CTA Tattler

In at least one important way, the new performance metrics are less transparent.

The old bus stats gave an important figure - passengers per platform hour. Meaning, if a bus line has 10 buses running for 10 hours/day and 5,000 passengers, that's 50/hour.

If a different bus line had 20 buses running 20 hours/day, and 10,000 passengers, even though it has double the first route's passengers, it has half the productivity.

I don't understand why they took that figure out of the public stats. It's a major loss in my opinion.

I saw this yesterday -- http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/autocorner/chi-getting-around-22-dec22,0,3343771.column -- which I thought was pretty cool. Glowing green handrails will be great the next time a train self-evacuates for no reason, maybe they'll get out of the tunnels faster so the rest of the commuters can still get home!

I think many people on this blog lose sight of some of the CTA's major accomplishments. They made quite a lot happen this year, and this is just the big stuff. Sure, they are not perfect, but they never will be. That doesn't mean we should let them off the hook, but overall I give them a good grade for the year. I can't wait to see what is in store for next year.

Is there any news on the Bus Rapid Transit Program? I can't find any new info.

This wasn't an initiative started this year, but the on-going attention to keeping the rail stations, rail cars and buses clean is very welcome. It's lovely not to have to smell pee and rot on a regular basis. The use of more benign cleaning products is also welcome. I don't miss choking on the industrial strength Mr. Clean smell we used to enjoy after the once-in-a-blue-moon thorough cleaning of equipment or stations.

I am thankful that the CTA has been power washing buses and trains.

I would add the repair/refurbishing of the Berwyn and Thorndale staions

I think the best of these was the Google partnership. It's been a huge boon being able to look up an address on Google maps, and then just glance around the map to see the nearest rail stop – rarely have to bother with Tripsweb these days. Kudos to CTA & Google.

I agree with Chris and Kevin. Earlier, I posted a quibble about the performance standards. But overall, I've seen improvement this year, and I think some praise is in order.

Don't forget the almost 1000 brand new buses that are on the street replacing an equal amount of buses that were way past their service life.

I don't remember any 1000 new buses that came out this year... I think you are mistaken.

It's 200-300 new buses that replace the 4400 Flxibles.

But we still don't have bus tracker for the 22, which would have been nice last night, what with the snow mess & waiting forever & finally walking a half mile & still no Clark bus.

We may not be living in the land of 1,000 new buses, but I haven't seen a geriatric TMC in months. A lot of the North Park routes have New Flyers that are only a few months old. Then there's the matter of those spiffy new hybrid articulated buses. I got to ride on one a few days ago. The suspension seems to actually work on them unlike the NABIs, although I did miss the trill-ride factor the NABIs never fail to provide.

Oops, I meant the 4400 TMCs are gone.
Most of the 6000 Flxibles are also disappearing.

they've a long way to go (like including the clark, broadway, division and chicago buses), but man, that bus tracker rules for the buses it's working on.

yay bus tracker!

I'm still really happy that the Damen Brown Line station is finally open again!