CTA Tattler

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: August - more car-sharing sites, and crazy Tattler tales

August was a relatively slow month for CTA news, but I did post more than the usual crazy commuting stories.

The month started with news that the CTA was expanding the number of sites where riders can access I-GO and Zipcar vehicles. Then Mayor Daley told us "we have a lot to learn" before hosting the 2016 Olympics after he rode a subway in Beijing.

I mostly ride the CTA rails, but I was visiting my Mom in the hospital in August when I truly discovered the beauty of CTA's Bus Tracker. Lovely.

Also in August, we got the first warnings of the coming fare hike. And there was a fun report of the top tunes on Ron Huberman's iPod.

On the crazy commuting tales front, we told you about the compulsively clean guy,  andthe "2nd hand yak" on the Purple Line. Finally, I told you about what happens when the teenaged sobber meets the motorman's ire.

Be safe this New Year's Eve.

"Penny rides" return for New Year's Eve

Yes, you can ride for just a penny again from 8 pm Wednesday, Dec. 31, till 6 am Thursday, Jan. 1. Bus and rail service also are extended for the evening.

And I put "penny rides" in quotes in the headline because as I reported last year, the rides are really free. Except, the CTA can't advertise free rides.

On New Year's Day I won't be commuting anywhere because I'll be rooting for my alma mater in the Rose Bowl. Go Nittany Lions!

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: July - bus bunching, rail safety and SRO trains

Early in July, we wrote a lot about bus bunching, including this inside look at the problem from a CTA driver. Then I told you what  the CTA is doing about the problem, and how more mobile supervisors are helping.

On the rails, the RTA issued a safety audit critical of the CTA on many fronts. We also reported on billing snafus with the new Express Farecard Vending Machines.

In a harbinger of things to come, the CTA finished its slow zone work early on the Blue Line between O'Hare and Rosemont. And the CTA formally announced the debut of standing-room-only rail cars on the Brown Line -- an idea Ron Huberman first discussed with us in March during our Coffee with Ron.

On the nutty CTA front, in July I wrote about leaving a sticky note for Karen, and the mutterings of a drunken Cubs fan. Finally, the Trib recognized CTA Tattler as one of it Best Blogs.

The official word on CTA rail and bus enhancements

Last week I reported exclusively that service on the Red, Brown and Purple lines would increase starting today now that all four tracks are finally open at Belmont and Fullerton. In that thread, Ryan asked for a link from the CTA site about this. Well Ryan, the CTA finally posted about it, and I'm happy to oblige you here (link now fixed).

That CTA posting also mentions quite a few bus service enhancements, including for #9, #91 and #143. So be sure to check those out.

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: June - another derailment, Block 37 plug pulled

June started with yet another derailment -- the third in about a week. Days later, it looked like Chicago's 2016 Olympic hopes may have been at least slightly derailed due to a transportation plan that scored low marks with Olympic officials.

Then, Huberman recommended that the CTA essentially mothball the Block 37 project until it could a private funding partner. And in one of favorite posts of the year, I captured the conversation and a photo of KevinB confronting Huberman about the Block 37 fiasco.

And we reported on the rising CTA fuel bills, and what they were doing to try to reduce fuel usage.

We also brought you a link to the BGA's database of salaries of all Chicago public employees, including all CTA workers. We also reported exclusively that the CTA was preparing a south entrance at the Harrison Red Line.

Finally, in June we lost a Chicago street artist, SOLVE/Brendan Scanlon, who once propped up an old TV on a CTA train seat with the message: "We are experiencing legal difficulties." He was my daughter's friend. May he continue to rest in peace.

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: May - Huberman's first year in review; three-track work accelerated

In May, I did a comprehensive review of CTA President Ron Huberman's first year at the helm -- the good and not so good.

In other news, the CTA named the four bus routes for the Bus Rapid Transit pilot. In May, Huberman also announced that the three-tracking project would be accelerated to allow for the project's completion by the end of the year.

And the third CTA incident in two months occurred with the Green Line derailment. Meanwhile, fuel prices continued to pressure CTA's budget.

Finally, we reported on a heated encounter on the Irving Park bus. Same as it ever was.

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: April - Blue Line "self-evacuation," Bus Tracker expansion

In April, there was no dearth of CTA news, including the Blue Line "self-evacuation" spurred by a lack of information from the CTA.

Meanwhile, the CTA did give bus customers MORE information with its expanded Bus Tracker program. The CTA also announced: Digital signs at rail stations to display train arrival info. It announced its partnership with Google Transit to map trips. And it first discussed the deal to get Bus Rapid Transit funds.

CTA Tattler continued its reporting of women being harassed by flashers, wankers and groping. And we told about the CTA asking a social service agency to reach out to homeless CTA riders.

In fun CTA news, we wished a Happy First Anniversary to the CTA Wedding Couple.

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: March - Coffee with Ron, lots more news

March was a busy month for CTA news. So let's get to it.

First, we held our first Coffee with Ron in March. He talked about many bus initiatives, including the expansion of Bus Tracker, and lots of rail news, including what the new rail cars due in 2010 will look like. At the coffee, Ron also introduced the idea of standing-room-only rail cars.

In March, we also saw Huberman showing off his old policing abilities:

Ron to the rescue! Huberman hustles rude rube off train

There as also news about hybrid buses, that would arrive later in 2008.

Finally, we featured a Tattler Tale in March about how the morning crowd on my daily commute livened up the car.

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: February - Three-track Red Line cuts announced

In February, we were just getting over the fact that we barely averted Doomsday in January. And we were preparing for the resumption of the three-tracking project on the west platforms at Belmont and Fullerton.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

In the top news story of February, I reported that the Red Line would reduce capacity by about 20% when the three-track project began again in late March. So keep this story in mind when we think about whether capacity will increase on the Red Line now that three-tracking is over.

Red Line southbound morning rush capacity to drop 20%

People carry some bizarre things on the CTA, and on Feb. 25 I reported on yet another one:

Boxing up your car exhaust pipe

Top Tattler Tales of 2008: January - Doomsday averted

This is the first in a series of the Top Tattler Tales of 2008. For CTA Tattler, 2008 was the year where this blog definitely turned more toward being a trusted source for CTA news and insights and somewhat away from crazy "things seen and heard on the CTA." But I'll try to post a funny story from each month, as well as the top news stories of that month.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa!

In January, 2008 dawned with much uncertainty for CTA riders. Like, would half the bus service be cut and fares hiked ridiculously?

The answer was no:

Doomsday averted; legislators pass transit bill with free rides for seniors -- Jan. 17.

And then there are the nutty people who jealously guard the seat next to them, and whose sanity is somewhat in question:

Try to take an empty seat? "Perverted; felonious; retarded!"

And a personal note: I was thrilled in January to be named a "webmaster" by Time Out Chicago magazine.