CTA Tattler

Get on your bikes if you can, when you can. Even if you just ride around your neighborhood for simple errands, it's liberating.

There's no expensive gas, insurance payments, city sticker and license plate fees, parking fees, towing, parking tickets ...

And with traffic certain to come to a standstill, you'll be able to just ride around them.

This is what happens when Chicken Little keeps saying "the sky is falling." Kruesi was a joke and should not have held the position he did. What are Hubermans credentials when it comes to mass transit. Until this goof of a mayor puts an experienced person in that position, don't expect to get bailed out. Where is the Skyway money ?

A little additional note: The homeless pissbum show on the CTA el trains is worth it's price of admission and increase. Bring on the clowns.

Ahh....I love it when Republicans would sacrifice everyone so they wouldn't be seen voting FOR a tax increase heading into an election year. Self-preservation reigns supreme. Just reminds us that while they may serve "by the people" they don't serve "for the people".

Dear CTA ridership, now is the time to apply for a newspaper route to help you pay for the fare increase.....bawahahahaha !

LMFAO: why are you even bothering to comment on this? just because you're 13 years old and your mommy drives you everywhere you want to go from your $250k+ house in suburbia really doesn't show us the validity of your responses at all. now it's time to get off the computer in study hall so you better log off.

Well, more than half of the bus cutbacks are from 18 express buses (zzzzzzz) and some seasonal service that won't last as long as it might've, and the Red Line might actually have adequate service for the first time in memory as personnel at Howard decide whether to bring the Purple Line inside because of the persistent overcrowding on the Red Line. I wish that were just being done consistently rather than managed on a day-to-day basis. But maybe they'll realize soon that it needs to be done every day.

I'm going to agree with the people in the previous thread who point out that anyone who's voted for Daley (and for those who haven't, thank you) has no right to complain here.

Also, while the CTA doesn't seem to make full ridership figures available, I'm surprised and dismayed that the people who supported that ludicrous increase in sales taxes think it's just fine the CTA isn't increasing transfer fares. I'm sure the CTA has the info on how many first and second transfers are actually used, but that info doesn't seem to be on the site.

But if 25c on $100 was just peachy as a sales tax, why not an extra 25c on the first transfer -- and a real 25c on the second transfer? With 1 million passenger trips per weekday on the bus system -- the June '07 PDF on the CTA's site says that month had a total of 25,536,357 rides -- and more than 500,000 trips per weekday on rail (a total of 13,698,349 for June '07), the CTA is ignoring a lot of cash it could have in hand. Again, those figures include the transfers without breaking them out, but it's pretty clear there's a lot of coin out there that the CTA is just ignoring.

And that's just fine with the pundits, it seems.

painhertz: very true. let's make sure we keep taxes down for big business but who cares how it affects the little guy (sarcasm).

in my opinion, most anyone who drives in the city of chicago to and from work is just being wasteful. wasteful of the public transit resources, wasteful of gas, wasteful of time, etc. i'm sure it's great, liberating, etc., to be able to drive where you want, but me, living downstate, i love the public transportation in chicago... luckily for me i dont/didnt have to ride it for work every day, so i didnt have to worry about it being on time or not, but i only wish we had a system like this here. (obviously with all the CTA's problems i would wish we had a system like it, but without as many kinks, but still)

I don't ride CTA beacause of the bums, gangs, pick-pockets, graffiti, garbage, rudeness, and it ISN'T reliable !

Tony: so I see you've ridden CTA what, once, twice? Or is this all from things you've heard from people? Obviously, yes, sometimes those things occur, but hardly any of that ever occurred with me. yeah, you'll probably experience garbage and rudeness quite a bit, but oh well, deal with it. The rudeness and garbage is not the CTA's fault (except for if they completely overlook cleaning)... it is the riders that have no respect for anyone else.

I guess I can see where you're coming from, but I just think that you're not riding the CTA out of ignorance.

