Literally.
Showing posts with label CTA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CTA. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday, October 12, 2009
And you'll LIKE it!
It's that annual time of year that comes around every year about this time...
"You'll pay more -- as much as 75 cents more a ride. You'll have to wait another five or 10 minutes for the bus or train to arrive and it likely will be even more crowded than it is now. And if you work for the Chicago Transit Authority, you could be one of the 1,000 folks who are about to be laid off."
"You'll pay more -- as much as 75 cents more a ride. You'll have to wait another five or 10 minutes for the bus or train to arrive and it likely will be even more crowded than it is now. And if you work for the Chicago Transit Authority, you could be one of the 1,000 folks who are about to be laid off."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
pretty sure there's no connection here... yep, quite certain
News item: CTA warns of service cuts
News item: DC Metro may get billions after crash
Fortunately, the L never moves fast enough to hurt anyone.
~
News item: DC Metro may get billions after crash
Fortunately, the L never moves fast enough to hurt anyone.
~
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wonderful
Jon Hilkevitch: When CTA driver runs light, you pay
The change was made in part because of pressure from the bus drivers union in response to the proliferation of red-light cameras across the city, officials said.
Once again, darned unions making us pay for what the drivers should pay for.
Running red lights is not condoned under any circumstances, including to get tardy buses back on schedule, transit officials said.
"Bus operators are professional drivers, and they are taught defensive driving," Gaffney said. "When they are approaching an intersection, they are supposed to be covering the brake [pedal with their foot], and if they see the yellow light, they should be prepared to bring the bus to a safe stop."
Asked to respond to comments from bus drivers that sudden stops could cause injury to bus passengers, Gaffney said the drivers are "trained to avoid driving in a manner that would cause them to stop suddenly."
Yes, well they all need a refresher course on this one. Whenever I've been standing on a bus I've been nearly sent flying quite a few times. And lots of those times we aren't at a traffic light, but in rush hour traffic on LSD. They all think driving = gassing it up and then jamming on the brakes, so it's funny that they try and get out of the red light thing by saying "but then we'd have to jam on the brakes" when that's how they normally drive.
I remember a copper coming over and just chewing out a bus driver for running a light on Michigan. I didn't see the whole thing but he kept coming up with lame excuse after lame excuse and she was having none of it. Wish we had more like her. If the CTA pays and then "disciplines" the drivers internally, who's to say that they don't just sweep it under the carpet and make us pay?
The change was made in part because of pressure from the bus drivers union in response to the proliferation of red-light cameras across the city, officials said.
Once again, darned unions making us pay for what the drivers should pay for.
Running red lights is not condoned under any circumstances, including to get tardy buses back on schedule, transit officials said.
"Bus operators are professional drivers, and they are taught defensive driving," Gaffney said. "When they are approaching an intersection, they are supposed to be covering the brake [pedal with their foot], and if they see the yellow light, they should be prepared to bring the bus to a safe stop."
Asked to respond to comments from bus drivers that sudden stops could cause injury to bus passengers, Gaffney said the drivers are "trained to avoid driving in a manner that would cause them to stop suddenly."
Yes, well they all need a refresher course on this one. Whenever I've been standing on a bus I've been nearly sent flying quite a few times. And lots of those times we aren't at a traffic light, but in rush hour traffic on LSD. They all think driving = gassing it up and then jamming on the brakes, so it's funny that they try and get out of the red light thing by saying "but then we'd have to jam on the brakes" when that's how they normally drive.
I remember a copper coming over and just chewing out a bus driver for running a light on Michigan. I didn't see the whole thing but he kept coming up with lame excuse after lame excuse and she was having none of it. Wish we had more like her. If the CTA pays and then "disciplines" the drivers internally, who's to say that they don't just sweep it under the carpet and make us pay?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
When it rains, it pours
CTA fare hike planned
50% more in taxes, now dis? They just chip away until you have nuttin left. No wonder the Republicans still have support...
50% more in taxes, now dis? They just chip away until you have nuttin left. No wonder the Republicans still have support...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Well, he's right, but...
...if he thinks his little senior citizen appeasement ploy didn't cost anything, he's more delusional than we thought...
Governor says CTA wastes money
Posted by Monique Garcia at 3:13 p.m.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich blasted leaders of the Chicago Transit Authority on Wednesday, accusing the agency of wasting taxpayer money and lying about the impact of his program to give free rides to thousands of seniors.
