Fare increase looking more likely; budget released on Thursday
CTA President Ron Huberman hinted again at a fare increase Thursday in his testimony before a city council committee. We'll know for sure when the CTA releases its 2009 budget this Thursday.
At least one public hearing on the budget will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6 pm at CTA headquarters, 567 W. Lake St. I'll post times and dates for other hearings as they become available.
Southbound Red goes "over the top" Monday night. The southbound Red Line will be rerouted to the elevated tracks around the Loop from 9 pm tonight till 5 am Tuesday morning. Interestingly, the CTA's Web site doesn't explain why.
Please be careful out there. A college friend of my daughter's was hit by a bus last week, and had to undergo brain surgery. I don't really have details of the accident. I just know that these types of accident seem to happen with some frequency. So please be careful.
Maybe they're re-routing tonight to stay on schedule with their work and still be able to run normally during the Marathon next Sunday. At least that's my hope, since if they're running the Red Line above ground next Sunday I'm totally screwed trying to get to work.
Posted by: Cheryl | October 06, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I wouldn't worry, Cheryl - I work off of the Clark/Division stop on Sunday mornings, and they've ALWAYS called off construction and let the red line run through the subway on the weekend of the marathon (and most holiday weekends, too). So you shouldn't have any problems. And if you get the chance, it's great to watch the race go up LaSalle (~mile 2.5) and then walk over a block to see it come back down Wells (~mile 7). It's a real treat :-)
Posted by: Kiel | October 06, 2008 at 01:41 PM
"Interestingly, the CTA's Web site doesn't explain why. "
I don't understand where the confusion comes from. You yourself stated on your post of September 12th: http://www.ctatattler.com/2008/09/cta-finishes-re.html
"Noelle Gaffney, CTA spokesperson, said the main work was finished this week. 'We still have some clean-up work to do so we expect to still have single track/over the top routing for the Red Line subway some weeknights (usually Mondays) for the next few weeks,' she said."
Tonight is Monday. So obviously it is logical to believe it is being rerouted for the reasons you stated.
Posted by: MK | October 06, 2008 at 03:43 PM
That does sound like fun, Kiel, but I'm east of Michigan Av on Sundays and that's the only day of the week I really truly have to be at work on time.
Posted by: Cheryl | October 06, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your daughter's friend, Kevin. Condolences to the family of Kiyanna Salter, the young lady caught in the crossfire on the #71 bus. Let's be careful out there, transit users.
Posted by: Martha | October 06, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Very sorry about the accident and I hope she gets better soon. But please tell me it wasn't because of iPod headphones or a cell phone (talking or even texting while crossing the street). I see so many people just walking into the street oblivious because of those things and almost getting hit by a car or bus or bike or... Not saying that's what happened to her, but anyway...
Posted by: Dude | October 07, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Just a comment about the upcoming Marathon. Metra already has posted their extra service. I am *SURE* the CTA knows about this, yet there is no information about bus rerouting. Maybe this information will be posted by 4 PM Sunday afternoon?
Posted by: JD | October 07, 2008 at 10:50 AM
They have announcements about bus rerouting on the buses that will be rerouted, JD. I've been hearing them for about a week now.
Posted by: Cheryl | October 07, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Cheryl: Unfortunately my use of the bus in the loop is on Sunday, so I cannot hear these announcements. If they can spend the time to put public announcements on the bus, why cannot they also publish them?
Posted by: JD | October 07, 2008 at 02:06 PM
JD,
It is Tuesday. You have five days. What it the rush? The CTA always publishes any reroutes for a weekend on the Thursday or Friday prior. I have never seen anyone complain that this is not early enough notice until now.
Posted by: JD | October 07, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Oops. Sorry. I accidently put "JD" in the name box when I was addressing him. This is MK who just posted.
Posted by: MK | October 07, 2008 at 03:08 PM