I'm disgusted with this like everyone else. How about whoever created the free trolley system get rid of that and have more money filter into the dying CTA? Would that do any good? Also, will the CTA eliminate the pension to save money like every other corporation and switch to a employer/employee system of saving for retirement? All I can say is that I hope Blago likes watching the CTA fall apart as he dances on the fire like Nero.

If 40% of the CTA is cut plus the Metra cuts next spring, there will be hell to pay politically. Just wait until suburbanites in those districts whose republican legislators voted against the bill start screaming about unbearable traffic congestion and out of sight downtown parking rates. How about gas prices? You'd better believe if there is a significant uptick in demand prices will indeed rise in our region. I hate to say this because I'm well aware how long it takes to rebuild transit ridership once lost, but it seems the only time major reforms actually happen in this state is when there is a massive crisis and there is no way to ignor it or shrug it off and it happens. Usually action takes place after the crisis happens and nobody can claim the transit agencies as bluffing.

Just wondering, why can't they pass a Cook County ONLY transit funding bill? Make those funds go towards the CTA and Metra routes, stations and Pace routes that travel within Cook County. Screw the collar counties if they don't want transit. Fine have the Cook county funded train runs end at the border! Another thing..in other cities in which I've lived, transit funding was a publically voted referendum. Why can't we go that route? It is not allowed in Illinois? I make you a bet 80%+ of Chicago and probably 60-70% of suburban Cook county voters would in fact vote for a transit tax. Why can't something as huge to our quality of life be voted on directly by the people? This is how it is done in other states.

Amen, deepkid.

Get on your bikes, people. On the transit race a while back, the only reason the car beat the bike was because they cherry picked a route that was right near Lake Shore Drive. Try doing that same race to somewhere further west starting at the Loop. The bike would win by 15 minutes, easy.

You get in shape, you save money, and you get to help keep more cars off of the street.

And let me tell you, after the big storm, there was no better way to get around than on a bike.

Until they sort the CTA nonsense out, there's no better way to get around, even in the winter. The money you save will easily pay for some good winter gear.

I think the ONLY hope left to rescue the CTA at this point is to drown the Governor with phone calls and emails immediately. Here's all the contact info you need. Make sure to let him know you will do you best to make sure he is not reelected if he doesn't prevent the cuts.

Governor
Rod R. Blagojevich Democrat

governor@illinois.gov

Phone: 217-782-6830 Fax: 217-524-4049

James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph Street, Ste. 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 312-814-2121 Fax: 312-814-6775

Flynn: While I encourage as much use of bikes (and feet) as possible, if I hear one more biking fan propose biking as some sort of solution this mess, I think my head will explode.

Yes, perhaps biking is a short or even long term fix for some, but it is not a solution for a vast, car-clogged city. For one, not everyone can bike for health, work other reasons. Two, this city is vast, and not everyone wants to ride, say, 7-10 miles every day back and forth, especially when ice begins covering the streets. Three, modern cities require viable mass transit.

I don't mean to pick on you Flynn, only the "bike forever" type of mentality that really solves nothing.

where can I find info on the Metra cuts? I'd like to pass the word along--one of my co-workers doesn't believe me (& can't see how any cuts could be made; the trains are packed as it is. Welcome to my world is what I say!)

Dee,

Here is a recent Tribune article about the dire consequences to Metra beginning next year if the transit funding does not pass:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-metra_18aug18,1,3927558.story

From the article:

"Metra is diverting $60 million in capital funding to offset 2007's budget shortfall, a practice that officials say will force the system into disrepair."

"Without new funding, Metra forecasts a "steady diet" of 10 percent per year fare increases, reduction or elimination of weekend and late evening service, and other cuts."

Dee,

The Tribune requires a registration, but this article doesn't and its good as well....

http://movingbeyondcongestion.org/press/without-aid-metra-pace-plan-cuts-fare-hikes-2.html

Thanks, Ed!

