July 2007 Archives

Posted by Tracy Swartz- 4:20 p.m., July 27

Nothing cures a hangover like riding a crowded #65 bus.

For me, time is a factor in determining whether it's worth it to cram onto a bus or wait for the next one. The bus driver didn't say another bus was close behind, so I wedged myself on.

The atmosphere on the bus was poetic. Standing passengers shuffled back at the right time and sitting passengers stood and offered their seats when the elderly got on.

Though I was cramped, the swift traffic flow was an unexpected surprise. I also didn't witness any accidental awkward touching or whats-that-smell moments.

Since the Blue Line sets a schedule that seems to rarely meet my needs, the bus could become my new main squeeze.

Tell me, do you tend to squeeze into buses or trains or wait for for the next one?

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 1:31 p.m., Tuesday, July 24

After reading this entry, check out Scott's new blog "iPhone, Therefore I Blog,” RedEye's hip new spot devoted exclusively to the iPhone featuring tips, tricks, wallpapers and so much more.

This is your lucky day, Ron Huberman. I'm going to tell you how you can revamp the CTA in 4 easy steps. And I'm not just talking a little change. I'm talking a complete overhaul in just a few hours.

And it should cost less than $50. (as in 50 dollars).

Now that I have your undivided attention, let me tell you what inspired me today to change the face of Chicago mass transit.

My ride into work on the 157 Streeterville bus was terrific.

No little asterisks. No snide comments. I had a great commute.

There's this bus driver ... I had him once before. He's pleasant from the moment he opens the doors, saying good afternoon and making small talk. And even though the system that announces the stops is working fine, he takes the time to call everything out in an entertaining way.

"We're about to reach Staaaaaate Street," he belts out loud as Wacker winds around the bend at Lake. "Staaaaaaate Streeeeeeet."

This is a total 180 from the bus drivers I'm used to. It's almost shocking to the system. Actually, it restores my faith in the CTA.

That said ... I present to you Ron Huberman ... a sure-to-be best seller: How to completely revamp the CTA in 4 easy steps. Please read this carefully because it will change the way Chicago looks at you. Yeah, it's that good.

1. Hop on this driver's 157 and sit in the front seat. Plan to ride the bus for the entire route.

2. Take out a notepad and a pen.

3. Take copious amounts of notes. Write down every single thing this guy does. Every single thing.

4. Make thousands of photocopies of that list and hand them out to every CTA employee, from phone operators to bus drivers to rail operators to construction workers to custodians. I'm talking about every single employee that works for the Chicago Transit Authority. And then require each of those employees to give that same level of customer service—no exceptions.

Got it? Because this driver gets it. And if he gets it, we can all get it. You give me this kind of experience 5 days a week and I'll be sold. It's up to you to take it from one bus to the entire organization.

And here's the thing, Ron ... it's not hard. You can do this. To completely change the way the public perceives the CTA, all you need is a pad, a pen and a copy machine. Heck, they'll probably even let you ride the bus for free.

You can thank me later, Ron.

Doors closing. Until next time. Staaaaaaate Streeeeeet.

Posted by Jimmy Greenfield - 9:32 a.m., Friday, July 20

It's a straight shot into the city from the Ridgeland stop on the Green Line, and there's not much to see.

The old Austin City Hall is worth looking at, and then there's the United Center. But mainly the view is of dirty streets and old three-flats.

But when I approach the city it all changes, for about 20 seconds.

I snapped the photo on the left this morning between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stops.

No matter how you cut it, this is a gorgeous view of Chicago and is by far the best view from any CTA train I've been on.

It's a shame it lasts mere seconds before the train disappears into the concrete giants of the Loop. But it's becoming a staple of my morning to make sure I can see this gorgeous sight.

The behemoth Merchandise Mart is way in the back looming over the Chicago River. There's a tiny portion of Wabash Wacker snaking around the Loop's northwest corner.

