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/
Lest anyone actually still believe it, my midweek report that the Douglas L had been shut down was indeed an April Fools joke.
Local Latino politicians are attempting to secure more funding for a Douglas L rehab project. Several of them including Ald. Daniel Solis, State Rep. Edward Acevedo, and State Sen. Antonio Munoz plan to lobby in Springfield next month. US Rep. Luis Gutierrez has filed a formal request for $77 million in federal funds for the project. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 31 March 1999 ]
Someone who wishes to remain anonymous wrote in last week with this story:
"Last Monday I rode inbound BNSF Metra that killed someone around Western Springs at 5:15 pm and I'd like to share my experience. The train was on time and made its last pickup at Lisle at 5:05 with the next stop Chicago's Union Station. Everything was going as usual, the train passed over traffic on I-294 under sunset light. A few minutes later the train went into full brake, a couple of seconds later there was a poof and then the train came to a stop. Down feathers started floating eerily up the side of the train indicating that either the train hit a person or the train hit a pillow. I was hoping for a pillow.
"The conductor got on the intercom shortly afterwards and mentioned that there had been an incident with the train and that we would be there for awhile. The tone of his voice indicated it was going to be quite awhile. Police, ambulances, fire trucks, fire volunteers, etc. arrived shortly thereafter gathering behind the train. Later an outbound train approached and came to a complete stop along side of us, waited a few minutes, and left while blowing its horn.
"Over 30 minutes had passed with the down feathers settling into the ballast only to float up again with each passing outbound train. The 5:36pm local out of Lisle passed us on the middle track which is probably a complicated maneuver for controllers since the middle track is usually assigned to the inbound in the morning and the outbound in the evening. As the sun set and darkness fell another inbound passed and then another as we waited. Finally the conductor got on the intercom and explained that there had been a fatality with the train and that the next stop would be Union Station. A few minutes later he announced a change in plans, that this train would be returning to Aurora. They herded us into the last car, we got off that train and onto an awaiting inbound on the middle track. We got into Union Station around 6:50, 1 hour and 15 minutes late.
I detrained and walked past the lobby where passengers awaited to board the Amtrak to New Orleans, the train that later hit a steel truck killing 13 people."
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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