Mr Sensible: Huberman is qualified, in that he's actually managed things, and managed them well. Here you have an MBA who worked full-time through a large portion of graduate school to get his degree (at the U of Chicago GSB, no less), with tremendous experience in IT and strong experience in other areas as well. He may be a political hack, but he is so in the sense of being the mayor's managerial guru, rather than the mayor's star political lackey as Kruesi was. He's already taken a big chunk out of the CTA's administrative budget, and if there are further management, IT and finance improvements to be made, I am confident he will find them. His only weak spot is a lack of previous transit experience; however, again I am confident he will choose the people around him well.

Huberman is about the only thing the CTA has going for it right now, though.

Just for a comparison: Santo Dominigo, the capital of the Dominican Republic--a country which is pronouncedly classified as being 'third world,' making a meager GDP of $29.33 billion in 2005--is building a $700 million subway line. And the CTA can't fix slow zones, let alone keep its system from shrinking.

personally i think the whole thing should be tore down and have the whole system started from scratch. expensive, yes, but imagine...

i know, it's a ridiculous idea, but one can dream.

The news is now reporting that the IL Senate is being called into special session Monday to discuss nothing but transit. They report they will try to come up with a funding package now. Of course Madigan opposes their ideas and claims that the Senate's ideas have no support in HIS House. UNBELIEVABLE! When is the stupidity and fighting going to stop? Nothing is going to get accomplished ever. If anyone holding up fixing the crisis or voting against the bills is reelected...voters are more stupid than ever! Oh and for the record, I did NOT vote for Daley and mainly because of his lack of interest in transit and because he has done little to stop the destruction of our historic buildings that define our city.

I wanted to let you know about the transit blog aggregator I created and added your blog to. If you have any comments or additions please let me know. www.citytransit.blogspot.com

Jeff

Bawahahahahaha !! (evil laugh)....I have a beautiful car that guzzles tons of gas....bawahahahaha.....SCREW CTA

okay, Tony, fine. But don't complain at the end of September when you're sitting on the expressway wondering why it's taking you 15 minutes longer to get to work.

and, deepkid, I'd LOVE to be able to take a bike everywhere. the only problem is that my job is a good seven miles away, and there's no way in hell i could ride a bike 14 miles round trip every day. i'm also afraid of the crazy drivers here that might run me over. it's a legitimate fear for me.

For all of you espouse the wonders of privatization and contracting out of transit service: A local story.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-metra_06sep06,1,5893643.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

...no explanation, no accountability, and unreliability of service. And the same thing is happening in the UK. Food for thought...

Hey, Bob S... I'm in favor of the sales tax and the real estate tax; I'm also in favor of reasonable fare increases. I'm mostly in favor of whatever it takes to get some cashflow into the system! (At this point, though, I'm also more or less in favor of shutting the whole system down to let everyone see what happens when they take away transit. I can walk to work... but most of my coworkers sure can't.)

And, unfortunately, I have to chime in with Sarah on the biking issue, although my commute is much shorter. I actually really like biking to get around, but even riding with a helmet, many drivers during peak commute times are just plain reckless and intimidating. There's too little respect given to cyclists as it is, and I admit to being chicken. I am not an aggressive cyclist and I'm not going to start smacking cars with my u-lock when they edge me over in the bike lane; I'm going to fall off my bike or something. When I'm in a car driving on Milwaukee Ave. with a bunch of bikers around, and I see other cars darting around like the cyclists aren't there, I get afraid someone's going to get hurt, and I'm in a car myself! Biking's not a universal solution. (Not to mention that they'd have to have a shower in my office building for me to really be comfortable biking to work.) Maybe if the Mayor actually threw some weight behind supporting the bike lanes he's so proud of, and law enforcement would actually actively police driving and parking in said lanes, but that's like saying maybe if we all had magic ponies we could get to work on time.

Oh well. Enough bitterness for now. I had a fun ride in to work on the Red Line today. Our conductor would, at most every stop, wait for the recorded announcement and then throw in a little greeting of his own. My personal favorite was when he said "Go get 'em, Tiger!" at Lake St. Gotta love it when someone throws a little random monkey wrench of goodwill into the boredom of a routine commute. I grinned like a goon all the way into my office.