The governor went on the attack after Mayor Richard Daley said Blagojevich should be blamed if the CTA is forced to raise fares to pay for the free rides. Blagojevich accused the CTA of exaggerating the cost of the free rides and accused CTA board members of being beholden to City Hall, not riders.
Blagojevich, who controls three of the appointments on the seven-member board, said he wanted to appoint new members who would be more independent. The mayor appoints the other four members.
"We want to put some people in there who will press the leaders of the CTA everyday on where all the money is going," Blagojevich said.
Governor says CTA wastes money
Posted by Monique Garcia at 3:13 p.m.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich blasted leaders of the Chicago Transit Authority on Wednesday, accusing the agency of wasting taxpayer money and lying about the impact of his program to give free rides to thousands of seniors.
The governor went on the attack after Mayor Richard Daley said Blagojevich should be blamed if the CTA is forced to raise fares to pay for the free rides. Blagojevich accused the CTA of exaggerating the cost of the free rides and accused CTA board members of being beholden to City Hall, not riders.
Blagojevich, who controls three of the appointments on the seven-member board, said he wanted to appoint new members who would be more independent. The mayor appoints the other four members.
"We want to put some people in there who will press the leaders of the CTA everyday on where all the money is going," Blagojevich said.
Friday, July 18, 2008
will Fung finally stop complaining?
CTA adds 15 new routes to Bus Tracker
(Crain’s) — The Chicago Transit Authority on Monday will add 15 bus routes to its Bus Tracker program.
The addition means that arrival times for nearly half of all 153 CTA bus routes can be tracked via the Internet at www.ctabustracker.com. . .
The routes that will be activated Monday are:
* No. 7 Harrison
* No. 8 Halsted
* No. 10 Museum of Science & Industry
* No. 12 Roosevelt
* No. 17 Westchester
* No. 18 16th Street/18th Street
* No. 38 Ogden/Taylor
* No. 52 Kedzie/California
* No. 125 Water Tower Express
* No. 126 Jackson
* No. 129 West Loop/South Loop
* No. 146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
* No. 147 Outer Drive Express
* No. 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
* No. 156 LaSalle
(Crain’s) — The Chicago Transit Authority on Monday will add 15 bus routes to its Bus Tracker program.
The addition means that arrival times for nearly half of all 153 CTA bus routes can be tracked via the Internet at www.ctabustracker.com. . .
The routes that will be activated Monday are:
* No. 7 Harrison
* No. 8 Halsted
* No. 10 Museum of Science & Industry
* No. 12 Roosevelt
* No. 17 Westchester
* No. 18 16th Street/18th Street
* No. 38 Ogden/Taylor
* No. 52 Kedzie/California
* No. 125 Water Tower Express
* No. 126 Jackson
* No. 129 West Loop/South Loop
* No. 146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
* No. 147 Outer Drive Express
* No. 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
* No. 156 LaSalle
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Cattle Cars R Comin...
Do you think standing-room-only trains will improve the commute?
Yes (942 responses) 35.2%
No (1731 responses) 64.8%
2673 total responses (Results not scientific, but idiotic)
Yes (942 responses) 35.2%
No (1731 responses) 64.8%
2673 total responses (Results not scientific, but idiotic)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Expect Delays (cont)
CTA airport express plan crippled
$100 million in cost overruns cited
The CTA's original budget on the project was $130 million in 2005.
The CTA has spent about $250 million to date "for a shell in the middle of the city," said CTA board member Susan Leonis, a longtime opponent of the "airport express" plan devised by former CTA president Frank Kruesi.
"This project has been a disaster," Leonis said.
$100 million in cost overruns cited
The CTA's original budget on the project was $130 million in 2005.
The CTA has spent about $250 million to date "for a shell in the middle of the city," said CTA board member Susan Leonis, a longtime opponent of the "airport express" plan devised by former CTA president Frank Kruesi.
"This project has been a disaster," Leonis said.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
expect delays (cont'd)
Green Line derails"We felt the 'boom, boom, boom' and then I grabbed the pole because it felt like we were going to fall off onto the ground," said Jackson, who was riding with six others in the second of two cars that derailed on the elevated tracks at the 59th Street junction just after 10 a.m...
"Everyone was screaming and hollering for their lives," Jackson said. "I just thank God it didn't fall off the edge. It was chaos. Everyone was hysterical."
