CTA Tattler

I can't believe they didn't build in exit gates with the smart card system when they installed it. Transit all over the world works this way - it should cost more to go from, say, Midway to O'Hare than from Adams to Clark/Lake.

try telling the resident of West Pullman who works as a file clerk in the West Loop that distance-based pricing is such an unalloyed good thing. that person has to first board a bus, then transfer at 95th to the Red Line, then transfer at Washington to another bus. And to add to the pleasure of a shitty three-vehicle 1hr+ commute, now we can add a surcharge for riding the train a longer distance. Meanwhile Joe Manager, who lives in a nifty West Loop loft and works in a downtown office, has a 15 minute commute (not to mention the option of walking) and pays much less for the privilege.

gee, I can't possibly imagine any other reasons (beside technical) why distance-based fares aren't being aggressively pursued in Chicago.

Do we really want a universal fare card? I don't really understand why I want this?

I go back and forth on pay per distance traveled pricing. I think it would be important to not change the monthly pass rates. This is an important benchmark for people working out their monthly budgets. Would there be monthly passes that would be valid for some zones but not others?

There are alternatives to distance-based pricing. How about a surcharge depending on the stop at which you enter the system? Make it cost more if you enter in the Loop. That would distribute the burden in that the rich people who live in close would ALWAYS pay, while the West Pullman person would pay only to go home.

The universal card is relevant only for people who live on the edge of the city (i.e. use Pace and CTA), or utilize METRA trains as part of their commute with the CTA (or Pace). Not that big a deal to most North or West side riders, but maybe very useful for people on the South Shore.

great...so now we have to wait behind people trying to exit the turnstyle.

"Converting [the CTA] system to [distanced-based pricing] would cost the CTA $280 million."

"$280 million"? That number just can't be right. I mean, even if one includes all the buses, it just can't. I know: everything turns out to be more complex and expensive once one sits down to think all the problems through carefully. But still. That just seems like a crazy figure.

I am shocked and exteamly disappointed that Huberman thinks distance based pricing makes sense. It shows that he probably does not have very much understanding of how transit works. Anyone who thinks it is a good idea in a city like Chicago to have a pricing scheme based on distance traveled is a moron. The longer someone travels, the less attractive the CTA is compared to driving. People who live closer to where they are going, especially if it is in the loop or another area of high traffic congestion and parking prices, will almost never drive because it is too much trouble to get their car, drive a mile or so, and park. The farther the distance, the more time saved by driving. That is why on all the rail lines there are much more people who use the stations closer to the loop. How many people who live on the far-northwest side commute to the loop by the blue line on weekends? A very small percentage compared with the rest of the system. You have to keep the prices low for those who live farther out to keep them from driving. I don't understand how Huberman could think this is a "great" idea. It is nuts. Everybody needs to stop the CTA from spending this much money on something extreamly stupid.

David--you mean like the old 25-cent surcharge on the express buses? Only when you got on downtown, & it was removed a while ago. If I remember right, if you had a long-term pass, like a month one, you didn't have to pay.

The real question should be why do so many people still take public transportation. The bulk of jobs in the area are only accessible by car (Schaumberg has more jobs than the loop) and the majority of city residents already drive to work.

IBW-parking in my building, one of the cheaper, is $20 a day. Even the City lots at Milennium Park are $14 I think. The CTA is a bargain compared to that parking cost. That would be true if it was $6 to come in from Harlem, or Rosemont.

MK- No, I mean making it cost $4 to get on the L in the Loop.

DN- Schaumberg has more jobs than the Loop? Motorola, IKEA, and the mall are more jobs than the Loop? Do you have stats to support that? Also, what is the relative dollar value of those jobs? Finally, do you have statistics that support your assertion that most Loop workers drive? I think that is tremendously unlikely.

I must agree with David that I would be interested in seeing the statistics that Schaumburg has more jobs than the entire downtown area of Chicago. If you consider the fact that (at least) the red and brown lines going to the Loop during rush hour each have maybe 800-1,000 passengers on them. Then add in buses and other trains to inflate the number even more. Then add in all the people who do actually drive for whatever reason. Then add all those who walk to work when it's nice.

whodat jones is correct!
The CTA was not constructed for large numbers to have to swipe a card a second time when getting off the L. There's no room in the stations at either the top of the stairs [subway] or the bottom [L].
And what about buses?
Will there be distance pricing there too?
That means everyone gets off at the front, at the farebox.
I still remember how the #97 bus used to be 30 years ago when you paid when you got off on westbound trips from the Howard L station!
Completely insane idea!

Cluster-fuck waiting to happen. After using the London's zone based system for 3 months straight I can say that others are right. Our system simply does not have the space. Perhaps some of the newer stations with larger entrance areas but a stop like Quincy? Its going to be grid lock. Not to mention the way our machines pull the card in takes much longer then swipe systems (like New York). Would those all be completely replaces at every station? Can't we get the tracks and support structures fixed first before we look into stuff like this?

Thanks! It's a good idea, but not for our current system.

Lake Stop - Imagine it's 8:55am and you have 5 minutes to make it to work. Usually you make it, but then you get off and are faced with a line of people backed up all the way down the stairs/escalator. ~Late
It would definately be interesting come the holidays with all the confused tourists.

I don't think it's far off to say there are more jobs on Michigan Ave alone than in Schaumburg.