group called Friends of the Park is criticizing the plan. It wants the city to build two additional stations at Roosevelt Rd. and 18th St. and to spend $1 million on landscaping. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 12/1/98 ] [ $3 million for the citizens of Chicago, $35 million for tourists. I guess we know now where the city's real priorities are - AMR ]
Schaumburg has hired a politically connected consultant to improve chances of extending the Blue Line to it from O'Hare. Hired was Stephen Schlickman, a former RTA employee. Among other experience, Mr. Schlickman was director of the central area circulator project for four years. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 11/19/98 ]
Sales taxes in Chicago that go to the CTA: $145 million.
Ian Szekeres (nospam-ian@enteract.com) wrote in to tell us about this CTA accident:
"Well I have just gotten into work about an hour late. I was heading into work today, taking my normal route southbound on the blue line from Jefferson Park to Jackson. I usually catch either the 12:07 or 12:15 trains....arrived at the platform at 12:11 so I was expecting the 12:15. I usually carry my scanner with me, and listen to blue line control on the way to work. At about 12:14 run 307 was announced to be running express from an unknown stop north of Harlem to Jefferson Park. At this point I was happy, hoping it would also run express from Jefferson Park to points south. About a minute later the engineer on the southbound train ahead of me made a frantic call to shut off the power at Logan Square southbound. He then announced that someone had fallen under the second truck (I'm assuming of the first car) and he needed the fire department immediately as "the body was still moving". My train (307) had pulled into the Harlem station and was told to hold, as were trains behind, and northbound trains heading to the Logan Stop. Power was shut off from Logan Square north, as far as Belmont but not sure how much further north. Somewhere around 12:25 various trains were told to continue on to various locations, mostly the next stop ahead, and run 307 arrived at Jefferson Park. I then boraded the train and left the station and arrived at Montrose, where we were held again. After another 5 minutes of standing, control announced over the radio to make announcements to passengers every 5 minutes, telling them that there was a delay due to a "sick passenger" on the train ahead. This caused a couple of the road crew who were en route to some track work ahead to laugh, as we were all discussing the condition of the poor soul in the first car. We stood at montrose for aproximately 20 minutes while various courses of action were decided....first off....after 5 minutes of standing at the station, the engineer of the train involved in the accident announced that the CPD would not allow the train to move untill the detectives arrived at the scene. At the same time it was announced that bus shuttle service would be running from Jefferson Park to the California stop. It was also decided that they would move to single track operation between Belmont and Sacremento, although I cant think of where the interchange is at Belmont at the moment. Everything seemed to move smoothly, watching the approacing northbound train at Montrose I reboarded in anticipation our train leaving and running single track.....just as we were about to leave run 307 was told to run as normal, that the accident train had been turned around and was being taken to rosemont, and make all stops. The engineer requested to be turned into an express but was told no, as there were no trains ahead along the whole line at this point. I rode to the logan square stop, and of course had to get off to see.....when I arrived there, there were about 5 uniformed police, a few detectives, and a few people that appeared to be CTA officials....the detectives were interviewing some passengers, who I assumed had witnessed the accident.....there wasn't gore to see, just some stains on the ballast and rail, which appeared to correspond to the location of the first car. I waited at logan as 3 other trains passed southbound at intervals of about 1-2 minutes and boarded the fourth and continued on to Jackson.
All in all I was very impressed with how quickly the emergency was handled....listening over the radio and being in the first car allowed me to see how hectic it truly was, and how proffesional the crew had been. Of course bus service is another story......."
Ian also thoughfully provided us with the CTA's radio frequencies, if anyone is interested in listening in:
CTA buses:
453.3750
453.4250
453.4750
453.5250
453.5750
CTA Trains:
470.5375 Southside Supervisor
470.9875 Road control/Emergency calling
470.6375 Northside Supervisor
471.0375 Congress/Douglas/O'Hare (Blue Line)
471.0625 Englewood/Jackson Park (Green Line), Lake, Midway (Orange Line)
471.0875 Ravenswood (Brown Line), Evanston (Purple Line), Skokie (Yellow
Line)
471.1125 Howard/Dan Ryan (Red Line)
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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