Well I wonder if they are going to equip the soon to cancelled express routes with the new GPS system. If you don't remember, I will refresh your memory. The CTA is added gps units on buses that have gps units from the same company that gave them the orginal gps system for the grand total of 24 million dollars. The CTA is willing to spend $12,500 per bus that the private sector enjoys at $500-$700 per unit. I love the public sector.

well... we know now that "LMFAO" is "Tony Tubesteak" at least.

bill bucks,

The buses had a GPS receiver installed as part of the annunciation system in 2003 and 2004. This means the buses know where they are, but this information is not transmitted to anywhere else (like say, a control center) in real-time. In order to do that, each bus would need to be equipped with:
1) a cellular modem, for a portable connection to the internet so the location information can be transmitted in real-time, and
2) a mobile router, to interface between the cellular modem and the GPS annunciation system that's already installed.

In addition to the hardware, the software that actually provides real-time bus tracking had to be developed to be compatible with the information being transmitted from the buses, and combine it in a meaningful way to provide arrival predictions and map the buses (this includes integrating with the huge bus stop database, the schedules, etc)

The $24 million price you cite was the cumulative total for a series of contracts to deal with each of the above components.

Next time, do a little research before you open your mouth and humiliate yourself.

"Get on your bikes, people."

So someone who lives in Forest Park and works downtown is supposed to bike to and from work even during a driving rainstorm?

In mid-2004, a Metro was proposed by Brazilian president Lula da Silva to then-president Hipólito Mejía, but it was the current president Leonel Fernández who started the construction of the first subway system in the Dominican Republic and second in the Caribbean, although he had affirmed he would not construct it. The project has been prompted by the need to reduce the continually rising heavy road traffic congestion and air pollution which severely affects productive time and health of the citizens of the city. The system will complement other forms of public transportation such as “Carros Públicos” (share a taxi).

This mass-transit system will have one line and sixteen stations; 6 elevated, 10 underground and a total track length of 14.5 km (9.6 miles), will connect Villa Mella (north of the city) with La Feria (south of the city), which will hopefully bring relief to the current public transport system of Santo Domingo.

The French consortium Alstom will supply a total of 19 Alstom Metropolis trainsets (57 cars) from its factories in Belgium, France and Spain, they'll start each with 3 cars for a total of 17 trainsets to be in service and 2 will be used as spares. The trains are limited with sets of 3 cars to begin their operations, but all stations are being built to accommodate 6 cars each in anticipation of expected future ridership demands. Daily ridership is expected to be about 200,000 passengers. According to the official version, the Santo Domingo Metro is scheduled to open on February 27, 2008.

^^^^^copped entirely from Wikepedia

Vivalfuego,
I did research
1) GPS fleet management systems have been in place for years and the cost have gone down.

2) "integrating with the huge bus stop database, the schedules" Any IT person out there knows that this is a tiny database.

3) I am just pointing out that contracts are going to the well connected and priorities are misaligned and are not geared to the best interest of customers.

4) Rehire and back paying a bad manager that can not does not how to spell Belmont.

5) Block 37, a cta station that is not need.

Bill Bucks,
1) Any examples of such a system being deployed for real-time management of a fleet of about 2200 vehicles? If so, how much did it cost to implement?

2) Care to guess how many records (and how many fields for each) are in the stop database? Or how many historical records there are of bus locations from the GPS system?

3) Any evidence of impropriety in contract awards? Can you demonstrate any conflicts of interest? I'm very curious.

4) I don't know the whole story on this. You don't know the whole story on this, either.

5) Red herring not related to your original post.

1) Yes, it is called UPS about their "Roadnet Anywhere" product and it watch tens of thousands of truck and containers.

2) The database would contain 1,584,000 records per day based on 2 minute stops for each of the 2200 buses. Just multiple that by every day of the year and it is nothing to a oracle database.

3) you look

4)http://www.ctatattler.com/2006/08/cta_map_mistake.html
& http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-20070720-13110800-bc-us-cta.xml