by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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A jury awarded Rachel Barton $29.6 million in her lawsuit against Metra. Barton had part of one leg severed when she was dragged under the train after her violin strap got caught in the closing train doors as she exited. She had asked for $600 million. Metra plans to file post-trial motions to set aside the verdict. In a late breaking story, it was reported that juror Alina Andrzejewski failed to disclose her own personal injury lawsuit during the jury selection process. This would have automatically disqualfied her from serving on the jury. Metra is expected to ask the judge for a mistrial, though experts say it is unlikely one will be granted. In the event the verdict stands, virtually the entire amount will have to be paid by Metra under an indemnification agreement signed with the Union Pacific railroad. Insurance will cover most of the settlement, but insurance rates could increase as a result, which could lead to a fare increase. [ Source: Various media accounts ]
Jeremy Govekar, age 22, was killed by a Metra train as he attempted to cross the tracks in Lake Forest. He was an employee of Don's Finer Foods. Customers and employees of this store often trespass and cut across the tracks to avoid a two block walk to the nearest official crossing. Even after the accident they continued to do so. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 4 March 1999 ]
Mayor Daley is planning to lobby Congress for additional money for mass transit in Chicago. "There has to be more money for mass transit," he says. [ So long as it doesn't come out of the city's coffers - AMR ]. Gov. George Ryan is expected to work much more closely with the mayor in this effort than former Gov. Jim Edgar did. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 3 March 1999 ]
Some co-workers of mine had several Metra problems this week. My boss had a three hour ride home to Geneva on the Metra UP-West line one night. No explanation. Another had her BNSF express train turn into a surprise local when the train in front of her experienced mechanical problems. That train dumped all of its passengers at Western Ave. and her train had to stop to pick them all up and then make their stops as well as the ones her train normally made. Finally, another person had his BNSF train strike a stalled car on a grade crossing. The driver managed to escape before impact and was not injured.
Normally I take Metra home from work, but Friday it was snowing heavily and I decided to skip the walk to Northwest Station in favor of the L. It looked like a whole lot of other people made the same decision. The platform at Washington/Wells was packed. I chose a good spot to wait and was actually able to get onto the first Evanston Express that arrived, though it was a tight squeeze. About half of the crowd wasn't so lucky. They had to wait at least another 10-15 minutes for the next train. Needless to say everyone wanting to get on at the Merchandise Mart was screwed. For some reason my train ran very slow the whole way home. It took us 30 minutes to get to Wilson. Even north of there the train never got above 40 MPH or so. (It normally runs 55). Every time I skip Metra in favor of the L I end up regretting it.
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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