CTA Tattler

only 45 dollars for paratransit? That makes me sad.

Some context would be helpful, though: What is the normal amount (if any) of state capital funding for mass transit in a year? If it's normally zero, then this is great. If it's normally $1 billion or more, then this is inconclusive.

since 2004 the state has give exactly $0.00 for transit capital expenses to cta or any other transit agencies. this is the primary reason why the condition of transit infrastructre has worsened since then. prior to 2004, cta was receiving many hundreds of millions per year from the state and using it to leverage even more federal dollars.

Johnson,

The numbers were in millions.

As far as context, this is better than the goosegg we've gotten since 2004 when FIRST expired. We all know we need more, and I think most legislators from Chicago are going to push for more, but are using this as a "start" and will work for more funding after the break.

I'm a little confused about why we are still funding brown-line rehabs. I thought this was funded and/or done. The red line funding is long over-due.

Does anyone know how much matching federal dollars we will get out of this? That could theoretically double this amount, which would be awesome.

I'm really confused about funding for Brown line substations, as replacement substations were already completed and (I thought) paid for from the Brown Line Expansion Project.

Are these substations perhaps for the Loop? It seems as though the substations North of the Merchandise Mart on the Brown line have already been rehabbed.

Chris,

I am aware the numbers are in millions. The $45 figure does not have a "million" label, like the other two figures. I was making a sarcastic comment.

In addition, if the figures are in millions, then the former two figures are astronomically high.

Before anyone says it, new canopies for the brown line stations will not cost as much as they are allocating for brown line stations.

The current fleet of CTA buses seems to be a pretty good condition. The 1000 series New Flyers seem to be working out as are the 4000 series 60 foot buses. It is good to see that hybrid buses are a priority to the CTA as it really is the only way to go.

I certainly hope a good chuck of the Red line track money goes to fixing the slow zones between Sheridan and Howard that have existed for many years. In the stimulus dollars articles a month or so ago I think I read that they wanted to replace the tracks between Roosevelt and Chinatown. I certainly hope that small section doesn't eat up all of the $113 million! It is just over 1 mile of track each way. The Dan Ryan branch was rehabbed what a year or two ago and the entire State street subway's tracks were just replaced last year. The tracks from the subway up to around Belmont seemed to have been repaired extensively in conjunction with the Brown line project.

The only other thing I'm suprised isn't in the list is to start the work to replace another concrete bridge in Evanston. They were on track to do one a year until the IL FIRST money ran out.

It'd be nice to get some money to repair the express tracks, too -- this seems like it'd be so easy to do since they're only in use a few hours each day. It also seems like they wouldn't deteriorate so rapidly, though!

Maybe the problem is a mismatch of constituencies -- they primarily benefit people in the suburbs, but they're located in the city.

The Dan Ryan Branch rehabb only replaced crossovers and the rest of the line still needs replacement. There are still plenty of slow zones creeping in not to mention the fact that the train does jerk around alot especially south of Sox-35th. They need to use alot of the funds for another slow zone project there like the one that was done on the blue line.

Anyone know what happened with the NABI buses they took off the street? Is this bus money going to be used to replace those or some of the other older buses we have?

I'm curious as to when the CTA is going to seriously look at renovating the North Main (red/purple express). There are so many issues on this section -- stations that aren't handicapped accessible, crumbling concrete retaining walls on the permanent way, the Sheridan double curve, platforms that are dangerously narrow, the at-grade crossing with the northbound Brown Line, and the only remaining block of Red Line stations that are not accessible to ten-car trains.

In viewing this article, I noticed no allocations of funds for renovation of stations along the Purple line El. Several of these stations are really in bad shape and need rehabbing. Also, there is a severe lack of accessability on the purple line if you are on crutches or using a cane or walker. In particular, the station at Central Street is in desperate need of an elevator due to the volume of riders who come and go from the Evanston Northshore hospital, some with ambulatory handicaps. I hope that the CTA takes the time to examine the Central Street station and comes to the conclusion that with the proximity to the hospital and medical center this station needs to be a high priority on any Purple Line upgrade.

Just rechecked article and found 22 million earmarked for station rehab...sorry for the oversight! Still think Central street station on Purple Line needs those elevators badly!