CTA Tattler

"But right now the problem is in the legislature."

Was there a time when it wasn't? ;-)

We can't even take care of our existing lines, how do we expect to host an Olympics?

RNast has it right. The system is so fragile as it is, I think Chicago would crumble if the olympics were to come here. I doubt that the legislator's even thought about the CTA nearly as much as kevin wrote, all they have on their minds are healthcare and bridges. With all this new-found excitement for bridge repair, I am surprised the legislature didn't pony up some money for the CTA to fix some of their disaster-waiting-to-happen bridges.

thank you for this post. You have never been more spot on.

-->After months of negotiations, Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) introduced legislation to help fund mass transit by imposing a quarter-cent sales tax in Cook and the five collar counties and another quarter-cent bump in the collar counties. Her proposal would authorize the city to impose a higher real estate transfer tax to help underwrite CTA expenses.

She predicted the issue could be worked out over the next few weeks—and before fare hikes and transit cuts are imposed in September—during negotiations over a construction program and possibly the governor's health-care package.<--

That was my impression yesterday, that the operating budget was only passed to take care of the basics and the rest would be worked out over the next few weeks. The state employee paycheck and school payments was rapidly approaching (and may still be missed) whereas the CTA cuts don't take effect until September and other capital improvements can be scheduled as needed. Granted it does seem like a bad way of doing things but with a mess this big, I guess you have to prioritize.

Call your legislators now.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Where is the mayor in all of this? We definitely need some money from the state, and Huberman seems to have done a good job shuffling around monies already in the CTA cashbox, but why isn't the city looking for places they can find money? How can we even think about putting any effort and money into Olympic planning when we can't take care of our basic infrastructure. What is the city's responsibility?

Oh, come on now. Why should the state have to pay for the CTA? It's such a frivolous expense. After all, if the CTA had to shut down and Chicagoland were thrown into utter turmoil, Joliet would soldier on!

Just remember: Illinois' economy doesn't need the CTA -- the CTA needs Illinois' economy! After all, where would people take trains to if they didn't have jobs? That's right -- NOWHERE.

/sarcasm

This is an absolute disgrace. The democrats control all branches of state government and they can't find any additional funding for the CTA?!? Didn't a bridge in MN just fall into the Mississippi River due to lack of upkeep? Take a look at the Red Line infrastructure anywhere north of Wilson-- it's literally crumbling and being held together with the construction equivalent of band aids. Take a drive on Hollywood under the L tracks-- they had to install bright yellow steel reinforcement beams to "hold up" the overpass because the concrete is SO decayed that it is no longer structurally sound. Drive north on Sheridan under the Loyola "L" stop-- it's literally crumbling and and pieces are falling onto the street. What will happen when one of these overpasses gives way? What will happen when a train derails/falls off? Where will our fearless legislators be then? I hope they're held to account. I hate Chicago Democrats-- they're all a bunch of crooks.

This is so absurdly ridiculous. How can we continue to be a great city without a great transit system?

It's not over yet folks: If Hamos can get a super-majority vote on SB 572, we'll be in the clear.

Also, I believe the union contract referred to in the post is contingent upon CTA funding. Without it, the pension will still be broken and on the road to disaster.

I have to admit I was overjoyed when the Dems took over Illinois. Biggest political mistake in my life. Every single one of these morons needs to be driven out of office. Blago, Madigan, Jones, and all the rest of the leaders are incapable of thinking about anything beyond their petty little ego games. As a lifelong Dem, I've gotta admit I'm longing for the good old days of Ryan and the Republican legislature.

The Dems' contemptible failure of responsibility may just turn our solid Blue state red next year across the board. I think they are seriously endangering Durbin as well as the Dem presidential candidate.

Nationally everybody's talking about global climate change and the environment. Here in Illinois the Dems in charge can find all the money they need for highways and airports but have decided to destroy the most environmentally benign transportation mode we have. Come next year we need to drive every single incumbent out of office. That's the only thing these infantile fools can understand.

