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/
A CTA security guard (!) was robbed at gunpoint at the Thorndale L stop on Monday. The perpetrators escaped with her money and jewelry on a northbound L train. [ Source: Chicago Tribune 4 April 2000 ] [ LOOT in action? - AMR ]
The RTA claims that Chicago area transit agencies aren't using enough alternative fuels. The American Lung Association recently said that the Chicago area is far behind many other major metros in the use of alternative fuels. The CTA, PACE, and Metra are all heavily dependent on diesel engines. CTA Chairman (and RTA Board member) Valerie Jarrett said defended her agency, saying that the CTA is "doing a lot" with alternative fuels. The CTA recently ended a trial with experimental fuel cell buses. [ Source: Chicago Sun-Times 7 April 2000 ]
The April Metra "On the Bi-Level" Newsletter contains information on a couple projects of interest:
RFP responses for Randolph St. Station are due this month, and a final proposal should be ready for approval this fall, with completion in early 2002.
Metra is planning on a 2004 completion date for its planned North Central Service expansion. Metra has requested $35 million in federal funding this year. The agency has committed to a 41% local match on federal funds for the complete project.
nospam-Miles10J30@aol.com wrote in with this commuter rail story:
I also have a story of transit lateness to report to the Breakdown. At 6:35 this evening, I got on the UP-North train to Evanston at the Metra/Union Pacific terminal. About a minute after pulling out, the train was going through the yard when there was a very loud crashing sound and the electric lights went out, and we decelerated and stopped. No one knew what was going on for about ten minutes. Obviously something was not right because the conductor walked really fast and nervously through the car without even explaining what the problem was. It turned out, when he walked back later and told us, that closer to the front of the train (the front 3 or 4 coaches were closed off) a coupling mechanism had broken and the locomotive and about two cars were several hundred feet down the track from the rest of the train. By the time they finally managed to get the coupler back together, it promptly broke again.By this time it was about five minutes to seven. The conductors told us to get off of the train and walk around to another track, where a replacement would be waiting. When it was finally loaded with all the passengers, including one in a wheelchair (the Metra lifts take FOREVER!) and pulled out, it was 7:10, 45 minutes past the timetable. I ended up missing almost half of my practice. Every person I talked to said that this was by far and wide the longest delay they had ever heard of on the Northwestern. Not so for the CTA--maybe they should pick up a few pointers on timing and reliability!
I've been known to ride the 6:35 myself. Glad I wasn't on this one.
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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