CHICAGO: Transit Developments

[schwerve]

Originally Posted by Abner

I haven't heard anybody ask yet why the Dan Ryan Red Line is 14% slow when the line was just redone.

my understanding is that the rehab project was just power and station work, they didn't touch the rails.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by Abner

I haven't heard anybody ask yet why the Dan Ryan Red Line is 14% slow when the line was just redone. It crawls all the way from Cermak to 35th. Same with the Dearborn Subway, I thought they had just gotten done fixing things down there. Is there a good explanation?

Also remember that 8.4% of the system being slow zoned means you spend a lot more than 8.4% of your time in a slow zone.

Was the Cermak to 35th stretch redone? I know south of 35th certinaly was. If it was redone, and the slow zone is not weather related, is there any way to hold the contractor accountable for shoddy work?

The Dearborn Subway just secured stimulas funds to do a full track and tie rebuild, ala State Street Subway. I spotted some electrical work for a new signal in the Clark/Lake station this afternoon, so perhaps work has already started.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by schwerve

my understanding is that the rehab project was just power and station work, they didn't touch the rails.

I think you are right about that.

[VivaLFuego]

I think they did some selective tie and ballast renewal on the Dan Ryan branch, but it really needs all new ties, tie plates, and ballast; might as well do the whole shebang like on the O'Hare branch and build it to a 70mph standard. Not sure about the running rail - the rail itself can in theory last a very long time but running in the middle of the Dan Ryan is a particularly harsh environment on infrastructure because of not only the temperature but also the salt spray.

[Taft]

Originally Posted by emathias

Right now, even if we ignore the Purple Line as just being ridiculously ignored, the rest of the system still averages 6.6% slow - and that's with three lines being essentially 15 or fewer years old (Green rebuilt, Pink rebuilt, Orange new just over 15 years ago), and the Dan Ryan, State Street subway and O'Hare branches having significant recent track work. It astounds me how far it's gone and how accepting we are of that.

You have a good point: the CTA can and should do better. At the same time, look at where the system was 2 years ago. The CTA has improved.

But more important (for me, anyway) is that transit in Chicago in general could very well see some of the funding it has been waiting so long for. Between the stimulus money and the new capital improvement budget being floated at the state level, the CTA may finally have at least a good chunk of the money it needs to get the system to a state of good repair. And to be clear: this money, if available, would be put overwhelmingly towards repair and improvement of existing service.

I know this isn't a sure thing, but it does seem like some of the politics that have been saddling the CTA for a decade may be fading, even if only temporarily. I remain cautiously optimistic.

[ChicagoChicago]

Can someone explain to me the significance of building the Belmont and Fullerton stations out of concrete? I imagine it’s more expensive, but does it last longer too? It is definitely quieter and easier on the surrounding environment.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33405

Obama taps Aon lawyer for DOT role
By: Paul Merrion March 20, 2009

As expected, President Barack Obama nominated Robert Rivkin, vice-president and deputy general counsel of Aon Corp., to be general counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

He’s the third Illinoisan tapped for a top post at that department so far, starting with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, former Republican congressman from Peoria. Former Riverdale Mayor Joe Szabo also was named Thursday as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.

Mr. Rivkin, who served as general counsel of the Chicago Transit Authority from 2001 to 2004, was a member of the president’s transition team on transportation and led a transportation policy committee for the Obama for America campaign.

[the urban politician]

^ Wow, Illinois sure is building a lot of Federal transportation clout

[Busy Bee]

Cue up Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by bnk

"We will build a third airport in the south suburbs of Chicago and we will build it as fast as humanly possible," Quinn said during his budget address at the state Capitol.

What, is the new guy as disconnected from reality as G-Rod was?
I love the emphasis on infrastructure, but priorities should be elsewhere now. Is he just plumbing for suburban votes?

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by denizen467

What, is the new guy as disconnected from reality as G-Rod was?
I love the emphasis on infrastructure, but priorities should be elsewhere now. Is he just plumbing for suburban votes?

Probably.

I went to a town hall meeting in Oak Lawn yesterday held by Congressman Dan Lipinski. When asked, he said that he has not and will not support Peotone unless airlines sign on to use it, and cited Mid-America airport downstate as an example of an unused white elephant.