And on a day like today, when the sun is out and a few clouds grace the blue sky, it's that much more beautiful.

If you're in the Loop and have a few minutes to spare, head over to Clinton for a few minutes just so you can see this view. And if you know of a better view than this on the CTA, please let me know. I'll head over there right away.

Posted by Jim Walsh - 3:52 p.m., Tuesday, July 17

I like to complain about the CTA as much as the next guy, but it dawned on me recently that there are few things the agency gets right every once in a while--though not always as right as I’d like. Two examples, both from the Red Line Grand station downtown:

Keepin’ it clean

The Grand stop, like many CTA stations, is pretty dirty and dismal most of the time. Walking through it on a weekday afternoon, you’d think the idea of a cleanup down there hasn’t been mentioned since the station opened in 1943. Not true.

When I catch the northbound train after midnight during the week, I very often see a several-man cleaning crew, replete with power washers and squeegees, hosing down the platform. I’m told they do it every night, but I can only attest for the on-again-off-again encounters I’ve had with the mist from the machines flying in my face. Anyway, at least they’re trying.

Getting the 411

We all know the CTA is bad about telling customers what’s going on during delays. Between static-drowned announcements and no announcements at all, most of the time you never really know why you’ve been sitting on a halted "L" train for 20 minutes or more.

Well, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask. When I was stuck at the Grand stop for about 45 minutes recently (the announcement said it was due to a medical emergency), I went upstairs to talk to the CTA attendant. He had been trying to call CTA personnel throughout the delay and was just as frustrated as I was about the lack of information.

I asked him if he knew when the next train would be coming, and he got on the phone to find out. When he couldn’t get a response he offered me a free transfer for the bus. Not great, but not too bad either.

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 11:35 p.m., Monday, July 16

After reading this entry, check out Scott's new blog "iPhone, Therefore I Blog,” RedEye's hip new spot devoted exclusively to the iPhone.

Yes, that 7-Eleven. Home of the Slurpee and hot dogs filled with ... ummm, cheese. Sure, let's go with that.

On the CTA, at least on the No. 20 Madison bus after 1 a.m., it's apparently the newest stop.

Three times in the past 4 weeks, I've gotten on the bus at Madison and Wabash only to be driven about 20 feet until the next "stop" at the 7-Eleven. It's at this polnt the driver disappears for about 15 minutes. Actually, it may be closer to 20.

As you can see from the photo, no one's driving this bus. My iPhone is my witness.

I don't want to be too critical, because drivers have the right to take a break. But I know from looking at the CTA's Web site that 7-Eleven is not a stop.

In my humble opinion, the only bus I want to be on that has anything to do with 7-Eleven is the one that's due at 7:11. Because after a 12-hour day at work, I'd really like to get on the bus and get the heck home, know what I'm saying?

This is one where I'd really like to hear from you ... am I missing something here or is this whole thing ridiculous?

Doors closing. Until next time.

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 2:01 p.m., Thursday, July 12

After reading this entry, check out Scott's brand new blog "iPhone, Therefore I Blog,” RedEye's hip new spot devoted exclusively to the iPhone.

Here I sit on the 151 outside union station, typing on my iPhone. The time on the bar at the top reads 1:18 p.m.

I got on at 12:43.

Now it's normal to wait a bit at that spot because it's the first stop. But something doesn't seem right.

The driver was outside smoking and chatting and popped on once to nicely say it would be a few minutes.

Finally, at 1:21, he tells us all to get off and we go to the next bus behind it.

So all that time wasted and no explanation. I asked the driver and he said "just take this bus." I got that part. I want to know why.

What's my point? It's that this is what Ron Huberman and the CTA need to fix if they ever want to be taken seriously when they say communication is priority one.

Because today, and many days, I feel like it's priority 12 or 13.

As always, I welcome your opinions.

Doors closing. Until next time.

Posted by Tracy Swartz- 11:20 a.m., July 12

I would love to believe the news today that the Blue Line is on the fast track to ditching the slow zones.

