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/
I received this letter from Michael Doyle (nospam-plannernyc@earthlink.net), a transportation planner in New York, back in September. I had intended to run it on a slow news week, but since none was forthcoming (thank you, CTA!), I decided to hold off on everything for this week in order to run this very interesting message:
"As a transportation planner in NYC for a state-mandated riders advocacy organization, I often watch with sadness, if not outright anger, the actions the CTA takes in the name of progress and economic efficiency. It has always been the policy of CTA to close stations and even entire L branches and cut service if ridership drops or crime increases are identified. The problem is, once you make such cuts and closures, you can never be really sure again if you need to make further cuts because of declining ridership, or if you're losing ridership because of the cuts.
"The service decreases in April [26, 1998] were bad enough. The plan to consolidate three Loop stations in one and make the transfer between the State Street Subway and the L longer than it already is is disastrous. Even given the funding abandonment of the CTA in Springfield, the CTA must be made to understand that ease of access (not to mention customer service) is the name of the game in the modern rapid transit industry.
"It's a lesson we learned the hard way in NYC, but by comprehensively improving our station facilities since the early 1980s, and offering recent highly attractive fare discounts, we've garnered ridership levels we haven't seen since the 1960s. NYC Transit could never get away with closing stations due to crime, or abandoning entire sections of subway lines, and never has. Pressure must be brought to bear against both Springfield and the RTA the same way it has been against Albany and the MTA in NY.
"Until the CTA learns to respect BOTH its infrastructure AND its customers (to the level that its parent, RTA, maintains infrastructure and service on Metra), as NYC Transit has, the CTA will never attract back the 40% of riders lost in recent years, and will continue to do a great disservice to the people of Chicago. I love Chicago (and it takes a brave man to say that in New York City). And I love the L. Riding it should never have to be a depressing experience. Springfield and CTA, for shame.
Michael T. Doyle Transportation Planner Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NY
P.S. FYI Here is our fare structure [ Chicago added for comparison ]:
| Item | New York | Chicago |
| Single trip | $1.50 | $1.50 |
| Bus-Bus transfers | Free | 30 cents |
| Bus-Subway transfers | Free (with MetroCard) | 30 cents |
| MetroCard bonus | 10% for fare purchases $15 and up | $1 per $10 purchase |
| 7-Day Pass | $17 | $18 (five day pass) |
| 30-Day Pass | $63 | $75 |
| 1-Day Pass (forthcoming) | $4 | $5 |
| Disabled/Elderly | Half-fare | Half-fare |
| Elementary/H.S. Students | Three free trips per day | Half fare during 5:30a and 8pm on school days with purchase of $5 permit which is valid for the entire school year. |
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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