Anyways.
I got an e-mail yesterday from the CTA (because I have chicago cards) with a message about the cuts coming up this weekend. My favorite sentance was :We are asking all of our customers to avoid the rush hour whenever possible by leaving early or late. With the reduction in bus service, we anticipate greater crowds on remaining buses and trains as customers seek different ways to get to work. Customers should expect longer travel times.It makes it sound like it's going to be an inconvenience for a week while there is some construction going on or something. Oh no. Just for the rest of your life would you mind not leaving so late or leaving work on time. Actually if you could work like 6am - 6pm that would make our lives soooo much better Thanks! OHH..yeah...and we are going to be raising the fares too. Whatever.
And this isn't even the big set of cuts they have planned for the beginning of 2008 where they are cutting so many bus lines that there will 5 (count them...5) east west bus lines between Chicago Ave and Montrose which is insane...including cutting the Addison Bus...are you fucking kidding me...you realize there is a ball park on that street right?
Luckily I work at home now and don't have to deal with all of this, but the Man does ride the bus and after having shoved himself on a bus one too many times he has started riding his bike to work. Good job CTA....make all these cuts and continue to see people move to other modes of travel.
I love Chicago and those of you who know me, know that it takes a lot for me to say something negative about the city. BUT we look like such a trashy city when it comes to public transportation. Hopefully someone will step in before all these cuts and fare increases go into affect.
6 comments:
it took me 57 minutes to get a bus yesterday. I can't imagine what it's going to be like once the cuts go into effect.
Here here! I pick up the Blue Line at Damen and by that point in the route, it often takes 2 or 3 trains before there is even room to get on! CTA needs to find a solution quickly!
nicole-
jason has the same problem when he picks up the train at milwaukee. surprising that it's still so crowded a few stops up at Damen! In the drastic cuts they are talk for '08...they are talking about eliminating the milwaukee bus line....this will make those blue line trains even more full as now there would be no other way to get downtown!
I hate the CTA. They always screw me up. Late, crowded, unreliable. I am a bit confused about the whole bailout thing. If they cant manage their business ... why should the city give them MORE money to sink into the same problems? Seems like somebody with some sense should be figuring out a real solution ;)
I moved from a city that had a very sucky transit system to Chicago - which I LOVE their transit. This has changed with the B.S that they are saying with the cuts and fare increases that will affect A LOT of people. I head to work during the off-peak hours (heading to work at 5:45 and then walk home after work - until the winter). I can not EVEN imagine a poor cash-strapped college student going through this. It TOTALLY SUCKS! I already wrote a letter to all of my representative to do something about it. I encourage everyone else to do the same.
I am completely dreading next week if the legislators don't come up with a solution. The CTA acts so casually about this as you mentioned, it's unreal. Grrrr. I need to buy a bike.
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