CTA Tattler

New CTA management show signs of promise

The Tribune Sunday took a closer look at the NTSB investigation into the July 2006 Blue Line derailment and fire. Reporters tracked down CTA employees who were fired after the incident. They blamed the CTA for not heeding warnings.

Bottom line: There's a new sheriff in town who's holding managers accountable for doing their jobs. And that sheriff created a bunch of new slow zones and shifted funds to repair them. So I'm confident the CTA is headed in the right direction.

I couldn't have said it better than Jerry 101:

"I just have to say good on the CTA. The Blue Line slow zone on the subway between Damen and the Loop seems to be all cleared up. Trains were even running this weekend.

"It's so nice to make it downtown in a reasonable time period.

"I was skeptical about Huberman, but so far, so good.

"Now, if only the idiots in S-field would get their heads out of their asses.

"The RTA never should have taken the money. The political pressure would have been unbelievably intense after only a day of "doomsday"."

Now it's time for the Springfield "idiots" to step up.

 

Huberman asks riders to plead: "No More Doomsdays. Fix Mass Transit"

Chicago Card/Plus users found this missive from CTA President Ron Huberman in their email boxes this morning:

Dear Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus Users:

I am writing to inform you that the fare and service changes scheduled for September 16th have been postponed. This means that the cost of your passes and fares will not increase on Sunday, and any routes scheduled for elimination will continue to operate.

However, the temporary loan of $24 million provided by the State postpones these changes for less than two months. On November 4th, if the Illinois General Assembly has not acted, we will be forced to increase fares and reduce service.

The bottom-line is we need a comprehensive plan to fund mass transit.

I know that you are frustrated about the potential service cuts and fare changes. So are we. That is why we are again asking you to join with us and tell our State leaders: "No More Doomsdays. Fix Mass Transit." 

Please visit transitchicago.com, or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA, for information on how to contact your state legislators. Please make your voices heard as we fight to preserve and improve the mass transit system Chicago needs and deserves.

Thank you again for your support. We are committed to improving your experience on the CTA.

Sincerely,
Ron Huberman

Blago bribes RTA with $54 million in more immediate funding

In what seems to this observer as a straight-up bribe, Gov. Rod Blagojevich Thursday offered to "immediately advance the Regional Transportation Authority its full $54-million 2008 grant for suburban paratransit service," according to a Crain's Chicago Business report.

The RTA board is scheduled to meet today to consider that new offer plus Wednesday's Blago's White Knight bid to temporarily postpone the Sept. 16 "Doomsday."

Sounds like a classic Vito Corleone "offer you can't refuse." Although they should.

Blue Line slow zone progress. The CTA plans to eliminate slow zones between Jefferson Park and Harlem stations by year's end, under a $91 million contract approved at Wednesday's CTA board meeting. Because the state hasn't provided any capital funding for at least three years, the CTA will have to issue short-term bonds. More details in the Trib report.

Details on weekend slow zone work -- and lots of it -- can be found here. The work affects both the Red and Blue lines.

Enjoy the weekend. I predict we won't have to pay more on Monday and we'll still be able to get the same buses then as we did today. Though I still think the Blago bailout is wrong.

"Doomsday" averted? Just say no to Blago

No! Just say no.

Why let Gov. Rod Blagojevich ride in on his white stallion at the last minute like the shining knight, unsheathing $24 million in state funds borrowed from next year so the CTA can avoid making service cuts and fare hikes?

Just say no.

Why let the man who is at the center of a leadership crisis in Illinois state government pretend to show leadership (Blago letter in pdf) at the last minute?

James Reilly and RTA board: Just say no.

But they probably won't. The CTA begrudgingly has already said yes to the last-minute bailout -- that will only get them through Nov. 4. And they probably should to save 39 bus routes and avoid the 25-cent to $1 fare hike. 

