CTA Tattler

City Council slams CTA on Brown Line fiasco

Aldermen bashed the CTA Monday for "lying" about Brown Line station closures and ignoring pleas for service improvements, and yet coming hat in hand to the council for funding and other help.

The Tribune reports:

"The attack, at a meeting of the City Council's Transportation Committee, was sparked by the CTA's unwillingness to provide bus service on a stretch of North Kedzie Avenue to help make up for the temporary closure of the Kedzie station on the Brown Line....

"The city helps the CTA, including providing some funding, said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th).

"It's just baffling to me," he complained. "We are here when the CTA wants something [but] when the aldermen are trying to represent their constituency, it is like we have to beg for consideration."

That's telling them!

Chatty motorman calls 'em as he sees 'em

We're stopped at Belmont, waiting for riders to board and transfer from the Brown Line. The chatty motorman encourages riders to step lively on the train.

Suddenly he sees a woman running down the platform to an open door:

"OK little princess, let's stop that running down the platform, I'll call you out. ... Tell 'em what color your clothes are."

Really stinking up the Hobo Corner

A very strange looking couple sat next to each on the Red Line headed north Sunday afternoon.

She was short and stout, and sported a bloody open wound on the top of her forehead. The entire top row of teeth were missing, so she gummed out a smile.

She was with a man who was apparently her boyfriend, though he seemed disgusted with her because he kept pushing her away. He had platinum blonde bleached hair, tied in a scrunchy atop his head. Yes, a scrunchy.

They were both obviously under the influence of something. She kept trying to wiggle close to him, nuzzling him and addressing him with affection. But he kept pushing her away. She said, "But you know I love." He shoved her into the aisle and said, "Get off of me."

She got up after he pushed her out of the seat and headed quickly to the Hobo Corner, lifted the seat and scrunched down.

In less than 30 seconds, she stood up, pulling up her pants as she rose.

They both exited at Wilson as a horrible smell permeated the car. I then hit the call button and fled to the next car with some other people. At Argyle, the motorman came down to inspect the damage. I went back to the car and showed him the pile. He backed out of the Hobo Corner, covering his face and gagging. He called ahead on his radio for a janitor.

Seems there's a mini-epidemic of Hobo Corner pooping, as Anjali reported too.

Where's a cop when you need one? Undercover buying Viagra

Chicago police arrested a 41-year-old Chicago man Friday night after he offered them Viagra pills for $5 apiece.

And now we know where the police are when we need them -- getting those drug dealers off the street.

More fun at the old ball yard

Spring is in the air. And yes, it's Feb. 24.

The crack of the bat and thump of the ball in glove are not far away, as proved by the lines around Wrigley Field that we noticed from the Red Line platform at Addison. Single-game Cubs tickets go on sale this morning.

And on my commute home last night I saw at least four guys board at Addison sporting red wrist bracelets with numbers printed on them. They had just picked them up at Wrigley. A number was drawn at random at 6 am today to determine the starting number for the ticket lines.

These guys were dreaming of beer, brats and babes at the ol' ball yard this summer as they pored over the schedule trying to pick their games.

I can hardly wait for the blog material presented by tourists on the Red Line heading to Wrigley.

New transit bill focuses on accountability, efficiency

Here's a note for Tattler readers from our friends at the Campaign for Better Transit:

Greetings from the Campaign for Better Transit, www.bettertransit.com, a citywide coalition of transit riders, community organizations, environmentalists and social justice advocates, working to build a public transportation system that meets the transit needs of all the people of Chicago.

We write to inform you and your readers of recently introduced transit legislation that would redefine the relationship among transit agencies, the public, and lawmakers. House Bill 4663 would ensure that:

1) transit money is spent according to clear and fair priorities, 2) transit agencies have an incentive to correct financial and/or operational errors, 3) Illinois moves steadily toward improving transit, and 4) transit agencies are run more efficiently. CTA riders would benefit greatly from the bill’s passage.

To read more about HB4663, please visit the home page of the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) here. Aid efforts to turn the bill into law and register support with Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), Chairwoman of the House Mass Transit Committee: Julie@juliehamos.org or any member of the committee: committee members.

Please visit our webpage and discussion board—read our reports and join the transit discussion! www.bettertransit.com

Naked encounter with the railing

The Grand Avenue platform was crowded as the Red Line spews passengers out and I worm my way to the escalator.

Just as I approach the mouth of the entrance, I hear a woman loudly exclaim "OUCH!"

She had run her hip into the red railing at the escalator's base because she wasn't paying attention to where she was going.

She was too busy reading David Sedaris' "Naked" as she walked.

Brown Line shuttle bus campaign

Cheryl notes in a comment that the North River Commission is leading an effort to convince Mayor Daley and the CTA introduce some new shuttle buses to help handle transportation problems caused by the Brown Line closures. to wit:

1. We strongly urge you to support Alderman Mell’s request to immediately restore bus service on Kedzie Avenue from Milwaukee Avenue on the south to Chicago Public Schools’ North Side Preparatory High School on the north.
2. We request that you strongly urge the CTA to route a bus to connect our major employers and institutions with the Western Avenue Brown Line and the Kedzie Blue Line stops during Ravenswood Brown Line reconstruction. Stops should include Northeastern Illinois University, North Park University, Roosevelt High School, Von Steuben High School, Northside College Prep High School & Swedish Covenant Hospital, which includes more than 1,000 employees and over 15,000 students.
3. We request that you move the CTA to pursue parking options for contractors that do not block major thoroughfares, and add drop-off "Kiss 'N' Ride" locations and new temporary parking facilities at area stations to offer necessary relief during reconstruction.

Join the battle here.

Blind date impressions - he's no Valentine

Overheard cell phone conversation of a 30-ish woman after a blind date:

" I thought he wasn't going to be my type but I was wrong. You know, I thought he would be dorky, but he wasn't.

"It was weird -- he was calling his friends 'buddies.'

"Though he was being overly friendly with the waitress -- not obnoxious, but just smiling at her a lot.

"But I thought I might have Valentine's plans but I guess not."

Let the fun - and station closures - begin!

Today was the first day for station closures under the Brown Line expansion project, with Kedzie and Rockwell stations closing for up to six months and passengers looking for alternative ways to get to work.

The CTA suggests you "go to the next closest station for Brown Line service, or choose from eight neighborhood CTA bus routes to meet ... transit service needs."

The CTA reports about 2.750 passengers are affected at those stations on the typical work day. So, how did you get to work or school today?