That town hall was a little brutal, the room was filled with angry suburban Republicans, some of them openly racist saying shit like "Mexico is taking us over, we now need to go take over Mexico!" And getting applauds for saying it. It was a nice reminder of one little reason of why I can't stand the suburbs. As dysfunctional as city government can be at times, at least we don't have to deal with that ultra-conservative crap on a daily basis. I had to keep reminding myself, that the room was probably filled with just the staunchest folks in the area, and does not represent common beliefs (I hope!). I went to the meeting because I wanted to personally thank Lipinski for his hard work in securing mass transit funds in the stimulus bill, and to voice my support for the Orange Line extension.

A nice little mood cleanser was the nice weather that accompanied me on a 2 1/2 mile walk up to the Oak Lawn Metra Station where I boarded one of the SWS new Saturday trains. I was happily greeted by a platform filled with other happy folks cheering loudly as the train pulled in. The Village of Oak Lawn had some employees taking pictures of the event. I am happy to report that the second inbound train was pretty darn full. Just about every seat was taken in the cars that were open for public seating.

[puckle74]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

That town hall was a little brutal, the room was filled with angry suburban Republicans, some of them openly racist saying shit like "Mexico is taking us over, we now need to go take over Mexico!" And getting applauds for saying it. It was a nice reminder of one little reason of why I can't stand the suburbs. As dysfunctional as city government can be at times, at least we don't have to deal with that ultra-conservative crap on a daily basis. I had to keep reminding myself, that the room was probably filled with just the staunchest folks in the area, and does not represent common beliefs (I hope!).

Oak Lawn? I thought all of the right wingers lived in yorkville now. Or Indiana? Don't they hate everything about chicago and cook county.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by puckle74

Oak Lawn? I thought all of the right wingers lived in yorkville now. Or Indiana? Don't they hate everything about chicago and cook county.

One would think so. The grumpiest people were old dust farts. So, I would wager these were the folks that moved to what was then the fringe in the 1960's, raised families and then never left. They are living out their final years and final frustrations of watching their community and nation adjust to a changing society.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

That town hall was a little brutal, the room was filled with angry suburban Republicans, some of them openly racist saying shit like "Mexico is taking us over, we now need to go take over Mexico!" And getting applauds for saying it. It was a nice reminder of one little reason of why I can't stand the suburbs. As dysfunctional as city government can be at times, at least we don't have to deal with that ultra-conservative crap on a daily basis. I had to keep reminding myself, that the room was probably filled with just the staunchest folks in the area, and does not represent common beliefs (I hope!). I went to the meeting because I wanted to personally thank Lipinski for his hard work in securing mass transit funds in the stimulus bill, and to voice my support for the Orange Line extension.

^ Not to get political, but lets not generalize about suburbanites here. I don't deny that you were clearly in a room full of fuck-faces, but Obama won the presidency by winning over suburban America.

[simcityaustin]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Probably.

That town hall was a little brutal, the room was filled with angry suburban Republicans, some of them openly racist saying shit like "Mexico is taking us over, we now need to go take over Mexico!"

Why are you trying to make the correlation between racists and Republicans? I know more rascist liberals than conservatives....seriously, even if a correlation can be made it's not because Republicans are racists, they just agree with things rednecks like...less taxes, less gun control, more state control....a classic case of correlation not equaling causation.

[nomarandlee]

Just par for the course. SSP is known for first discussing urbanity, only slightly second is the brave righteous indignation of liberal folk about all of the diabolic evils of anything right of center (inside this country at least).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...0,398128.story

Metra service: Why Metra is riding slow train to future
Conductors still manually check tickets, collect cash fares
By Richard Wronski | Tribune reporter
March 23, 2009

Since Metra was formed more than two decades ago, people have made the use of credit cards, cell phones and the Internet second nature.

But Metra conductors still ply the aisles as they did back in 1983, punching paper tickets by hand. And while other transit agencies provide alerts about delayed trains on Web-enabled cell phones, Metra customers stuck on platforms rely on squawky public-address announcements that sound straight from the Thomas Edison era.

Despite ridership that has soared to a record 85 million, Metra still operates, some argue, as if it's stuck in the past.