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Feds listening to Fung?
Big traffic revamp: More bus-only lanes, rush-hour meters
Lanes dedicated to buses-only will be created on four major city corridors that were not immediately identified. One could be Lake Shore Drive.
Woo Hoo!
In addition, buses will make fewer stops—four to five blocks apart. Kiosks will be installed at the bus stops to enable passengers to pre-pay their fares and board quickly once the bus arrives.
Remember, don't take away my bus stop...
Lanes dedicated to buses-only will be created on four major city corridors that were not immediately identified. One could be Lake Shore Drive.
Woo Hoo!
In addition, buses will make fewer stops—four to five blocks apart. Kiosks will be installed at the bus stops to enable passengers to pre-pay their fares and board quickly once the bus arrives.
Remember, don't take away my bus stop...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Woe is Fung
I walked down to the bus stop yesterday after a long day at work. As always, I just missed a bus as I was walking down. But no matter, it's about 6, so they're gonna send like 8 of them. Then I get to the stop. There's a note, looks like someone typed it up in Word and then just printed it out on the office HP. The message? In order to improve the flow of traffic, the following buses will no longer stop here. Of course, my bus was on that list. So now I either have to walk a block north or south extra to get to the bus which gets me home faster and you can usually get a seat, or walk two blocks less and get on a bus that's slightly slower getting me home and because I'm at the point just before it goes express there usually isn't a seat. When the difference was a block it was almost a no-brainer. Now? Oh, decisions, decisions. They just keep messing up things for Fung...
Of course, I've always said that there are way too many bus stops and they should spread apart more. But when it's my bus stop they eliminate...
Of course, I've always said that there are way too many bus stops and they should spread apart more. But when it's my bus stop they eliminate...
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
now you can use the latest technology available on the internets to track your complete and udder lack of forward movement, or, expect delays (cont'd)
News item: The Chicago Transit Authority has been swallowed into the universe of the Google Inc.’s mapping technology.
Users who turn to the Google Maps for directions can now find an option providing step-by-step instructions on how to take CTA buses and trains to their destinations. The service melds the CTA’s existing Trip Planner with the Google Maps.
For example, typing a starting address and a destination of “Solchers Fielt” into the Google’s “Take Public Transit” function provides suggested CTA options, as well as bus and train departure times. Those times should become more accurate by next year, when all CTA buses become part of its bus tracker program.
“The CTA is now part of (a) global community and offers people the opportunity to choose a more environmentally friendly way to get where they want to go,” Mayor Richard M. Daley said at a Tuesday news conference announcing the partnership.
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* Transit leaders' optimism wanes
Suggested Searches
bottled - water - property taxes - optimism wanes - service cuts
CTA President Ron Huberman said the CTA will receive roughly $60,000 from ads the Google is placing on the transit agency’s Web site.
Chicago is the largest of 25 cities to incorporate public transportation schedules and routes into the Google’s maps. Directions are available in 11 languages and can be accessed by anyone through the Internets.
Users who turn to the Google Maps for directions can now find an option providing step-by-step instructions on how to take CTA buses and trains to their destinations. The service melds the CTA’s existing Trip Planner with the Google Maps.
For example, typing a starting address and a destination of “Solchers Fielt” into the Google’s “Take Public Transit” function provides suggested CTA options, as well as bus and train departure times. Those times should become more accurate by next year, when all CTA buses become part of its bus tracker program.
“The CTA is now part of (a) global community and offers people the opportunity to choose a more environmentally friendly way to get where they want to go,” Mayor Richard M. Daley said at a Tuesday news conference announcing the partnership.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this story!
You May Also Like
* Transit leaders' optimism wanes
Suggested Searches
bottled - water - property taxes - optimism wanes - service cuts
CTA President Ron Huberman said the CTA will receive roughly $60,000 from ads the Google is placing on the transit agency’s Web site.
Chicago is the largest of 25 cities to incorporate public transportation schedules and routes into the Google’s maps. Directions are available in 11 languages and can be accessed by anyone through the Internets.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
i smell breakout... or maybe a fire...
News item: CTA vows 'breakout year' for service fixes
(Crain’s) — The Chicago Transit Authority’s new boss Tuesday promised riders a specific set of service improvements — including a near-end to bus bunching and slow zones on el trains — that they will be able to count on seeing no more than 18 months from now.
Damn, that's a long year...
