by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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If you sent me any stories and they did not make it in this week, please resend them. I appear to have misplaced quite a few things.
Pace ridership increased 3.8% during 1998 bringing its total annual ridership to 39.3 million. The agency is continuing to study ways to change its service to link up Chicago workers with suburban jobs. This includes the possibility of new shuttle bus services linking to CTA and Metra stations. [ Source: Chicago Tribune, 4 February 1999 ] [ Note that Pace is specifically studying linking "welfare" recipients with suburban jobs, unfortunately reinforcing the notion that transit is a social service for the poor instead of a public service for all. Note also that a limited shuttle bus service is already in operation linking area office parks to the Metra Lake-Cook Rd. station, though I do not believe Pace operates it - AMR ]
Rachel Barton's lawsuit against Metra and the Union Pacific Railroad has started. She was the virtuoso young violinist who lost part of one leg and had the other damaged when the doors on a Metra train closed on her violin strap, dragging her under the wheels. I'm very surprised this has gone to trial. I figured there would have been a settlement for sure. The trial has gotten extensive media coverage, with almost daily reports in the newspapers. Barton's lawyers are of course covering the details of her medical expenses, her pain and suffering, and the damage to her career. The defendants have not started their presentation, but they have already suggested that the accident did not harm Barton's career and actually helped it by giving a lot of notoriety and high profile opportunities to perform.
Eric Holeman (nospam-ehol@enteract.com) wrote in with a few miscellaneous comments:
"Evidence that CTA marketing types don't think: at the Davis St. station, and presumably elsewhere, signs urge riders to take CTA to the auto show at McCormick Place. [ I was amused by that myself ]
Evanston Express (and I use that term loosely) trains have recently been passed by Red Line trains in the yet-unrepaired slow zone at Montrose. Another slow zone seems to affect the purple line between Davis and Main Street--trains have been going painfully slow there lately. [ The Red Line makes to downtown from Wilson faster than the Evanston "Express" ]
The old shopping area at Howard Street has been demolished, but the bus stop is right where it always was, smack in the middle of the "Gateway Center" construction area. A very odd, unpleasant place to wait for a bus."
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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