And don't get people started on the usefulness of Metra's Web site.

So if Metra really aims to be "the way to really fly" in the 21st Century, here are some suggestions from passengers and transportation experts. They're not all about technology, but that's a good place to start:

Paper tickets

Metra runs on paper, as in paper tickets. Although the majority of riders use monthly passes, passengers in January still bought more than 666,000 one-way tickets or used 10-ride tickets, which conductors have to punch individually.

Conductors also sell tickets on board, which can be time-consuming when trains are crowded.

Checking every ticket is necessary, Metra says, because it has an "open" boarding system, unlike the CTA and other closed rail systems that use turnstiles.

Other open rail systems have done away with punching and checking individual tickets. For example, conductors on Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority check tickets with hand-held electronic devices.

"Electronic fare collection is the standard almost everywhere," said Joseph Schofer, a transportation expert at Northwestern University.

On Caltrain, a commuter rail line operating between San Francisco and San Jose, passengers buy tickets from vending machines and conductors make random checks. Anyone without a ticket faces a $250 fine.


Credit cards
It's cash or checks only on Metra. The line doesn't take plastic because of the processing fees that credit-card companies impose, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.

This would amount to millions of dollars a year and would have to be passed along to customers, she said.

The CTA and other commuter lines accept credit and debit cards while allowing riders to buy tickets from fare vending machines.

Installing vending machines at 240 stations on 11 train lines would be cost-prohibitive for a service that is convenient but not crucial, Pardonnet said.

DePaul University transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman said he was struck by how easy it was to buy a $2 ticket with a credit card on Portland's MAX light-rail system. Not allowing this on Metra "is a shame," he said.

Meanwhile, other transit systems are bypassing tickets altogether in favor of "smart" versions of MasterCard and Visa cards containing computer chips. These "touch and go" cards don't need to be swiped, allowing quicker boarding.

MasterCard has had a trial under way with the New York transit system since 2006. The CTA said it plans to do the same next year.


Train tracker

For harried commuters, few experiences are more grating than making a mad dash to the station, only to discover that the train is running 15 minutes late.

The practice of manually checking tickets and collecting fares strikes some riders as harmlessly quaint. But it riles others who have to dig down for cash or sign a check because Metra won't take plastic.

A system similar to the CTA's Bus Tracker would help by sending service advisories directly to a customer's BlackBerry or similar device.

Metra already keeps track of its trains with global positioning system (GPS) technology and posts service advisories on its Web site, metrarail.com. It also uses this information to make station announcements over a low-tech public-address system.

But riders such as Kirk Hartley of Orland Park want more.

"Riders for years have been asking for something very basic—to be able to sign up for e-mail alerts for service interruptions, which the airlines have been doing for years," Hartley said.

Metra says it will award a contract this year to upgrade its Web site, which will allow the line to offer a train tracker system.

Other commuter rail lines, including those in Boston and Long Island, N.Y., already offer real-time information on train schedules, alerts and service advisories.



Web site
The coming improvements to the Web site are long overdue, say experts and customers who agree the site is outdated.

"The Metra Web site looks like an old paper [railroad] schedule posted on the Web," Schofer said. "It is not easy to find or see what you are looking for. And it is not interactive."

For attractiveness and ease of navigation, the mass-transit gold standard might be the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's site, mbta.com.

Wireless Internet access

Although Metra riders can use laptops, they can forget about accessing the Internet.

The MBTA boasts that it offers first-in-the-nation free Wi-Fi service on its commuter trains.

The Boston-area agency plans to have at least two coaches on each train Wi-Fi-enabled by spring.

The MBTA says it costs about $1 million to install the hardware, plus about $270,000 a year to service, but the agency expects to make up the cost in additional ridership.

Seat hogs

Passengers who take up more than one seat are a common target of barbs in Metra's on-board newsletter, On the Bi-Level.

If trains are crowded, conductors are expected to remind riders to put bags or packages on the floor or luggage rack and to flip over seat backs.

"Frequently the conductor will go through the cars and mention it when people are taking up more than their fair share" of space, Pardonnet said.


Cell phone noise

So you've found a seat and settled in, only to discover another bane of rail commuting: the rider who thinks phone conversations should be conducted in a booming voice.

