CTA Tattler

I've never understood why those things are turned off at all. Since a button must be pressed to activate the heater for some predetermined length of time, why not just leave them on all year? Why would anyone activate the heaters in warm weather?

ebob, you'd think that no one would activate them during warm weather, but during that nice spell we had a couple of weeks back in the 60s and 70s they were constantly on. Chicagoans never cease to amaze me.

I think it *would* make sense, however, to have an automated switch so that when a train leaves the station, the lamps turn off. If someone misses the train, or is waiting for a train one way but using the lamps on the other side of the platform? They can turn 'em back on easily enough. Those are relatively rare instances, and I have to expect with the wattage pumping through those tubes that the CTA would end up saving some serious dimes.

Nice cover story, but so far as I know, the Ashland/Lake station isn't affected by three-tracking and those heat lamps were still in there as of yesterday morning! I appreciated it, though, since I knit on public transit and cold fingers make mistakes... and it was windy out there! My sock progressed nicely under the cosy glow of the heat-lamp wind shelter, though.

I,m Sure you would be bitching if they were not on right now too

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Of course, comparing the CTA to a broken clock is an insult to broken clocks everywhere.

Why are all these comments sorta negative? The CTA has done something right for a change, and we should thank them for it.

Why the negative comments? Because some people are bitter and empty inside. Misery is contagious. Don't catch it!

Would someone please explain why on the very same day that the CTA repairs began all the inbound Metra trains on the northwest line were shortened forcing people to stand packed inlike sardines? The trains were so full that some people could not board. This went on all week, and outbound trains were also shorter. Calls to Metra were not returned by someone who would answer this question as they promised.

To "Me," I'm not sure why you saw shorter Metra trains. I do have a theory though:

Metra added new service that day. If you saw shorter trains, and if they still are shorter, the logical conclusion would be that it was to redistribute equipment for the added run.

If that's the reasoning, it just goes to show CTA's not the only agency with woefully limited resources. CTA, Metra, and Pace, all of which are shown in an independent audit this year to be running pretty tight ships, are in serious financial trouble.

The public needs to get on board with supporting better funding. Chicagoland has the second-worst traffic in the country for a reason, and that reason is 24 years of disinvestment in its essential transportation infrastructure.

"all" the negative comments? Chicago Jason's the one negative comment here. If it takes a person who's "bitter and empty inside" to be negative, what's it take to see negativity where there is none?