CTA Tattler

Here's the scoop on "penny" New Year's Eve rides

For many years (I'm not sure exactly how many), the CTA has offered bus and train rides for just a penny on New Year's Eve. And they'll do it again starting at 8 pm tonight.

But the truth is the rides are free. Bus drivers just wave riders past fare boxes covered with "Happy New Year!" stickers. And turnstiles at train stations are open, and festooned with similar stickers. You see, the CTA can't legally advertise free rides, and it also doesn't actually accept penny fares any longer. Also, it would be cost prohibitive to reprogram fare boxes for just 10 hours anyway. Thus, tonight's a freebie.

And it's a good thing, so I really don't want to hear from any of you about how the CTA can't afford it, etc. blah blah, etc. In 2004, the Sun-Times reported it cost the CTA about $150,000. It's probably not a whole lot more than that this year, certainly less than $200K. Seems reasonable to me, especially if it keeps drunk drivers off the road and potentially saves even one life.

The CTA has had minimal sponsorship interest in the penny fare program since they no longer allow alcoholic advertising -- which are a natural tie-in for this.

All train lines are running longer than usual tonight. Take advantage of this great program and keep the roads -- and yourself -- safer.

March musts and April apertifs

Continuing with the Best Tattler Tales of 2007.

March:

Dirty trains and buses? CTA Chair Carole Brown understands.

Safety last. Gotta love those smart-ass kids.

Trip planner upgrade. CTA listens to a rider:

April:

Three tracking really wasn't so bad, even as I tried to make excuses for why it wasn't so bad.

Kruesi resigns. One of the top three CTA news stories of the year.

Don't whiz on the third rail. Myths debunked -- or proven true?

Best of 2007: January gems and February faves

Over the next week or so, I'll share some of the best Tattler Tales of 2007. Today we review January and February's finest.

January:

Bears in the Super Bowl? Well, it was fun while it lasted. And CTA riders enjoyed it as much as anyone else.

Three tracking unveiled. And we were not at all happy.

Cute, but smelly: Coming clean on the CTA.

February:

I'm scared of him: New CTA security.

Beware the shell game. You  can never get enough warnings.

Gifts from CTA: Slow zones complete; better, simpler signage

The CTA gifted us last week by finishing the last big stretch of the O''Hare Blue Line slow zones -- Jefferson Park to Harlem.

The CTA has eliminated these slow zones this year:

• Blue Line subway Damen to Clark/Lake --18,000 feet.
• Red Line between Morse and Loyola -- 2,775 feet.
• Red/Purple/Brown from Armitage to Diversey -- 2,537 feet.
• Yellow Line Crawford Crossing -- 2,000 feet.
• Red Line subway from Grand to Clark/Division -- 8,000 feet.
• Red Line southbound from Wilson to Sheridan -- 3,325 feet.
• Blue Line Harlem to Jefferson Park -- 22,500 feet.

Simpler signage points the way. After enduring years of criticism, the CTA recently announced a new, low-tech way to communicate better with its passengers -- whiteboard signs and markers.

"The CTA will be testing mobile, erasable whiteboards at several stations later this year," according to a CTA press release. "When there is a change in service, the Customer Assistant can write the information on the board and place it in front of the turnstiles so that customers are informed before paying their fares. This is an innovation learned from the London Underground."

This simple project is part of a new communications strategy that includes working on a pro bono basis with Ideo, a noted design consultant.

Thanks for the gifts, CTA. Merry Christmas to those readers who celebrate. Happy day off to those who don't. And thanks to those of you who are working on Tuesday -- especially CTA workers -- because you are serving us.

Thank you Mr. Information Motorman

Over the last two days I've left work at about the same time and caught a train run by the helpful Mr. Information Motorman.

He tells me that if I can't get on his crowded train, the next Red Line is four minutes and two stops away.

He informs me that the Purple Line is two minutes behind his train.

He says the Brown Line is the train in front of us and that's why we're stopped.

And yesterday he urged those who wanted to ride the Holiday Train to get off at Clark and Division because it would be there in about four minutes.

And then as it approached us going south, he told us to check it out. And many did and many oohs and ahhs were exclaimed.

Harsh penalty for CTA graffiti artist. A judge last week sentenced Michael Kaput (nice name) to two years of felony probation and fined him $1,903 after he was convicted of vandalizing CTA property -- he was caught painting a rail car in Forest Park. Good to see the CTA is prosecuting these scofflaws. And to those of you who wonder if the CTA actually cleans graffiti, Ron Huberman, says cleanup costs them $4.3 million a year.

"Be prepared to be there every day to work." So now Blago demands that the state Legislature actually work to resolve the CTA funding crisis, beginning Jan. 2. Happy New Year, jerks. 

Last chance to ride the Holiday Train

Yes folks, Christmas truly is just around the corner, and so is end to the CTA's Holiday Train. So be sure and take advantage of your last chance to ride the much ballyhooed special train on the Red, Yellow and Orange lines Thursday through Saturday, respectively.

