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/
For those who didn't see it, the Weekly Breakdown was profiled in the Chicago Reader this week. Look for the article "Terror Train" in the Media page in Section One. Thanks to Neal Pollack for doing the article, and to Mike Harris, who gave my URL to Neal while they were stuck on an L car near Belmont during a ComEd power failure.
I'm also pleased to announce that the Weekly Breakdown is now available via email. Just send me your request to subscribe and the Breakdown will appear in your mailbox every Sunday. No more checking the web site or newsgroups waiting for your favority weekly ezine.
The CTA is reducing the number of canine patrols on its system. This was presented as a response to complaints from riders who were intimidated by the dogs. Jonothan has a different take on the CTA's actions here, which I'll include in next week's edition. Stay tuned.
Thanks to the Reader article, I heard from several new contributors this week. Here is a sample:
An anonymous person said:
"Until recently, I lived near Howard. I would take the Clark bus from downtown to get home, because I lived in a bad neighborhood, had been mugged before, and didn't feel safe walking home from the L stop. The bus stop was closer to my home. The problem? Waiting for a Clark bus after work would take up to 30 minutes at times. So I'd leave work at 5 and still be waiting for a bus 30 minutes later. The next step to getting home? Getting a Clark bus going to Howard and not Devon or even (why?) Diversey. Okay, let's say a bus to Howard shows up. I'd get on the bus, and then - and this would happen once or twice a week at least! - halfway home I'd hear the driver say to a rider, "Oh, I'm only going to Devon." The reason would usually be, "I have to be relieved. I need to get home." Like we don't! So we'd get off at Devon and wait for a while for another bus to show up to take us to Howard. Once, as I boarded one of those buses, the driver stopped me and asked me to pay to get on, even though I'd explained what had just happened. "I don't believe you," he said, and I actually had to argue with him to get on a bus I'd already paid to ride!
"I have a thousand other horror stories: drivers passing up my stop because they're daydreaming; one driver threatened to punch a passenger because she asked him how far north he was going; another driver let several passengers on, then closed the bus door in my face - when I knocked to be let on, she laughed at me and drove off. I understand that CTA drivers probably hate their jobs, but they shouldn't take it out on the passengers. One man got on a nearly empty bus with two boxes, and the driver told him he couldn't bring boxes onto the bus, then kicked them from his hands and forbade him from boarding.
"Luckily I've moved further south, and the train's been better for me than the bus. So far... But I'm astounded at the bad behavior of CTA drivers, and the total incompetence of the CTA in general.
"Thanks for the chance to vent!"
Susan had this to say:
"I no longer take CTA to work; I ride my bike. I would rather brave the hazards of competing with road-raging SUV drivers than give the CTA $3.60 every day, in addition to the substantial chunks of my valuable time wasted on waiting for trains and buses. I also hated seeing all those guys with the muzzled dogs on the platform, the dogs looking like they were about to keel over in 90-degree weather. (Is that a hired security service? What for? To bust the buskers, no doubt.) I lived in New York City for 10 years, happily taking the subway there at all hours, and I never experienced half the ridiculous policies and inconveniences that are rampant in the CTA system.
"One of the last times I took the L, the driver slammed on the brakes as we were cruising from Belmont to Fullerton. I was sent flying towards the front of the train, my kneecap colliding with the edge of a seat when I landed; I was limping when I got off. Of course, no apologies or explanation as to why this happened were offered.
"I was ready to zeolously nail the CTA with any doctor bills I might incur, but after a few hours I felt fine and didn't want to bother with reporting the incident. I did write a letter to Frank Kruesi a while later about a different matter (when I heard about buskers being harrassed by him personally) but ultimately decided to just cut my losses and quit giving them my money.
"I'm lucky enough to have a bike and a car. I still feel angry for all the people who must rely on public transportation in Chicago. Thanks for creating this forum -- I'm sure it helps people to know they aren't alone in their frustration. Hopefully it will also help make things better."