But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

I say, keep the pressure on the Legislature to hammer out a long-term funding solution by implementing the cuts and raising the fares. I realize it's easy for me to say, since I only use the Red Line (for the most part), and my fare would increase by just $2.50 a week (25 cents a ride with the Chicago Card/Plus).

I suspect the average CTA rider is happy about this, while still being nervous about the other shoe dropping hard on his/her foot. As a friend says, I guess it beats a sharp stick in the eye.

Read some telling quotes in the continuation.

NTSB slams CTA mismanagement in July 2006 Blue Line fire, evacuation

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday roundly criticized CTA management failures in releasing findings of its investigation of the July 2006 Blue Line subway fire and evacuation:

"The probable cause of the July 11, 2006, derailment of Chicago Transit Authority train number 220 in the subway in Chicago, Illinois, was the Chicago Transit Authority’s ineffective management and oversight of its track inspection and maintenance program and its system safety program, [emphasis mine] which resulted in unsafe track conditions," according to the NTSB report.

Excerpts from conclusions:

• "The dark area on the inner rail of the curve, the abrasion on the tie plates and ties, the broken lag screws, the tie plates’ elongated fastener holes and poor drainage in the area of the derailment were all readily observable and should have been documented during walking inspections.
• "Track inspectors in the Dearborn Subway did not have sufficient time allotted for inspecting all of their assigned territory twice a week as prescribed.
• "The Chicago Transit Authority track inspection training program did not adequately prepare inspectors to perform their required duties and it did not address the unique demands of inspecting and maintaining elevated track structures or track structures located inside tunnels.
• "Because a train indication system had not been installed on the Dearborn Subway and the Chicago Transit Authority’s control center could not identify the location of an emergency call box used to report the accident, the specific location of train 220 could not be determined, which delayed the emergency response and the activation of emergency exit lights and announcements at the closest accessible emergency exit."

CBS2 News reports: "CTA President Ron Huberman defended his agency after the NTSB released its report. "People are not following through. Individuals are not following protocol. We are discovering it, we are taking management actions and we are putting systems in place to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Huberman said.

UPDATE: Read the CTA's official statement on the NTSB hearing in the continuation.

Medical emergency averted

[Note to readers: OK, I'm just too tired to write something today about the "CTA Doomsday." So here's a more traditional Tattler Tale about something "seen and heard on the CTA."]

The young woman boards the southbound Red Line train at Wilson during the morning rush. Almost immediately she begins flailing her arms, and her lunch bag goes flying onto another rider's lap.

She does a slow spin in a broad circle by the door. Someone orders a young couple in the facing seats by the door to let her sit down. They jump up quickly, but the woman is oblivious to their ultimate courtesy. She continues to stumble near the door, finally resting against it. Spittle drools from her mouth and on her clean white T shirt.

I'm no medical doctor, but it appears she may be suffering a seizure.

Meanwhile, a blue-scrubs-clad angel of mercy appears, and makes her way to the emergency call button to inform the driver there may be a medical emergency here. By now we're halfway to Sheridan.

We stop at Sheridan. The stricken woman finally takes a seat, with the nurse (doctor?) next to her, asking questions. The motorman stops by and asks if she needs medical assistance. She says no. We proceed after about a 3-4 minute delay.

Amazingly, despite a few pirouettes and stumbles, the woman never lost her balance. Her helper was still comforting her when I exited the train at Grand.

I'm glad the woman appears to have recovered.

I also selfishly and shamefully admit I'm glad we weren't stuck for 20 minutes waiting for paramedics to treat her and take her to the hospital. It was a CTA "medical emergency" averted.

Senate to vote too late on tax bill; fare hikes, service cuts a certainty

Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones reneged on his promise to bring to a vote today Senate Bill 572, postponing it at least a week to work on an overall state capital expense bill with the Republicans.

As a result, CTA President Ron Huberman Sunday warned about how the cuts and fare hikes will "hurt everyone," adding, "this has been a frustrating few months."