Check out the schedule here. General info from the CTA here.

Read my previous post about how the CTA says it costs no additional money to run it. And it's staffed by volunteer elves.

So stop getting your undies in a bunch about this.

And Merry Christmas!

One more thing: If we were living in New York City, this is what we would get for a "Holiday Train." I'm glad to be living in Chicago.

Perfect gifts for the CTA enthusiast on your list

With only six shopping days before Christmas, you better get crackin' if you want that CTA lover on your gift list something special for the holiday.

The CTA itself obliges us with a long list of "Wearables" and "Useables." I like the CTA scarf and hat set for $15 and the Transit Map Socks for $7.50. Too bad both are out of stock.

There's another interesting note with the socks: "CTA's Pink Line is an experimental service and does not appear on any Gift Express products including those featuring CTA maps."

Hmmm. . . . I think they need to update that page and the socks!

I do know that a sporty CTA Take It! denim shirt is available. But it's gonna cost you $50.65 total to get the second-day air shipping.

You could go a bit cheaper and just get an El button. Go here (scroll down a bit) to get a limited edition set of buttons representing each El line for just $15, including shipping. Such a steal.

Happy CTA gifting.

Gay hatred thrives on train

I've seen this hate graffiti before on a CTA train, but my friend documented it for me via photography. And the worst part is that this graffiti is only slightly different from what I saw previously. Pathetic.

 

Thank you unions; unfortunate Web page juxtaposition for Trib

So the unions came to their senses and called off the "job action." For that I thank them. Though many of you disagreed with me and think they should have gone through with it. I still say it would have accomplished nothing, and probably should have been done earlier to make a bigger impact.

The unions certainly would make an impact if they follow through with a new threat not to go to work on Monday, Jan. 21, if the crisis is not solved by then. That's the first work day after the newest Doomsday for the threatened service cuts and fare increases.

Meanwhile, now Madigan says the House will NOT meet this week, so Jan. 7 is probably the next scheduled session. That would give them less than two weeks to do what they haven't been able to do all year.

And I leave you with this great screen shot from the Tribune's Web site last week. It was captured by a Chicago El Live Journal community member. As Jonathan reports here, they are two different trains. Priceless.

There are no winners in a job action

Frankly, I'm speechless. (Or is it wordless on the Internet?)

I got a tip earlier this week that the unions would do their "job action" on Monday. But I didn't post it because I didn't believe it. At least, I didn't WANT to believe it.

I certainly understand the frustration felt by the unions. We feel it too.

"We want to make sure the public is aware of our job action ahead of time. We don't want to hurt the public," said Rick Harris, president of  the union local that represents train operators.

OK Rick, we appreciate the notice. But really, do you think this will hurt the state Legislature? Force them to come up with a transit funding solution a week before Christmas?

I don't think so. All this job action will do is piss off riders and cause businesses to lose lots of money.

Nothing good can come out of either outcome.

Help tell lawmakers why transit matters

In Springfield and across the Chicagoland region, many lawmakers and other elected officials have misconceptions about why transit matters.

A non-profit advocacy organization, Illinois PIRG, is working to counter those misconceptions by compiling stories from people across the region. The stories are a way to talk about why transit matters, what’s wrong with transit today and what can be done to make transit better in the future.

If you’re interested in learning more and want to be considered for an interview for the report, email Brian at Illinois PIRG. Let him know why you’re interested in telling your story, and tell him who sent you!

Metra risks $1.5 billion in federal funds as stalemate drags on

Two suburban U.S. representatives Tuesday pleaded with their state counterparts to solve the transit stalemate, lest Metra lose $1.5 billion in federal dollars for capital improvements.

Republican Rep. Mark Kirk and Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean (from the north and northwest suburbs) warned state lawmakers that if they don't come up with matching state dollars, that $1.5 billion will disappear. One big project on hold because of lack of state funds is the replacement of switches for the "Strangler" switching yard at Grand and Western. Almost 400 trains pass through the area currently served by hand-thrown switches installed in 1937.

There's plenty at stake in the government inaction. Including who will win the ego wars on this. So don't expect threats of losing $1.5 billion in funding to make the state move any quicker on this.

The state House will meet for three days next week, and probably pass a gaming bill that will need to be massaged by the Senate. But the Senate is not meeting next week, so don't expect any true action on this until everyone returns on Jan. 7.

Happy Hanukkah.

Merry Christmas.

Happy New Year.

And bah humbug.

Madigan shows his casino hand; icy El workers

House Speaker Mike Madigan on Monday proposed raising $1 billion by building three additional casinos and adding slot machines at race tracks and riverboats, says a Crain's report.

No word yet on how much closer this announcement gets us to a transit funding deal. But House Republican Leader Tom Cross notes: "So is there agreement? No. But the list (of disagreements) is getting smaller."

We have to take progress where we can find it.

