CTA Tattler

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.