Weekend Loop El work again -- but Red Line stays in the subway -- or does it?
The Lake and Wabash branches of the Loop El tracks will be closed again this weekend, but train traffic won't be a bad as last weekend because there will be no Red Line slow zone work forcing it to the elevated tracks. UPDATE: Or maybe there will be?
Commenter John says he got a Red Line alert that it will be going over the top this weekend, but I can't find it on the CTA's Web site. So I really don't know!
Last weekend the same area in the Loop El was closed, but the Red line shared limited track space due to subway slow zone work.
Go here to read about all the weekend services changes.
And have a good weekend. Next week I'll report on the return of performance metrics to the CTA Web site and planned improvements to the public address address system.
From CTA's Red line alerts:
Red Line Subway Trains Rerouted to Loop Elevated Tracks on Weekend
Effective the following days and times:
9 p.m. Friday, May 16 until 3 a.m., Monday, May 19, 2008
Due to Red Line subway construction, Red Line trains will operate on the Loop elevated tracks between the Belmont and Cermak-Chinatown stations. Trains will make all elevated stops from Roosevelt (accessible) to Belmont in both directions.
Posted by: John T | May 16, 2008 at 07:04 AM
And last night the customer alert site said there would be Red Line work, but there wasn't according to this comment in yesterday's Tattler entry - http://www.ctatattler.com/2008/05/cta-accelerates.html#comment-114869718 - from someone who tried to find the Red Line last night.
Posted by: confused | May 16, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Kevin -
I'm not sure about the accuracy of your post.
The press release you linked to in reference to weekend work on the Loop EL really only addressed work last night (Thursday).
And the last link you provided about weekend service changes didn't mention either project. It didn't say the Red Line work or elevated reroutes were happening -- but neither did it say they weren't happening. That usually means a separate announcement is forthcoming.
Posted by: again | May 16, 2008 at 08:38 AM
"Commenter John says he got a Red Line alert that it will be going over the top this weekend, but I can't find it on the CTA's Web site. So I really don't know!" - Kevin
+++++++
It's on the customer alert page, under Red line customer alerts post dated 5/15/08 -
http://www.yourcta.com/news/whatsnewA.wu?action=displaynewspostingdetail&articleid=110620
and it says -
"Red Line Subway Trains Rerouted to Loop Elevated Tracks on Weekend
Effective the following days and times:
9 p.m. Friday, May 16 until 3 a.m., Monday, May 19, 2008
Due to Red Line subway construction, Red Line trains will operate on the Loop elevated tracks between the Belmont and Cermak-Chinatown stations. Trains will make all elevated stops from Roosevelt (accessible) to Belmont in both directions....."
Posted by: sarah | May 16, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Also of note is that there is no Yellow Line service this weekend and the Blue Line is closed between Rosemont and Cumberland. Looks like I'll be Blue Lining it this weekend.
Posted by: ebob | May 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Hi,
Do you have any idea if next weekend will produce similar rerouting and blue line disruptions? I figured since it's Memorial Day they might do things differently...
Posted by: Will | May 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Will, yeah, I'm really hoping that the CTA takes pity on the suburbanites and tourists -- and we poor residents who have to deal with them -- during holiday weekends, the Blues Fest, and the Taste. It would be a very reasonable and thoughtful decision.
Posted by: Bob S. | May 16, 2008 at 01:04 PM
This is the first time all 8 L lines have some disruption due to track work. That's pretty insane.
Posted by: loosh | May 17, 2008 at 08:59 AM
I have to agree with the comment above. The CTA should try to have the whole system operational during major events and holidays. I often give advice to tourists on TripAdvisor and I think that these closures and reroutes could reflect poorly on our city.
Posted by: ebob | May 18, 2008 at 08:41 AM