Doors open on the left...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:10:52 GMT

So this community has been rather dead for awhile. I'd like to bring it back to life for a quick question: If my Chicago Card has a negative value, can I still use it for a transfer? Would I be able to just throw a quarter in the box?

From what I've gathered from Googling, it seems like this would be possible, but I thought I might see if any actual people have an answer. The CTA's own websites were not too helpful. It does seem like I can *only* get a transfer once it's negative, not a whole new fare.

(I wasn't keeping close enough track and it got down to $1.75 on my way home tonight, unfortunately. I don't live near any L/subway stops and my route will be all buses tomorrow so I won't be able to charge it unless I go several blocks out of my way after the first bus to get to a train line.)

Hey, as long as I'm here: Who's excited for the holiday trains? I love when you're just waiting for a train to get somewhere and one of them shows up--surprise Santa train!

EL Stories

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:09:09 GMT

shameless promotion for this awesome new show my friend is in:

Anyone who has spent some amount of time riding Chicago’s trains and buses has collected stories from their travels. The EL, after all, is a public square - a place where Chicagoans from all backgrounds come together. Using the words of actual Chicagoans’ transit adventures over the course of a dramatized train ride, the Waltzing Mechanics seek to reflect how we move as a community through this dynamic city.

more info here: www.waltzingmechanics.org/EL_Stories.html

Also, every night a randomly selected member of the audience is invited to tell their own El Story. Enjoy!

Give us more cash and we'll do even less.

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:03:43 GMT

NOTE: This plan is still unfunded and in the planning stages - so there is time to submit your objections. Here's the information on meetings and contacts.

So the CTA made a big deal of presenting plans which would spend billions that they don't have on an "upgrade" of the Red and Purple lines (read flashy building projects of dubious necessity) which would result in stations being closed. Yes, the latest brilliant vision of the CTA involves spending huge amounts of money to take away service. The only good part is that at this point it's purely wishful thinking on the CTA's part.

Problem is these little flights of fancy by the CTA aren't free. These proposals take time and money, and chasing grant money for them instead takes resources away from more pressing projects.

Here's a thought: direct all fund-raising to maintaining the entire existing system and even restoring or increasing it in under-served areas. Instead of another overpriced superstation in Evanston, why not fix the growing number of broken escalators all over, or add another 24 hour bus lines on the south side?

I understand the system is set up to award funds to defined new projects rather than general upkeep, but partially because groups like CTA keep supporting such a focus. Those with power seem to prefer big projects with high profile goals as if reliable long term service at a stable price isn't a worthy achievement. Except for the part where the CTA hasn't gone more than a year or two without a doomsday crisis in a decade, let alone provided decent service every day.

Ode to the Brown Line

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:40:30 GMT

Well-scrubbed young urban professionals
Queue politely when the train pulls to the platform
Standing back to let passengers alight, before new ones board
Then taking the first available seat
Or offering it quickly to the aged, the visibly pregnant or the infirm
Talking quietly among themselves, texting or listening to white earbuds at muted volume
Or silently reading Kindles, the paper, a magazine or a novel
Perfectly courteous and respectful citizens
Never littering, harassing or otherwise being disagreeable

It is not usually that way on the Orange, the Green, the Red, Pink or Blue Lines; their riders more bestial
Tellingly:
At the end of the work week, the Brown Liners go to places served by those other lines to have fun.

/Ode to the Brown Line, and its social symbolism

Oakton is next.

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:53:05 GMT

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Oakton station on the Yellow Line is scheduled for June 21, at 10:30 AM to be held in the parking lot on the northwest corner of Searle Parkway and Skokie Boulevard.

Groundbreaking ceremony release (PDF)

Blue Line Shutdown, Information Failure

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:14:33 GMT

This morning as I arrived at the Logan Square Blue Line station, I encountered hundreds of passengers streaming out. The line had shut down and everyone was intructed to disembark.

After that, it was chaos.

The speaker system at the Logan Square has been broken for some time, rendering all announcements inaudible.

The CTA station rep was useless. People stood patiently while he shugged smiled, fiddled with his radio and mumbled. Despite the CTA having intercoms, radios, computers and phones, he seemed utterly bewildered. I don't know if he couldn't contact anyone, if no one knew anything.

I asked if the entire line was shut down, he mutter, "Um, guess so." That was it. No active attempt to engage passengers, no telling people unfamiliar with the stop where to go.

Later I found out a "medical emergency" shut down the line between Montrose and California. It would have been extremely helpful if anyone at Logan had known they get back on at the next stop, but there was no way to find this out.