We are the only so called "green city" in the country who can't get our transit system right. Every other city (state) who gives a damn is funding transit and even funding its expansion (see Portland OR's two new light rail lines and commuter line, San Francisco's new light rail, bus rapid transit, and potential subway, and New York's new T line subway). I am Fing tired of every city being on the cutting edge of transit except for Chicago... which the mayor would have you believe is the greenest in the country!!! Fing reality check!!! it could never be without good transit. The City and CTA needs to put pressure on the state... or else!!! or else I'm moving!!!! I cant take this resistance to funding transit anymore!!! Getting out of your Fing car and get a clue!!!

I disappointed that the legislature is wasting so much on the CTA. the money could be better spent fixing potholes on I-57 & I-24 for starters. Maybe some day you chacagoins will find out the state goes down south past 95th street. If its so important to the city why doesnt the city fund it rether than make us down state folks subsidise your cheep rides?

Anyone wanting to get reelected from down here better vote for "NO CTA".

If they needed more money they could start by selling the extra 4th track for scrap as its clear it wasn't needed. And if the L system is so decrepit why not tear it down and go 100% bus and end the duplication of service?

You know what topgon? If we don't get transit money, we're all going to move out there, where you live. So get used to having 3 million new neighbors.

Topgon:
Duplication of service? It's the difference between 'rapid transit' and 'transit.' If you've been stuck in traffic trying to get across town, or on a bus trying to do the same, you catch my drift.

Ummm...Kevin, you're being heavily spammed. You might want to delete some of the trash that's building up in the comments for your most recent posts.

Sorry folks, while the folks in Springfield should have done their job, I find it hard to believe that Frank couldn't have done this years ago and starting cutting expenses. The new guy has started, but hasn't gone far enough.

I feel as long as they can still buy clear monogrammed trash bags (monogrammed with the CTA logo) then there are alot more places that they can cut.

Also, it just gets my goat that they can have these nice tiled new stations (Red line Lake Street station) and still can't clean out the gutters at the other underground stations like Washington, Monroe/Madison, clybourn, etc.

Also, if they want to do some Capital investments where they will do the most good, how about making more entrance gates at the madison/monroe redline, the washington blue line....also, how about some exit gates so that the people exiting don't have to share the 3 lousy turnstiles...

As far as I'm concerned I had great hopes for Ron, but its just more of the same.

Kevin

and what about perfectly good CTA bus stop signs being replaced? The new ones have a red circle around CTA. I understand on routes that changed, like the 11, they need new ones, but the 80 hasn't changed in years, so why is there a new sign at my stop when there was a perfectly fine one there before? Where's that money coming from?

Right now, the biggest impediment in Springfield, besides The Hair (Blago), is Tom Cross.

Cross is holding up the RTA bill because he wants more road money for the ex-urbs.

So, while you're spamming your legislators, take a moment to write a letter to the House Minority Leader, Tom Cross.

Cross says that he'll allow the CTA bill on the agenda in September, when he'll have his road amendment ready to go. Which caused Julie Hamos to pretty much have a brain aneurysm.

One other thing, before you write a nasty letter to your legislator, check here to see if your Rep has signed on as a co-sponsor:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1841&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=30677&SessionID=51&GA=95
I'm not sure what the Senate bill number is.
You might also consider sending a thank you note to Rep. Hamos's office for her sponsorship and leadership on this issue.

Oops.
Wrong bill.

Here's the right link to SB 572. Click on House Amendment No. 3 to see the text of the bill, if you're a big enough junkie.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=572&GAID=9&LegID=28401&SpecSess=&Session=

What topgon doesn't realize is that his precious pothole filled roads are subsidized by Chicago. Where does Springfield get its tax revinue? Chicago. So if he or she wants functioning roads, the money will come from Chicago, and to keep Chicago healthy the CTA needs money. Period. Provincial moron.

I would like to see a list of the jobs eliminated and were these individuals replaced or not. The VP of facilities was replaced with someone making as much or more than the predecessor. Was this the case in all in all individuals who were fired? There are at least 20 new employees at CTA. While it is normal for someone to bring in their own team, lets not get carried away with the savings until we know the savings are real. There was a headline last week that "another $20 Million" in savings were found. Where? There was no explanation as to where the savings came from.