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/
CATS - the Chicago Area Transportation Study, Chicago's Metropolitan Planning Organization - finally has a web site. You can see it at http://www.catsmpo.com/
The Federal Transit Administration rejected a Metra proposal to add a second track and additional trains on its North Central line. Officials rejected the $204 million project because it would not result in a time travel savings. However, Metra's rationale for the project is capacity expansion, not time savings. Local officials expressed great surprise since the North Central line has exceeded ridership projections. They are planning strategies for getting the decision reversed. The FTA did give approval to a $177 million proposal to expand capacity on the South West line and to extend it 11 miles to Manhattan. Also approved was a $101 million proposal to extend the UP-West line 8 miles to Elburn. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 6 April 1999 ] [ Does anyone know the true scope of the Elburn project? It seems highly unlikely to me that it could cost that much money just to extend the line 8 miles - AMR ]
A 75 year old man was killed when his car was struck by a Metra train after he illegally drove through flashing lights onto the tracks in Mt. Prospect. John DiProva, the driver, worked as a courier. [ Source: Chicago Tribune, 6 April 1999 ] A newsgroup poster also mentioned another death this week from an apparent suicide in Park Ridge.
The CTA is considering an appeal of a $5.3 million court judgement. Mark Chmielewski of Norridge collided with a stalled CTA bus on the Dan Ryan Expressway and suffered extensive injuries. The accident took place in 1995. He sued and was awarded this rather large amount. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 2 April 1999 ] [ Sounds like another jury giving a sympathy award. How do you not see a stopped bus on the freeway? - AMR ]
A reader sent me this note last week:
"Hi breakdown, I just read one of your papers and I'm so happy there's someone else out there to level with! My problem is with the L trains. I ride three days a week in the morning at 5:15 just to get to my first class at UIC at 7:00! Obviously it doesn't always take so long to get there (I get on at Brywn Mawr), but at other times it takes for ever (ending up in me getting there late). Really, what I am completely fed up with is for some reason when I get on the trains on Tuesday, around 8:15, the trains consistently break down and I get to class late. Has anyone else experienced this? CONSISTENTLY! The CTA seems to be plagued with break downs on all it's train services, and it's bus services are always late. It is not uncomon for me to be waiting 30 minutes to catch one 147 Express. The 60 is even worse. I once had to wait 1 and a half hours for one. And there was no trafic or bad weather! I am completely fed up with the CTA, but there is just no were else for me to turn. I'm stuck with it, and that pisses me off even more."
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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