NABI bus update; CTA wins international "most improved" award
Last month I got an update from the CTA on the NABl bus inspections, but didn't have a chance to post it.
A CTA spokesperson said engineering consultants who are experts in bus structures "have done an initial inspection and are now doing an analysis and evaluation based on modeling predictions of where and when issues could occur. They are preparing a report for us with their analysis and recommendations. Until we have that and make decisions on next steps, the NABI buses will remain out of service."
The good news is that the CTA has existing orders already under way for New Flyer hybrid articulated buses and regular 40-foot buses. "Every week more of those buses are delivered to us so we are able to get those buses into service and lessen the impact," said the spokesperson.
WBBM also covered this story recently this week.
CTA "most improved" transit agency. Congrats to our very own CTA for winning the coveted "Most Improved Metro" award March 31 at the second annual Metro Awards in London. The CTA press release notes that the awards "recognize the leaders, innovators, creative talents and pioneers in the global Metro Rail industry."
The CTA notes its achievements:
"CTA achieved a 4.1 percent increase in rail ridership in 2008 compared to 2007. For 2008, the rail system recorded a total of 198.2 million rides – an increase of 7.9 million rides over the previous year. The agency also significantly reduced slow zones in 2008.
"Safety improvements made last year were recognized, including upgrades to subway emergency exits. Upgrades included brighter lighting, high visibility signs, improved stairways and an instructional video to help prepare customers for evacuation procedures in case of an emergency.
"CTA's application also highlighted improvements made in customer communications."
I agree they've made lots of improvements. Just before Christmas I wrote about the Welcome gifts the CTA gave us this year.
Oh boy, I just can't wait for the comments to start flooding in:)
Posted by: Stan | April 09, 2009 at 07:40 AM
I myself do not have time to write a long comment on this, since I am so busy watching the CTA's instructional video on evacuation procedures.
Posted by: stillwaiting | April 09, 2009 at 08:20 AM
How many of these new buses are delivered each week?
According to the Chicago Bus site we're receiving some of the 40 foot New Flyers that are a little lighter and more fuel efficient, although not hybrids.
Posted by: chris | April 09, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Sad that RonH didn't stick around long enough to bask in the glory of the most-improved award. Unfortunately, "most-improved" sounds like the consolation prize given to the kid at elementary school field day who's too uncoordinated and slow to win any other award. Or maybe it reminds me of the Lady Byng, which the NHL doles out every year to the player who is most gentlemanly.
Posted by: Martha | April 09, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Good for the CTA, though, even though it does sound like a consolation prize.
As I may have mentioned elsewhere, I rode the CTA and Metra daily for over twenty years before I had to look for a new job, only to discover that all the jobs now are in the transitless burbs--which is why I'm a *quondam* el rat. But I led a couple of all-day workshops downtown last week and was really gratified at how the Red Line has improved. The 96, of course, is the minimal excuse for a bus line that it was years ago, but once you get to the platform--trains every few minutes! Reasonable travel speeds all the way! Whee!
Come to think of it, I don't even think the Morse station smelled of pee.
Posted by: Quondam El Rat | April 09, 2009 at 11:14 AM
"I don't even think the Morse station smelled of pee."
...just one of the many qualifiers for winning the "Most Improved" award.
Posted by: John T | April 09, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Saw one of the new 40 footers on Halsted this AM, pretty easy to notice since they have the big "roof" on top.
Posted by: Nate B. | April 09, 2009 at 01:46 PM
I rode on a 40ft NABI on a Pace route today. Dame thing sounded like it was going to shake apart. Is NABI incapable of manufacturing a decent bus?
Posted by: Martha | April 09, 2009 at 09:50 PM
The "most improved" sounds similar to grade school report cards in the 50s. They had columns for "unsatisfactory," "improving," "good," and "outstanding." You didn't get an "improving" after an "outstanding."
Nate B: That wasn't one of them. The only 40 foot buses that have the roof pods are the 20 hybrids in the 800 and 900 series that were received 2 or 3 years ago. All other 40 foot New Flyers have flat roofs. The lighter ones are fleet numbers 1630 up.
Posted by: jack | April 10, 2009 at 09:27 AM
No question in my mind that, of all American heavy rail systems, the L has improved the most in the last couple of years.
Globally...well maybe.
One question: when will the L's train doors stop opening automatically at elevated stations in the middle of winter? It's ridiculous, unpleasant, and wasteful.
Posted by: theo | April 13, 2009 at 05:12 PM
I can't answer your question, Theo, but I can do the next best thing: go off on a tangent inspired by it. :-) (OK, a very distant next best.)
I forgot to mention, before, one of the most pleasant changes in the Red Line experience of recent years: *not* sitting at every station for five to ten minutes while the doors open, close, open, close, open, close ... ad nauseum, or ad homicidal-rageum.
Posted by: Quondam El Rat | April 13, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Sorry, "nauseam" and "rageam." Too late in the day for messing around with ablatives, I guess.
Posted by: Quondam El Rat | April 13, 2009 at 06:18 PM