Metra says it broadcasts reminders and posts notices asking for courtesy, and conductors occasionally remind passengers to be considerate.

But designating "quiet cars" or requiring cell phone users to talk in vestibules would be impractical, Pardonnet said.


Toilets

Metra riders have long been challenged in finding convenient toilets.

In August, Metra announced it would cut the number of toilets to install more seats. The goal is to reduce the percentage of cars with toilets from 60 percent to 50 percent of the fleet.

Metra chief Phil Pagano vowed that every other car will have a toilet but added that he didn't believe passengers would notice the difference.


Bar cars

Metra also decided last year to shut down its remaining 10 "refreshment" cars, where alcoholic beverages were sold.

Patrons were upset, although some riders found the party atmosphere on the cars to be irritating. Now, fans BYO and party on.


Food and drink

Except for events such as Taste of Chicago or on New Year's Eve, Metra allows passengers to bring drinks on board.

Food is also permitted, although some passengers are sure to find the smell of someone else's sweet-and-sour shrimp dinner annoying.

"We don't have a problem with messes on the trains," Pardonnet said. "People seem to be pretty cooperative with cleaning up after themselves."

rwronski@tribune.com

[Chicago Shawn]

^As old fashioned as it is, the paper system does work. Metra however, should have never removed the turnstyles from the electric line stations. I do wish that perhaps we could get a few vending machines where one could generate a paper ticket by swiping a CTA fare card or Chicago Card and deducting the needed amount.

Originally Posted by simcityaustin

Why are you trying to make the correlation between racists and Republicans? I know more rascist liberals than conservatives....seriously, even if a correlation can be made it's not because Republicans are racists, they just agree with things rednecks like...less taxes, less gun control, more state control....a classic case of correlation not equaling causation.

Um, because they publicly said they are Republicans. I was just posting an observation, not making a correlation. That is why I said, Some were openly racist, not accusing the whole room. My old neighborhood of Jefferson Park has a quite a few racist democrats that I had to deal with.

[Abner]

Metra's website looks like it was made by a 12 year old in 1998. Hope they can finally fix that.

How do zoned commuter rail systems work in other cities? Do they usually have turnstiles that you put your card into when you enter and exit?

[nomarandlee]

Though all of those are important improvements I think the most needed could be the Wi-Fi. One has to give some customers some service advantages they just will not be able to get with driving anytime in the near future. Being able to easily do your work before you even get to the office would be seen as a major plus by potential riders.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Metra however, should have never removed the turnstyles from the electric line stations.

While having an electronic ticketing system was a potential plus for that line, the south side and south suburban residents had a decent point in wondering why that was the only line "singled out" for such a fare collection scheme. Of course one could get into a lengthy historical explanation of how that came to be, but by then you've already lost any political debate. Removing them was probably a cheaper option anyway - less old equipment to maintain, particularly at some low ridership stations.

The RTA should step up to the plate and get Metra to immediately plan and budget for implementation of electronic fare collection - of course they will still need conductors, but they need to accept credit cards, and importantly need to accept smart cards for something resembling actual fare integration with CTA and Pace.

For years, Metra under Jeff Ladd fought vigorously against any sort of regional cooperation - and you know what? Metra has been a very well run, well-maintained, prudent railroad, with few boondoggle projects initiatives (leaving out the STAR line, here). It has become so in part because of Ladd's conscious and consistent hostility to bowing to any political pressure whatsoever - not that Metra even receives much at all compared to the ludicrous political demands placed on CTA. But Metra has, for nearly 2 decades, almost always done what is best for Metra in terms of capital budgeting/planning, scheduling, and so on. Are the results so bad? Riding Metra is a great experience - but using it intermodally as part of a regional transit network? Not so much.

Upgrading the fare systems would be expensive - from the standpoint Metra's bottom line, maintaining the status quo is probably cheaper, as ongoing operating savings in cash handling would be eaten up by credit card fees. This issue highlights the need for a stronger and more active RTA, as such an initiative, while costly to Metra, has important regional benefit.

EDIT: somewhat amusingly, check out this Crain's article:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-b...gobusiness.com

Well, I guess to clarify, Ladd was perhaps only against doing anything political in terms of actual train service...