The melting Ice Men: That was quite a scene at the Belmont Red Line station Monday -- one of the workers laying new track was trying to melt the ice with a torch while another pushed it away with a tire iron. And after the ice storms Monday night, they're probably doing it again right now.

I really feel for those guys and the conditions under which they have to work. So thanks, guys and gals.

Doomsday biking alternatives: The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has the low-down on the biking alternative in case there really is a CTA Doomsday. Check out their Chicago Bike Map and Doomsday Survival Guide.

(Hat tip to Gapers Block.)

Choice El reading materials

I recently wrote that I was somewhat embarrassed just to be seen reading Savage Love on the CTA. Obviously this guy has no such reservations. At least he blocks the seat next to him with his backpack so others won't necessarily have to share his interests.

Thanks to Tovi for sharing the photo. We'll spare you the photos of the rider viewing the centerfold.

What do you think about "job actions"?

You probably read that CTA union officials are threatening "job actions" if the state Legislature doesn't act quickly to resolve the funding crisis.

Calling in sick.

Train and bus slowdowns.

"We don't know what type of job action it's going to be at this particular point. And hopefully, hopefully, it won't have to happen," union president Rick Harris said. "We cannot afford to wait. This spring, the health care part of our pension will be completely bankrupt."

CTA Prez Ron Huberman in one breath warns the union that's it's illegal, and then basically says he can't blame the union. After all, they've made concessions on the pension and health care costs, but they'll go up in smoke if there's no agreement this year.

So, what do you think about a union job action?

Me? I understand, but certainly don't want to see it happen.

Just fix it. Please.

Too much of a hands-on experience

A reader in her late teens shares this story -- which I suspect is quite familiar and annoying to most of my female readers.

On a crowded Red Line train, things were tight and close. The guy sitting next to this girl was obviously invading her space. She didn't really notice until he had the back of his hand pressed against her leg -- in the small space between their two legs. As soon as she noticed it, she crossed her legs to pull away from him.

Then she looked down and his head turned away -- he avoided looking in her direction. She saw that he was stretching and contorting his fingers to try to surreptitiously touch her thigh.

Because he was trying so hard to avoid her gaze, she grabbed the photo opportunity here. As you can see he was hiding his hand under the paper. He ultimately failed, as she kept pulling away.

Do you gals have to put up with creeps like this often?

Dysfunctional lawmakers to try again next week on transit funding fix

And so it goes.

The president of the Illinois Senate claims we're very close to a deal on transit funding.

Meanwhile, House Republican Leader Tom Cross was not too optimistic that the gambling-based state capital spending plan could be worked out before January. That's the key to transit funding.

And the House majority leader was moping, saying he wasn't invited to the meeting. And he refuses to tie transit to casinos.

Good thing the Hawks weren't playing Tuesday night. Might have lost Blago too. Might not have missed him.

Legislators will be back at it next week.

Brown Line update: Addison station opens; Irving Park closes. Some features at newly rehabbed Addison: new elevators for each platform; new auxiliary exits; brighter lighting; a longer platform. And for you Cubs fans, original artwork depicting scorecard notes by Ron Santo from a game starring Ernie Banks. Tribune story.

Excellent progress on slow zone repairs

The CTA reports that by the end of the year, more than 11 miles of slow zones on the Red, Blue and Yellow lines will have been eliminated.

That's 60,000 feet -- almost 2 miles per month -- of deteriorated track replaced or ties repaired. Now that's great progress.

Here's what is completed to date:

• Blue Line subway Damen to Clark/Lake - 18,000 feet removed.
• Red Line between Morse and Loyola - 2,775 feet removed.
• Red/Purple/Brown from Armitage to Diversey - 2,537 feet removed.
• Yellow Line Crawford Crossing - 2,000 feet removed.

And scheduled for completion by Dec. 31:

• Red Line subway from Grand to Clark/Division - 8,000 feet removed.
• Red Line southbound from Wilson to Sheridan - 3,325 feet removed.
• Blue Line Harlem to Jefferson Park - 25,000 feet removed.

And it seems to this rider that the Red Line tunnel work is just about done, as train speeds have picked up lately. Though the subway is closed tonight and Wednesday for continued repairs.

Next up is the Harlem to O'Hare stretch of the Blue Line, scheduled to begin when the weather improves in the spring, to be completed by late summer.

“We are putting the rapid back into transit,” said CTA President Ron Huberman said via press release. “Everyone at the CTA is focused on improving travel for customers and getting them where they want to go faster is a significant deliverable we can provide our riders.”

Click here to download the latest slow-zone map (pdf).

CTA photo project: A day in the life of the CTA

John over at LiveJournal's Chicago El Community has declared Wednesday, Dec. 5, as CTA photo day, a la "Day in the Life of CTA."

Cool idea. So get your cameras ready. Read details here.

Be sure you know the CTA's photo policy before participating. And read my post about it.

After you take your photos, post them at this special Flickr group, and at the regular Flickr CTA group photo pool, so they'll show up here in my Flickr photo feed at the far right.

Have fun, and go get some great images.