I would love to believe that the Blue Line will no longer keep me waiting as it canoodles in other stations. I would love to believe that the Blue Line will focus on riders' needs instead of its own.

I've stuck by the Blue Line for many months now, through the slow and even slower times. I'm still willing to wait until September for the Blue Line to get its act together.

Though we've had our rocky times and missed connections, the Blue Line is the most convenient way for me to ride in Bucktown. I'm just hoping the Blue Line's promises won't go unbroken.

Blue Line riders, have you replaced the line with another? Or do you believe the Blue Line can change?

Posted by Jimmy Greenfield - 10:26 a.m., Wednesday, July 11

Sorry, Ron, but it's too late for you to get it right this time.

While I'm sure a lot of people appreciate you finally acknlowedged the hell CTA riders were put through, I'm not one of them.

If you're your leadership of the CTA is going to be different than that of Frank Kruesi you'll have to get it right the first time, not after three days of getting ripped in the press.

Likewise, whenever I read that there's "pressure from City Hall" to fix problems with the CTA, I just drop my head and sigh in disbelief.

Until there's one iota of evidence that changes are being made, I'm going to stick with my belief that you're another mouthpiece for an uncaring City Hall.

Let's go a few months without any problems, and let's see you react to a real problem like the pro you claim to be before handing out any medals.

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 12:39 a.m., Wednesday, July 11

After reading this entry, check out Scott's brand new blog "iPhone, Therefore I Blog,” RedEye's hip new spot devoted exclusively to the iPhone.

Thank you, Ron Huberman.

You might remember my blog entry the other day where I blasted CTA chief Huberman for referring to the fiasco on July 3 as "an inconvenience in the Loop." Here's what I wrote:

Today, Huberman said exactly what I've been saying all along: That thousands of people stranded in hot trains is much more than an inconvenience and that it's an insult for him to call it that.

Here is what the Tribune is reporting:

Huberman now believes the mechanical breakdown that left hundreds of riders stranded on overcrowded sweltering trains—and another long service interruption on the Red Line last weekend—were "not inconveniences, but hardships."

"We didn't communicate effectively or give people the reassurances they needed," he said. "It was scary. Passenger needs took a back seat. I apologize to our riders."

And, in another huge step forward, the Tribune reports that Huberman is going to work to improve customer satisfaction. Also from the Tribune story:

Under pressure from City Hall to stem the problems, Huberman announced steps to improve safety and customer satisfaction. Those measures range from worker retraining to a new hot line to report unsafe conditions.

When an emergency or any service disruption occurs, extra CTA staff will be sent to the scene to provide timely information about delays and, if possible, evacuate riders on stopped trains, Huberman said.

Wow. Wow. Was Mr. Huberman reading this blog? Do I detect progress?

Mr. Huberman, this is what you should have done 5 minutes after this whole thing started. But I applaud you for stepping up and taking one for the team. What you displayed is leadership, and that's something we don't often see from the CTA.

Keep it up.

Doors closing. Until next time.

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 5:45 p.m., Sunday, July 8, 2007

After reading Scott's blog, vote in RedEye’s “Best. Simpsons Character. Ever?” online tournament

Here's a suggestion for the CTA: I think you need a new slogan. Here it is. Ready?

"People."

"People"? Yes, "People."

If nothing else, such a slogan would remind you that it's we the people who put up with the delays, the lack of communication, the free-flowing urine, the rude employees, the smell, the outdated, the outmoded and the outlandish.

Did I mention the outlandish?

For the second time in less than a week, I'm reading a story about the CTA where people have been stuck inside brutally hot trains during some sort of malfunction or problem. In this latest incident, a man threatening to jump from a CTA viaduct onto Archer Avenue on Saturday night caused a shutdown on the Red Line. 16 people were taken to hospitals, 4 of them in serious condition, reports the Tribune.

See for yourself. Here's a link to the article.