Steve S. wrote in to tell us:
"On Tuesday, August 30 I got on a CTA bus that was AIR-CONDITIONED. First time this summer. I was so amazed I've forgotten which one it was! I just found your site thanks to the Reader article. Your publication is much needed for news and as therapy. I, too, now take Metra, and hope to never have to rely on the CTA again (especially the Brown Line which I came to call the Creepy-Crawler). I now travel 25 miles each way in the same amount of time it used to take 8."
Finally, a suggestion from David on how to raise money for capital projects:
"If the CTA wants to get enough money to build six new L lines from the ground up, etc. without raising fares or cutting service, they should consider enforcing the law. Everyday I'm on the L (8-10 times per week), I see people smoking on the platforms, usually next to those signs citing the ordinance outlawing such activity. If I collected $25 per person I have observed violating this rule, I could compete with Bill Gates on the Forbes list. Why won't the CTA enforce the law? It will make the train experience more pleasurable (Frank K's oft-stated goal)."
I'll have more next week. Thanks for writing in everybody!
Jonothan has lots to report this week as always.
"I have enclosed a picture of Pace's new buses from North American Bus Industries (NABI). The buses are Pace's first low-floor buses, and feature such amenities as air-conditioning, a ramp instead of a wheelchair lift, and a heater located at the front and back doors to prevent buildup of snow and ice in the winter. Pace has placed 27 of these buses in service in Waukegan, and is placing another 25 in service in the south suburbs.
[ The pic is available at http://www.urbanophile.com/breakdown/pacenabi.jpg ]
"Forest Glen and Archer garages, where Operation Clearview is currently taking place, have done an excellent job of keeping their bus's windows graffiti free. All the buses from these two garages received new vandal resistant windows and digital surveillance cameras. Just by observation, I have not once seen any graffiti on the windows of the buses out of these two garages. The real test is going to be during the upcoming school year, when the cases of window etching are at their highest. Forest Glen and Archer were chosen as the pilot garages for this program because these two garages carry the most school kids system wide. The following bus routes are included in Operation Clearview:
35,39,47,49,X49,51,52A,53A,54B,55A,55N,56,56A,62,62H, 63W,64,68,77,78,80,81,81W,84,85,85A,86,88,90,90N,91,92,129,152, and 165.
"Finally, here is something to think about. I have the feeling that we may be headed for a fare increase or more service cuts at CTA. Why? Well, I'm afraid the Authority's finances aren't looking too bright. First, the blizzard we had back in January cost the CTA around $6 million, of which the federal government only reimbursed the CTA less than a million. Secondly, a recent arbitration ruling says the Authority must pay back pay for part-time employees who worked overtime and weren't paid appropriately. I don't know the exact figure, but I think it is going to be a nice sized chunk of change. Third, the city of Chicago is running a deficit of $100 million dollars, and Mayor Daley is ready to raise taxes. So, the CTA can forget about getting any additional financial help from the city. Lastly, the CTA is having a difficult time in Washington trying to secure funding for the Brown Line expansion and the rehab of the Douglas Blue Line. The money from the Illinois First bill won't be enough, as the government must kick in an equal share. So, with these events in place, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a fare increase in the next year or so. Remember, fares haven't been increased since 1994, when the off peak $1.25 fare was eliminated and the cost of transfers rose a nickel. Since that period of time, CTA has lost all of its federal funding (which was around $20-$30 million a year), and most recently, has run into financial problems with the blizzard and an array of capital programs that still don't have a source of funding. But again, this is only speculation. I don't know for sure if there will be a fare increase or service reductions, but if there is a deficit in the budget, what other option is there?"
Jonothan also had some statistics on bus runs held in the garage due to the CTA's new overtime policy:
"The # of runs held in at Forest Glen Garage on Wednesday -12, Thursday - 22, Friday - 6... the CTA just doesn't learn."
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. The views expressed by contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher.
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