CTA Tattler

After everything Mayor Daley has thrown at us, I'm almost scared to find out what else I have to pay too much for...

I highly doubt any further funding will be forthcoming before the Nov. 4 cuts/fare increases go into effect. I will also be shocked it the state government gets its crap together in time to stave off the January cuts as well.

I think the CTA, METRA, and Pace should have run their full services until operating funds were depleted then terminate service. A full shutdown of mass transit and commuter rail service in say December would get much better political attention.

Neither the Senate or the House will be convening before 11/4, so you can expect the cuts no matter what.

I hate the thought, but I kind of agree. If mass transit STOPPED in Chicago, there would probably be riots. People need to get to work and school! They would have to come up with a solution.

They had 4 legislators including Hamos on Chicago Tonight yesterday. None of them seemed to have heard anything about Blagojevich's "plan", but the guess was a combo of casinos and a gas tax deal. They seemed to agree that the roadblock was Madigan and his childish feud with the childish Blagojevich. I got the impression that they're finally getting a little scared about what a transit disaster will do politically. Although one of them was a typical dumbass suburban Republican who still tried to put all the blame on the RTA/CTA.

Anyway, I did come away from it thinking they might actually manage to get something done in time. Whatever happens, we still need to be rid of Blagojevich and Madigan ASAP, before they ruin our state beyond repair.

I propose a joint strike of CTA riders and workers. No more than a day or two; the resulting hell should be sufficient to make a point.

Barring that, I for one have finally embraced imminent doomsday. The economic blow may be the only way to communicate with the rest of the state.

I agree with Trish about a strike. I suggest we not only refrain from taking public transportation but also all stay home--with mass transit flu. Let's make sure everyone--legislators, our employers, the businesses we shop at and eat at, etc.--realize how many of us use the region's public transportation to get around. Let them know why this should be an important issue for them, even if they themselves don't ride it.

I would love for this strike to happen. In fact I would most definitely be striking with you all, but this isn't the 60s, and I really dont see many people really strickly abiding to this strike. I attend UIC, and seeing how most of the students here commute and stand to lose ALOT by the service cuts, nobody here seems concerned. I've asked many and they all seem to have this blind faith that "they (meaning Illinois leaders) could never do that; it won't get to that point".
I think the only method, as others here have suggested, is to let the RTA shut down and quit operations when the well finally runs dry. That's when you will see everyone panicking, businesses and individuals alike.

I also think that the CTA should have taken the "run service until money runs out" approach now as well. These doomsday service cuts and fare hikes are doing NOTHING to prod the idiots we have running the show to act. A complete shutdown would last what, 2 weekdays max, before emergency sessions would be called and a funding bill passed.

From what I understood from the brief story on the news a few hours ago, The IL House is having a special meeting on Nov. 2nd to vote on the gas tax increase as a PERMANENT funding solution for the CTA/Metra/Pace.

Whether or not it will pass, is another story. If it does and G-Rod is for it, then Emil Jones will probably call it in the Senate a day or two later. Which would mean CTA cuts maybe only be for a day or two. I hope there aren't any cuts at all, but a couple days worth for a permanent solution might be ok.

But, I agree with everybody else. I'm a true blue Democrat, but G-Rod, Jones, and Madigan all need to go in the next election.

The way they screwed around with transit funding for years is simply ridiculous.

BJ and Ed - A two or three service reduction is not an option.

Once those service cuts are enacted on November 4, then even if the legislature votes on a funding bill the very next day, it will be at least a week and maybe longer before service can be restored. And there is nothing the CTA or the legislature can do about it. The CTA could rescind the cuts first thing Monday morning, but a delay in restoring service is inevitable.

You see, once those bus operators are officially laid off, they have to go through a laborious process to be reinstated.

Because they are safety-sensitive positions, the Federal Transit Administration rules mandate that every single one of the employees be tested for drugs before they can return to service. (that's standard anytime a public transit driver has a break in service) It doesn't matter if a driver's last random test was November 3, they all have to be retested. So that means that 600 operators have to be scheduled to come in, be tested and then wait several days for the results.

This is an important federal law, designed to ensure the public safety, but it will definitely delay restoring any cut service. The CTA, like other public and commercial transportation providers, doesn't have any options.

So the legislature waiting for a really last minute bailout will still screw Chicagoland drivers and transit commuters.

If the solution to all this ends up being a gas tax, that would be great news.

Sales taxes are already high and are kind of a drag on the economy. Devoting gas taxes or other driving fees to public transit is great environmental policy, on the other hand.

Sounds too good to be true.

I agree, a gas tax would be the best solution for long-term funding. It would address the energy/environment crisis that our state "leaders" have so far ignored, and provide a funding source that we can count on. As I understand it, the plan sounds like it would combine the gas tax with casino expansion, which I'm less happy about, but it's probably better for the economy than even more sales taxes.

Media reports suggest that everybody's on board some plan like this except Madigan. Time for everybody to let him know that his job, and his kid's job, are on the line.

How could a strike be organized? The text messages, perhaps?

It seems to me as if the CTA is, rather than flexing its own muscle, trying to p!ss off riders to the point that we revolt/strike/etc. Although I don't think it's the best plan, shouldn't we get madder than we are?