The CTA help line was swamped and, according to someone who got through, had no information except there was a shutdown. The same was true for website alert until around 9AM.

Passengers shouldn't have to rely on calls and websites, it should be available at the station. If there's only going to be one employee per stop, they should have decent communication protocols, including how to instruct a crowd where to go.

I suspect the shutdown procedures are geared to a larger interconnected staff used to improvising with the unexpected and a lack of clear information. Now it's one person with apparently a very limited job description who will only do the minimum.

Buses Are Bunching Bosons...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:21:14 GMT

I can post about buses here, right?

Via the cosmicvar_feed (and what makes it particularly appropriate is that the author talks about taking the buses around the University of Chicago): "Buses are bosons, and they condensate", which is about the tendency of buses to group together.

I was tempted to title this "We're All Bosons On This Bus" but then wondered if anyone would get the joke. Especially if the joke doesn't quite fit.

I'll also post this to chicagochat.

Sun-Times Archive

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:58:49 GMT

It looks like much of the Sun-Times archive is being sold off on ebay.
http://shop.ebay.com/suntimesphotoarchive/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
There's a lot of interesting stuff in here - a lot of transit-oriented stuff too. Don't forget to check the completed listings too.

I don't know if these are "duds" or duplicates or what, but it seems like they should be in a museum collection.

North Side is next.

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:31:25 GMT

Okay, so I've been noticing that this community has been a little dead lately and that's been bugging me. I figured I'd try and liven this place up with a series or more or less regular posting about the "L".

Now that the CTA has finished rebuilding the Ravenswood (Brown Line--please, let's not got into this discussion again) the Authority is now turning its attention to the other North Side stations (namely Sheridan, Wilson, Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale, Granville, Loyola, Morse, Jarvis) and to stations in Evanston (South Blvd., Main, Dempster, Foster, Noyes, and Central). According to the website, the public comment period ended yesterday but I'm curious as to what the thoughts and opinions are of the people in this community regarding the rebuilding of these stations.

Let me begin by saying that I have no idea why Granville and Loyola are included as they are already ADA compliant, just as Howard and Davis are. (Note that Howard and Davis were not on CTA's list.) But nevermind that. On to the rebuilds!

As much as I am a fan of history and historical preservation, looking at this purely from an operational standpoint I'd have to say that Sheridan should go. Instead, a new station would be built at Irving Park (only a couple hundred feet west) in a similar fashion to what they did with Addison back in the early 90's. (Inserting a platform between the four track by adding two modern tracks and removing two old ones.) Without the local/express service (which has been gone since the 1940's) the dual platforms at Sheridan are no longer needed. Additionally, with the platforms out of the way, the tracks could be realigned for smoother curves through the S allowing for higher speeds.

I'd also want some stations picked out for historical preservation (not like the "preservation" done at Damen or Diversey). I'm thinking similar in nature to what was done at Ashland/Lake. Main, and Central are a must in my book. Dempster is virtually identical to Main, but is in worse shape and is less used. Foster and Noyes were never completed. They were supposed to get station houses like South Blvd. and Central, but it never materialized. (It'd be nice if they could become accessible with Arthur Gerber style station houses added, but we all know that's just not going to happen.)

Wilson, I'm sure, will have some level of preservation and I'd hope a few of the others would also get the same treatment. Thorndale, for instance. I'd also like to see the the auxillury exit at Bryn Mawr preserved as well.

On the whole, I think most should just be rebuilt as modern stations. Lawrence anybody?

Creative Vandalism

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:19:08 GMT

I was on the Red Line last weekend and when I glanced at the safety poster it seemed a bit off. Another look revealed that the poster had been vandalized! Someone had made their own stickers of the images and superimposed them over the images on the poster.

Now, I do not approve of vandalism, but I found this to be very clever and quite funny, especially the last picture of the monster train! And, at least, it was just stickers on a poster and not spray paint to scrachfiti.

</lj>

Please help bring Brianna home

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:30:38 GMT

This is my son's cousin. She may have run away, but we don't know that for sure. The police are treating her as a runaway so there is no Amber Alert. If you have seen this girl and have any information please contact the Chicago police at (312)747-8274. Or if you are just willing to spread the link, please feel free to do so. She's a kid and we're worried about her. Thank you.

Well, Good Morning to You!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:53:28 GMT

A CTA bus crashed into the side of a house at 115th Street and Vincennes Avenue on the South Side this morning, injuring four people including a 7-year-old passenger, police said.