Read his full message to CTA customers -- printed in full-page ads last week -- in the continuation below.

Transit benefit increase? Some readers were wondering whether the pre-tax transit benefit might increase with the fare increase. Currently the maximum is $65 for the CTA transit cards or Chicago Card/Plus, and $75 if you buy a monthly pass, according to a CTA spokesperson.

But I'm confused, because the CTA's Web site says the maximum is $110. I've asked for further clarification on that. And the CTA is also checking to see if the amounts above will increase due to the pending fare hike.

Why we shouldn't use cash from Skyway sale for CTA funding crisis. Some folks here keep asking why we don't use Skyway money to help the CTA. Dumb idea. Here's why:

We have a regional funding problem that affects the RTA, Metra, Pace and the CTA. That's six counties total. So why should the city of Chicago, which owned and sold the Skyway, solve the transit problems of the rest of Cook County and the other five counties.

Like I said, dumb idea. And not fair to Chicago taxpayers. We need a solution that serves all citizens and makes all citizens share in the solution -- by paying a slightly higher sales tax.

CTA by the numbers

The CTA funding crisis becomes more real when you take a hard look at the numbers behind the system and who it serves.

1.5 million riders use the CTA on average every weekday.

2,000 buses operate along 2,300 route miles, serving 150 bus routes and 12,000 bus stops.

1,200 train cars roll over 220 miles of track on 8 different routes stopping at 144 stations.

11,000 employees operate the second largest transit system in the nation.

495 million total rides in 2006 -- with increased ridership in 7 of the last 8 years.

Sources: CTA, Wikipedia, TimeOut Chicago magazine

Blood on the Red Line; blood on Legislature's, Blago's hands

I'm tired of writing about doom and gloom on the CTA and in the Illinois Legislature.

So how about we end the week with blood and guts? Well, no guts pictured here, but certainly blood. This post comes courtesy of Jeff Woelker:

"I was waiting for the Red Line (last weekend) at Fullerton and it took a really long time to arrive.

"When it arrived, the first car was empty and every other car was full. We ran up to the first car and they wouldn't let us in.

"We walked back to the next car and I overheard one woman telling another, 'Yeah, somebody got stabbed down at 79th.' Then some guys got on at Addison and said 'Man, there's blood all over the seats up there.' That's when I busted out my camera."

Photo on Flickr.

Of course, there's no way for me to substantiate the stabbing claim without more facts. For all we know, this could be blood from a bloody nose.

But metaphorically, to me this photo represents the blood from CTA cuts and some passengers as their pocketbooks bleed red if the governor and Illinois Legislature don't resolve the funding crisis in nine days.

The skinny on current 30-day passes after fare hike

Despite House Majority Leader Michael Madigan's vow that he'll be able to turn around 10 legislators to pass the transit bill, I  don't believe him.

So I'm starting to prepare for fare hikes and service cuts.

I asked a CTA spokeswoman about the 30 days passes and Chicago Card Plus after the fare increase Sept. 16. Here's her reply:

"Yes, the 30 day passes will still work after the 16th.   The current inventory at all our sales outlets still has the current prices and the passes should be available for sale up until the new fares go into effect or until the vendor runs out of stock, whichever comes first.

Note to readers: Sounds like you could buy 10 30-day passes at $75 and they would still work in 10 months -- as long as they don't expire. Of course, you'll give the CTA $750 and they will love you for that.   

More from the CTA: "If you use the Chicago Card Plus as a monthly pass, it will work for 30 days as it normally does.    With passes, you get unlimited rides for a set price so the fare increase won't apply until you purchase the next pass at the end of September.   However, the Chicago Card Plus can also be used as a pay-per-use card, so if you use it to let someone else ride with you, it will convert to pay-per-use and begin deducting fares each time you ride.  Once the fare increase goes into effect, it will begin deducting the higher fare.  But again, that is only if you use it as a pay-per-use card."

Who's got more questions on fares or service cuts?