CTA Tattler

Thank you for these updates - this is the best place I can find updates on transit funding (or lack thereof). Hardly anyone even knows how dire it is. I wish the news was shouting it from the rooftops.

Anna, my mother said the exact same thing when I forwarded her the page with the links covering the cuts, fares, etc. She doesn't understand why the papers aren't filled with letters from angry riders & worried businesses. (I wonder about the latter myself--what will they do when their employees can't get to work?) But she said that she couldn't find that info anywhere else that day.
We appreciate you, Kevin!

"The capital budget bill that the Senate recently passed contains 10 times more funding for roads over mass transit than the last capital bond program passed in 1999."

Well, if there won't be enough operating funds for mass transit, you don't need the capital spending.

Sorry. That's just the cynic in me.

I'll keep saying it until someone starts to listen: Mass transit is essential to the economy. The way some of the best systems are funded is with taxes that are best tied to the need. And that tax is an employment tax.

For a prime example of how mass transit should be funded, look at Portland, Oregon. Yes, I know Portland isn't Chicago, but I'm not talking about the specific operating solutions they've chosen, but rather the way they fund those choices. The idea scales well, and it works.

The way mass transit in Chicago is funded doesn't work, and nothing currently on the table fixes the fundemental problems.

It is sad and frustrating to see what was once, and could again be, one of the premiere transit systems in the world fall into such disrepair that it is already starting to drag the whole economy down with it.

The disparity in capital spending is troubling. But the lack of a viable source of operating funds, and no real solutions on the table is even more troubling.

Remember how Bilandic lost the mayor's office because of a snow plowing snafu? Well, that story should pale once we clean-out the ineffectual officials at election time. (But then again, back in Bilandic's day, people cared about things, and weren't as conditioned to take whatever they were given.)

People always say the best way to hurt a business is in their pocket. If you don't like the service at a restaurant, stop dining there. If you don't like a particular coffee shop, stop getting your latte's there. If you don't like the CTA, take their advise and find an alternate route. It's easier for me since I'm close to a metra stop. If you can, find a different way to commute to work. Also, if there's a little old lady in your building who takes the bus to the store and will really be hurt by this new fee structure, organize a car pool service to the store for the people in your building.

I know who I'm voting for in the next election.

Why would we want to hurt the CTA further? The problem is not the CTA, it's the shameless scum in Springfield: Blagojevich, Emil Jones, Frank Watson, Michael J. Madigan, and Tom Cross and the "representatives" who allow them to remain in power despite their complete failure to do their jobs.

And this is not just about the CTA, it's about public transportation in Northeastern Illinois. So don't imagine that you'll be spared because you rely on Metra -- they're in as much trouble as the CTA and Pace.

This is a political problem. If you want to hurt the bad guys, concentrate on the above named sadass excuses for state "leaders".

If you don't like the CTA, take their advise and find an alternate route.

Hey, guess what? TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE for the majority of people. What would you suggest I do? Move closer to work? I can't afford to move. I live on the North Side, my job is downtown. I don't have space to keep a bike, nor is it feasible to get down there that way. I can't walk, obviously. No one in my office can give me a lift, and I can't drive, and if I could, I wouldn't be able to afford parking. And I'm probably considered lower-middle-class. What about the working poor? I can't believe that anyone, including the CTA, can possibly suggest "find another way." WHAT other way?

And yes, the CTA, despite it's problems, is trying to be a transit system. It needs money to do so. I'm angry at the state legislature right now, since I can see plainly that if the CTA had more money, the stations would be finished faster and things could be on their way to improving.

What about a higher gas tax with proceeds earmarked for the RTA? It would help two ways: encourage more CTA ridership because cars would be more expensive, which then helps fund the CTA through higher ridership & fares, and of course direct funding through the tax.

And who can complain that the tax would hit urban SUV drivers harder than Civic drivers...

Let the CTA shut down. Heck, the mayor does
not seem to be concerned about saving the
transit operation so why should we care.
it's his man, Huberman, and his bus company
but he's concerned about raising "skin money"
as a downpayment on the olympics.
This should be one of his top priorities, not
the yokels in Springfield. But like I said
time after time, they don't give a rat's
keister about us voters. They just want to
get re-elected time after time and help them-
selves to more and more of our money.
Think about this next election time.
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice,
shame on me."