CTA Tracking

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:18:33 GMT

While I was searching around, I came across this review of an Android CTA Tracker App. Which leads to the question: if you use a cell phone application to help with your bus routes, which one(s) do you use? Or do you, as the review suggests, use the bus tracker website (http://www.ctabustracker.com/) on your phone or computer?

Tuesday's News

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:13:52 GMT

Good News: If you're a T-Mobile user, T-Mobile is to be added to the list of cell phone providers available in the CTA tunnels.

Bad News: You're a T-Mobile user.

The Money Pit Gets Deeper

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:33:29 GMT

When the Block 37 project was first announced, the millions of taxpayer dollars used by Mayor Daley's pet project was almost the same as the CTA budget shortfall which threatened Doomsday.

Two years later, the amount of taxpayer money has increased to nearly equal the current CTA budget shortfall threatening the current Doomsday. The station still isn't finished and it's main purpose (an impossible to build express train) is more of a white elephant than ever. Now we get this:

Bank of America and a group of lenders are moving to foreclose on the retail and transit portion of the mixed-use development, claiming Chicago developer Joseph Freed and Associates LLC has, in essence, run out of money, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court.

Freed issued a statement Tuesday calling the banks' lawsuit a "misguided action that could halt the project" and make it "near-impossible to restart."

The clash marks a significant setback for the revitalization of shopping along State Street. It also signals that the long-anticipated commercial real estate bubble is beginning to pop as banks are forced to revalue big commercial properties.

"It's probably the tip of the iceberg of banks taking properties back," said Ross Glickman, chairman and chief executive of Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties, who was involved in the Block 37 project in the 1990s.

The banks have been negotiating with Freed since March, when the developer technically defaulted, the lawsuit said. Since then, cost overruns had reached "at least" $34 million as of Aug. 25, court documents said. Freed owes $128.5 million on a $205 million construction loan, the filing stated.

Bank of America is asking the court to appoint a receiver to manage the property and get the construction completed. The office portion, developed by Golub & Co., already has opened.

Commercial real estate values have fallen, on average, 40 percent since the middle of 2007, leaving hundreds of billions of dollars of commercial real estate deals underwater, said Jim Sullivan, managing director of Green Street Advisors, a real estate research firm. New developments are particularly vulnerable because they aren't generating enough cash flow to cover payments on loans, he said.

"For banks, the issue is, 'How do we minimize the loss?' " Sullivan said. "Typically the way to do that is to get control of the property, re-price it, sell it and move on."

Imagine what could have been done if all the energy, resources and arm-twisting by City Hall had been devoted to keeping the current system viable instead of a big dream hole in the ground. Daley's defenders used to claim the loop was the lynchpin which anchored the whole city, now it seems more like they gravity well into which all money flows.

First time in Chicago!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:56:31 GMT

Hallo everyone!!!!

I am just a new girl in Chicago, one lonely visitor, who does not knows anything about this beautiful city!!! Could you please advice me where to go (restaurants, clubs and so on) and what should i see here!!!!

Thanx a lot a lot!

Tell them no, Chicagoans!

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:40:18 GMT

Here's a quick summary of the (awful) new CTA budget proposal:

• Basic train fares to $3 from $2.25.

• Basic bus fares to $2.50 from $2.25.

• Express bus fares to $3 from as little as $2.25 now.

• Full fare 30-day passes to $110 from $86.

• Seven-day passes to $30 from $23.

In addition, express bus service would no longer be available on nine routes: X3, X4, X9, X20, X49, X54, X55, X80 and 53 AL.

Hours of operation also would be reduced on 41 other bus routes, generally in the early morning and late night. Each would lose between 25 minutes and about three hours of service a day, with a few routes even more.

In addition, buses and trains would run less frequently. Effective Feb. 7, the CTA is proposing to eliminate 827,000 hours of bus service (or 13.7 percent), and 57,803 hours of rail service (or 9.8 percent) across all bus routes and rail lines.

I don't know about everyone else, but I do not plan to sit idly by while this shit sails through. There will be 3 budget meetings, all open to the public. All 3 are scheduled for 6 pm:

Thursday, October 29, 2009
Austin Town Hall
5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644

Monday, November 2, 2009
Lane Technical High School
2501 West Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60618

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
South Shore Cultural Center
7059 South Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60649

In addition to the public meetings, written comments are being accepted as well.
"This input will be welcomed at the meetings or by correspondence addressed to Gregory P. Longhini, Assistant Secretary of the Board, Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7567, Chicago, Illinois 60680-7567. Input also can be sent via e-mail to: glonghini@transitchicago.com." The deadline for written comments is November 10.