Also: do numbers go that high?
In another change, electronic schedule boards telling riders how long it will be until their train arrives should be installed in every el station within 18 months, Mr. Huberman said.
"Your train will arrive in... 18 months..."
(Crain’s) — The Chicago Transit Authority’s new boss Tuesday promised riders a specific set of service improvements — including a near-end to bus bunching and slow zones on el trains — that they will be able to count on seeing no more than 18 months from now.
Damn, that's a long year...
Also: do numbers go that high?
In another change, electronic schedule boards telling riders how long it will be until their train arrives should be installed in every el station within 18 months, Mr. Huberman said.
"Your train will arrive in... 18 months..."
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
but he's da gubnor -- he can do whatever he wants, or, dere is yet annudder YOOOGE delay directly behind dis one
Free rides offer could delay transit funding
CHICAGO - Gov. Rod Blagojevich never discussed a plan to offer free rides for senior citizens with the head of the Chicago Transit Authority before making the idea public last week, the CTA chief said Monday.
CTA President Ron Huberman said he was concerned Blagojevich's proposal could scuttle final approval of a mass-transit funding bill.
CHICAGO - Gov. Rod Blagojevich never discussed a plan to offer free rides for senior citizens with the head of the Chicago Transit Authority before making the idea public last week, the CTA chief said Monday.
CTA President Ron Huberman said he was concerned Blagojevich's proposal could scuttle final approval of a mass-transit funding bill.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thank You Rod, Richie, and Todd
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
But St. Nick himself, plump and brimming with joy
Hit a snag on his last stop: Chicago, Illinois
For Rudolph the reindeer, whose nose led the way
Suddenly fell ill and could not guide the sleigh
Santa said "Well, just one option remains
I'll finish my route using CTA trains"
He gathered the reindeer and sack full of toys
To give to Chicagoland good girls and boys
And though well-equipped, CTA card in hand
He'd soon find their trip wouldn't go quite as planned
The train that they rode went from four tracks to one
And wouldn't move fast 'til construction was done
Right then, Santa's joy changed to derision
Saying "It'll take 3 damn hours to reach Clark and Division"
"We normally fly through the air with such speed
But this subway, it moves like a turtle on weed"
The seats were all dirty and beyond repairs
The reindeer stood in urine, which for once wasn't theirs
And Sally's new doll, it would just have to wait
Her Brown Line stop's closed until 2008!
Yes…Santa, he trudged and he slogged and he groaned
It seemed that his Doomsday would not be postponed
But he made a vow on that cold Christmas night
"I must do my job, and do the job right!"
He rode on that Red Line, and then on the Blue
Plus the 36 bus and the Clark 22
He rode on the Orange Line, rode on the Green
From O'Hare to East Side and all homes between
And despite the delays at a few of those places
He did all he could to put smiles on kids' faces
And when he was done, he sighed with relief
Though the trip had been rough, it was worth all the grief
He delivered those presents, he was true to his word
He looked at his watch…..it was January 3rd.
They all flew back home once Rudolph felt better
Mrs. Claus fetched his hubby hot tea and a sweater
Then St. Nick sat down in his favorite chair
And thought all about the entire affair
He hoped that the CTA would succeed
In getting their present: the funds that they need
And I heard him exclaim, as exclaiming's his habit
"Merry Christmas to All! Next time, f**k it, I'll cab it!!!!"
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Question 1: Why are you so FULLASHIT?
E-mail questions for a CTA video chat
Got a question for CTA president Ron Huberman? E-mail them, and come back Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 2:00 p.m. when Huberman joins the Tribune's Jon Hilkevitch and RedEye's Kyra Kyles for a live video chat.Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
good to see everyone working together on this / there is another titanic delay directly behind this one
Daley: GOP wants to hike your CTA fares
CTA unions raise strike specter
Mayor, gov, legislative leaders give CTA riders one big goose egg
And today's YOOOGE front page headline, now mysteriously missing from the website:
"Daley to Gov: Don't waste my time -- Mayor walks out of Blagojevich's transit summit
CTA unions raise strike specter
Mayor, gov, legislative leaders give CTA riders one big goose egg
And today's YOOOGE front page headline, now mysteriously missing from the website:
"Daley to Gov: Don't waste my time -- Mayor walks out of Blagojevich's transit summit
Sunday, November 11, 2007
the more things stay the same, the more things stay the same
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