What exactly do you expect Daley to do? This is a regional issue, not a city issue. You do realize that Metra and Pace have stated they are going to impose service cuts and fare increases as well, right? And you would have to be completely blind to what has been going on in Springfield if you don't realize that if Daley were to find a way to for the city government to partially solve the problem that it would just give the legislature an excuse to not do anything (or at least to do less). What does that accomplish? It doesn't get the mass transit agencies any more of an ability to run the service (and if anything they would end up with less) and it means the suburbs would likely not be paying their fair share. It is the state's job to fund transit, not the city's (did you notice that public transportation goes well beyond the city?). The blame belongs to the state.

Looking back through the thread, I'm not seeing who you think is blaming Daley, either. If that's what you got out of my earlier post about taking action on election day, you missed the point. The mayor isn't the only elected official. Just because I bring up the way Bilandic lost because of snow plowing doesn't mean Daley has to lose. It means that each and every polititian who hasn't done their job should lose next election day.

There's more than enough blame to go around. I didn't imply, infer or otherwise impune Daley. But now that YOU'VE brought him up, he's in play.

So, what exactly should Daley do? He should exhibit some leadership.

The mass transit funding crisis affects Daley's constituancy. He should be out front backing a real plan that resolves the issue once and for all.

As a mayor, he's not a lawmaker even for city-only issues. He's the head of the executive branch of city government, and can only propose (and advocate) to the city council. And as mayor, it's also his responsibility to do the same for issues that are in front of the legislature in Springfield, and in front of Congress as well.

Saying "This is a regional issue" doesn't resolve the mayor of all responsiblity. It still affects his city, and he needs to work for the good of his city.

Should Daley be the only guy on the hook for the crisis? Absolutely not. This has been a huge group effort. But that doesn't give the mayor a free pass.

The blame goes to every elected official who's constituantcy is affected by the crisis, and who hasn't made long-term resolution of the problem a high priority. None of them get to sit back, and blame someone else.

exactly, Anna, exactly. That's just what my life is like, except that I work in Lincoln Park & come from the NW side. Approximately a year ago, I had only temp jobs, & definitely would not have been able to afford a car w/ all its attendant costs, inc the $50 to use the garage on the property.
Fortunately, I will still be able to get to work, though it will take longer & more buses to do so. But if I was working south of my place, I wouldn't be able to do so--say Armitage & Austin or Narragansett. I'm more worried that I can't get to the dr in Jan, since the only bus that passes the hospital is being cut.

And it would be nice if Daley took a greater interest in the fate of the CTA, since w/out it, his city is likely to hit a serious economic dip. But he's too busy touring Paris & Rio & touting the Olympics & putting up flower boxes.

Generally, the people who live farther from downtown will still be able to get downtown via public transit, albeit perhaps with a longer route if their immediately local route is cut. It's the people closer to downtown who are screwed, because everything (bus and rail) will be packed to the gills by the time it gets to about 2-3 mile radius outside of downtown.

...similar thing that contributed to Bilandic losing the election back in '79, except then there were alsoalot of racial undertones in the inner-city people being left on the curb/platform.

Unfortunately, it seems the legislators in power and the governor are going to continue to point fingers at who should deal and pay for decades of funding issues due to a TEMPORARY band-aid the state legislature passed in the early 80's. Sound familiar? Even 25 years ago they couldn't come up with a permanent solution! Blago is still mad and bitter about his failed tax plan for healthcare, Madigan is pointing the finger at Cross now, Jones is now pointing the finger at Daley and his "personal Chicago savings account." And Daley is now back to being silent on the issue. Its gone from bad to horrible in Springfield in the last week. I have no doubt that the Nov 4th cuts are certain now. The CTA or RTA will not take yet another loan or quick fix after the last broken promise.

The years of neglect have finally compounded to the point any more so-called "one-time bailouts" will no longer work and just cause an even bigger funding crisis the following year. Think 2008 looks bad? On this path 2009 will probably resemble a near shut down of the CTA entirely. After massive ridership losses in 2008 (and the fares) and then the escalating pension/healthcare costs and STILL having a funding deficit to contend with, there will be hardly any money left to run buses or trains at all.