The full article on the CTA budget proposal is here.

I will definitely be writing and plan to attend the meeting at Lane Tech as well. Let them know we won't stand for this!

It's time to say "Enough!"

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:52:13 GMT

For a work only commuter who takes the train 5 days a week, the CTA's proposed .50 to .75 fare increase will mean $5 to $7.50 more per week. That's not a small increase. If they get the national average of 2 weeks paid time off, that's $250 to $375 a year. That's more than half a months rent for a lot of people, and a real hit for far more.

This is work commute only. If one uses the CTA more, it can quickly add up. As those who rely most on public transit tend to be those who can least afford it, this is an indirect tax increase for the poor.

Assuming, of course, one still has service - rail would be cut by 9.8% and bus service by 13.7%. Given the frequency of delays and interruptions, it would likely work out to 10 to 14 percent. Imagine waiting an extra 9 minutes for a bus in January.

It effects all of us, since a crappier CTA will force more people into cars. At six bucks a day, the cost of driving and parking starts to be a reasonable option.

It's a lot of damn money and cuts to heap upon people after hundreds of millions of our tax dollars - including tens of millions taken directly from the CTA budget - was wasted on Block 37.

We blew a vast amount of money on a train station people didn't want or need. It only exists for the Mayor's pet airport project - useless for the majority of CTA riders and costing a billion dollars or more of money we don't have.

I think it's time for real change. Not a dime more for Block 37 or the airport express until fares come down. Instead of doing fundraising for some new high concept project, the city's movers, shakers and paid consultants could seek donations for the Fare Stabilization Intiative. If there was a nice enough logo, I'm sure they could sell it.

Some random ideas: The city can use TIF money, cut services at Millenium Park, sell off the hospital land we pre-emptively purchased for the Olympic Village, and Chicago 2016 can contribute their leftover funds.

More realistically, the state and RTA can revoke the policy giving free rides to all seniors regardless of means. Make it a poverty program.

It's time to for the city to make a unique effort on something which directly, deeply and consistently affects the quality of life in Chicago transit. It's not as impressive or easy to explain as a new park or international sporting event, but the benefits are far more real.

Photo project

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:55:18 GMT

Hey do you guys remember when a whole bunch of people (I don't know if it was livejournal-specific, or just people in general) decided to take pictures of their experiences on the el? Just for one day, and all on the same day?

Was that a one-time thing, or does it happen regularly?

Just need to vent

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:53:06 GMT

First of all, when the bus is relatively empty, why do people insist on standing up? Especially near the driver, discussing garbage. A lot of times forward of the yellow line on routes such as Kimball-Homan.
Secondly, why do some drivers think they're in a Nascar competition?
And again, I will repeat, remove your infant from the stroller, fold it up, and when your ride is done, insert said infant into unfolded stroller. Lather, rinse, repeat. It's not so hard. Also, maybe not have so many kids, huh? Like there's enough jobs and food for everybody. This is all along all economic classes, racial lines, etc.
Thanks.

Take me to(Funky town)

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:18:40 GMT

Okay, seriously, we need Ban or Secret or even I dunno, Old Spice to give out free deodorant samples at El stations and on buses. Not just crazy homeless people either, well-dressed European types with natty pantsuits. Raise your hand if you're sure!! Whoooo! Stank!
I sat next to this old Polish lady with a suit that costs more than my monthly rent on, and when she raised her arm it was like a Whopper with Cheese, extra death.

Olympic messages

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:31:52 GMT

Ok, enough is enough. We're wasting money on this now? How about some power-washing for the pee smell in the greenline elevators?

And it's not because I belong to Childfree

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:01:09 GMT

Is there something we can do about jerks hogging handicapped seats with those giant, SUV-style baby strollers? I just recently ditched my cane after being pretty gimpy (bad car accident) for 10 months, my leg can still be bad, and I either have to stand (hurts) or limp to the back of the bus and get knocked down quite a bit. The bus always lurches and makes me fall forward.
Seriously, those strollers are a menace.

Red Line Train Hits A Woman

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:11:48 GMT

A woman was reported killed last night when she struck by a CTA subway train in the Near North neighborhood. The victim was found on the southbound tracks near the Red Line's Grand station at about 8:55pm., police and fire officials said. First responders had said the victim was a man, but later corrected themselves. Power was cut to the southbound tracks and service moved to the Loop elevated tracks between Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown stops.

Historic Sheridan Red Line

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:24:35 GMT

Build in 1900 and rebuild in 1924.