I mentioned outlandish, right? Just making sure.

Here's my problem. I"m well aware that safety comes first. The power needed to be shut off. I get that. But when you are thinking about safety, CTA, you've got to take into account that it's in the 90s and you've got people sweltering inside trains with no air conditioning. And, if I know the CTA, there were few if any announcements letting people know what was happening.

More from the Tribune: "It was hard to predict how long it was going to take," said CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney. "We've had situations before where there was an unauthorized person on the track, and police were able to clear it more quickly. In this case, it took a little longer than expected."

I wouldn't be so—pardon the word choice—heated if the same thing didn't happen just the other day, where people were stuck inside sweltering cars on a brutally hot day. Explain to me why there weren't cranes brought in to get these people out? Explain to me why 16 people had to be hospitalized after being stuck—some for as long as 2 hours.

And then, presumably because it was so brutally hot, some passengers took it among themselves to evacuate the train on their own. Not a good idea. It just should never come to this.

Explain it to me, please. Remember, I understand there was an emergency officials needed to deal with. But I'd argue that the bigger emergency is allowing people to sweat themselves into the hospital. I don't care if it costs $2 a ride or $50 a ride, we the people deserve and demand more.

Maybe the answer is a petition ... In fact, I know that's the answer.

Maybe, just maybe, thousands upon thousands of signatures on a piece of paper that starts out this way would make a dent: "We the People of Chicago demand a better CTA."

I say we get the ball rolling right here. I ask each of you to electronically sign the petition by commenting to this post ... and then I ask you to ask your friends and your family and everyone else you know that takes the CTA and direct them to this page.

I've always said that starting with something small can make a big difference. "Your Attention Please" started as a small CTA blog but it's grown by leaps and bounds. So think big. No, think huge. Just think about it.

Doors closing (air conditioning running). Until next time.

Posted by Scott Kleinberg - 11 a.m., Thursday, July 5

Check out RedEye’s “Best Simpsons Character” tournament

Those of you who regularly read my posts know that I am at times extremely critical of the CTA and that I am not afraid to share what's on my mind.

This one is easy ... Ron Huberman, you should be ashamed of yourself.

I was out of town during the "inconvenience in the Loop last night." so I couldn't see this firsthand, but "inconvenience in the Loop"? That's how Ron Huberman, the not-so-new-anymore CTA chief, referred to what happened. Me, I'm reading all of this online and I'm boiling mad. And I rarely get boiling mad.

Say what you want about former chief Frank Kruesi in his bright yellow jacket, but even he knows not to call what happened to the trains in the Loop on July 3 an inconvenience.

What happened was a complete meltdown, and the CTA handled it exactly like the CTA handles everything. Like crap. Huberman starts out with an apology and then goes right back into CTA mode (Clueless, Then Arrogant).

Hundreds of people sitting on sweltering trains with as many as 1 announcement from the rail operator about what was going on. The Tribune and numerous TV stations are reporting that. One woman interviewed on the Fox affiliate said that she found out from her husband in Colorado what was going on when she called him from a stuck train and he looked it up online.

That made me laugh, but not in a funny way.

But wait ... Maybe I'm being too hasty. You decide. Here's what Huberman said, taken from various parts of the Tribune story:

Posted by RedEye - 8:41 a.m., July 5

The failures of the CTA over the busy holiday weekend left thousands stranded and angry. Were you among those affected by the problems? Share your story here.

Just fill out the comment field and we'll post your thoughts right here.

Cheers,
RedEye

Posted by Tracy Swartz- 1:20 p.m., July 2

I should have expected an uncomfortable ride when I took the Metra train for the very first time Saturday. Some things never change.

First, the Metra ticket sellers in the train station don't accept credit or debit cards. What is this, 1987? I can recite my debit card numbers quicker than my parent's home number. Take my plastic now.

Two dollars in ATM fees later, I made my way on the train, pushing through the gaggle of clucking suburban moms drunk on their own freedom.