It appears the only power we have left is our vote. They haven't listened to the experts, the audit report or the people. If the CTA, Metra and Pace are allowed to collapse and end up a shell of the system they once were, it is up to us to send anyone packing from the Chicago area who caused this in future elections. It just kills me that 2008 isn't a big election year. This crisis probably would have been solved months ago if it was.

Sorry for the cynicism, but there will be no ballot-box consequences from this mess. None. Oh sure, most of us Tattlerites will vote for a talking cockroach before casting another vote for Blagojesonofavich--or for any of these legislative so-called "leaders" who happens to, for lack of a more truthful term, "represent" our district. Hell, I'll even vote for a Republican first. But so what? We're a diminishing minority, both as urban transit users (or in my case, unfortunately, a "quondam" user--please! let me know if there is ever a job opening in the city again!) and as thinking citizens. Most Illinois voters are perfectly happy to fire up the SUV or the giant pickup for any trip longer than the mailbox and to let Chicago and the older, denser burbs go right down the crapper. And then, too, since Bilandic's defeat, voters have had 28 years to get dumber, and we've clearly taken maximum advantage of the opportunity.

Rusty:

I was referring to the post directly above me, who could not have been more clear that he was blaming Daley. Did that post not show up on your computer? Generally, when people don't state who they are addressing the post to or include a quote it means they are talking to the most obvious person, the one who just spoke. I have no idea why you thought I was talking about you.

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?post_date=2007-10-23&id=26863

Gov working on transit fix without 'another tax'

(AP) — Governor Rod Blagojevich says he and three of the four top legislative leaders are talking about a long-term funding plan to bail out Chicago-area mass transit agencies.

Blagojevich said at a Chicago news conference this afternoon that the idea they're working on would not be "another tax increase on people."

But the governor wouldn't reveal details of the plan or say when they'd be made public.

He says Republican House Minority Leader Tom Cross is supposed to meet tomorrow with House Speaker Michael Madigan to try to get Madigan to embrace their plan instead of a proposed regional sales tax increase for mass transit.

"We're a diminishing minority, both as urban transit users (or in my case, unfortunately, a "quondam" user--please! let me know if there is ever a job opening in the city again!) and as thinking citizens."

Actually, transit ridership has been going up in the past decade or so, Quondom El Rat (hopefully that will make sure there is no confusion as to who I'm talking to this time). That not only is true in the Chicago area but really across the country as urban centers get more dense. I don't think there is any doubt that if the politicians don't do something significant about this issue that they will suffer.

From your keyboard to God's monitor, MK--this is one post I definitely want to be wrong on!

Well, after Doomsday and Doomsday II, the number of transit riders in Chicago will drop sharply due to lack of capacity, and lack of convinience.

Here's an idea: After killing-off the CTA, the state can convert the State of Illinois Building to a big parking garage for all the cars that will be needed by folks who'll no longer be served by the CTA.

And they can turn the Expressways into tollways. They won't even have to build toll booths. Traffic will be so dense, toll collectors will be able to walk among the traffic and collect tolls like panhandlers at an exit ramp.

Think that 40 minute commute on the CTA was bad? Wait until you have to spend two hours driving, only to discover that all the parking spaces were filled by people who decided they needed to get to the loop at 5am to get a space.

Can't afford a car? Better get a bike. No bike parking at home? Put it beside your bed, and get used to climbing in from the foot of the bed. No bike parking at work? You boss may not allow bikes in the office today, but if that's the only way he can keep from having to replace half the staff, he'll find a spot for your bike.

But biking will be a little different when the car traffic on streets double. It won't take long for those frustrated drivers to start taking out their rage on the bike rider slipping by in that little space next to their car.

But no matter how you choose to deal with doomsday, the bottom line is likely to cost you far more than any tax increases that ever were proposed. The cost to the whole regional economy will be huge, and it's impact will hit those yokels downstate, too.

Perhaps as a transit rider, you may feel like a war protester in 2002. But after doomsday, we may find that we will be joined by non-transit users who'll finally see how this affects them. But we need to be presistant like the early war protesters were, too. If we give up the fight before everyone else joins us, then the fight is over.

Be ready to be in this for the long haul if you expect any real change. This has to remain a page 1 headline all the way until the next elections. Otherwise, it'll just be business as (un)usual, and Doomsday III, IV, and even V will come.