by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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A water main break near Quincy and Wells caused service to be suspended on the west leg of the Loop L last week. The CTA was concerned that the water may have damaged the foundations of the piers supporting the L. Trains were forced to circle the Loop only part way, then circle back. Evanston Express service was cancelled, leaving only shuttle service between Linden and Howard. Service was disrupted from Monday morning through Wednesday. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 8 February 2000 ]
The CTA announced security improvements after a series of well publicized attacks on the L. The agency plans to install additional security cameras and have the security guards who watch the fare card machines more actively patrol stations. Additionally, the CTA is conducting a station by station security survey that will identify additional security needs or potential enhancements. The CTA resolutely rejected calls to restore conductors on the L, saying that conductor was never a security agent. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 8 February 2000 ]
Disabled activist groups filed yet another lawsuit against the CTA last week, claiming the CTA is out of compliance with the ADA for not having enough wheelchair equipped buses. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 9 February 2000 ]
John Kass' Wednesday column in the Tribune slammed the CTA for its security problems and plans to eliminate conductors in the subway. Kass also portrayed CTA president Frank Kruesi as one of Mayor Daley's lackeys whose main job is to set up sweetheard deals with Daley insiders. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 9 February 2000 ]
Graham Garfield wrote in with some additional information about the scrolling LED signs being installed at L platforms.
I think I can shed at least some light on Steve's question from the latest edition of the Weekly Breakdown regarding the red LED signs on the "L" platforms.They will be hooked into the system that, when made fully operational, will alert passengers to approaching trains. When a train is coming to the platform, an automated voice will say "Attention: Inbound train will arrive in two minutes..." over the PA system while the same is displayed on the LED readout. The reason for having both the voice and the LED is ADA compliance, I think.
Right now, this is being tested at various stations such as Ashland/Lake. I know they've been testing and fine tuning it for some time. In the summer, at Ashland an announcement would be made for an arriving train with no train in sight. Clearly fine tuning was needed. When I used the station about a month ago, the system seemed to be working well. So, when they finally get it ready, that will be at least one function of the LED displays. But for now, they are indeed merely high-tech No Smoking signs. (I wish they'd also flash the time and temperture. That's be helpful information...)
On another topic, I've also seen the new Nova bus. About two weeks ago, it was parked outside the 120 N. Racine CTA offices for the employees to look at and offer their comments. The front doors are exceptionally wide (it's the first thig my eye was drawn to), which should help with loading and unloading at busy stops. There's a lot of standee room and the bus drivers seem to have a lot more controls and switches than the older buses. The floor is very low (even lower than any other low-floor bus I've seen), but beyond the back doors there's a few steps up to more seats. In the back, there's a very odd seat that faces backwards. This was done because of something mounted under the floor there, which makes a certain shape in the floor (like the wheel humps in the MAN artics), which in turn made it impossible to mount the seat facing forward. Oh, well.
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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