Going Public Archives

Via Twitter, a rider asked about the Washington Red Line stop. The CTA's response is below.

"Will the Washington Red Line stop open when Block 37 and pedway opens on Thanksgiving?"

The CTA responded: "No, there is currently no timeline for when the Washington Red Line station will reopen, or when the paid transfer tunnel (one level below the pedway) between the Washington Red and Blue Line stations will reopen."

Tom Gamache wrote to "Going Public" about a problem with his Chicago Card. The CTA response is after the jump.

"A huge problem I have with the CTA is how often the farecards (I have a Card Plus) do not register with the touchpad. I don't bring exact fare with me each time I take the bus because I rely on the fact that I pay for a farecard.

I am truly shocked at how often the cards don't register -- mine and others. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the failures. It may work one leg of the trip and not the next, but then work again. To me that shows a systemic problem.
 
Most of the time the bus drivers act like it's my fault that the card is not registering (though I occasionally get a bus driver who sympathizes and waives me on anyway).

I would love to know (and then promptly complain about) the CTA's official policy in dealing with farecards not registering."

Robert Jones wrote to "Going Public" with a question about fare card passback rules. The rest of Jones' letter and the passback rules are after the jump.

"My wife and I had an encounter with a CTA bus driver [Wednesday] night that has brought a question to the front of my mind, and I was hoping you could help me with it.

We know that the farecard system sucks on the buses. You get on, wave your card, the thing beeps some indeterminate number of times and you go on your way, only to have the driver call you back to try your card again. And again. And again.

Meanwhile, everyone else who wants to get on the bus is standing impatiently behind you. It's so commonplace that it seems the driver just waves you through after a few failed attempts almost all the time.

(How much money is the CTA losing in unpaid fares because of this?)

Things get even worse when you're using passback. ...

It's official: The "Fringe" Observers have arrived.

Brian Pitts wrote to "Going Public" this morning to say he spotted "some of these guys near the Adams entrance from Union Station."

"There were a number of Amtrak police officers outside too. I wonder if they were there in case people got nervous about who these serious-looking guys with bald heads in suits were.  When I first saw them, I thought they were Secret Service or FBI because some celeb or political figure was coming out of Union Station," Pitts wrote.

The Observers were scheduled to make three appearances today in Chicago including one on the Brown Line this morning.

At 1 p.m., Ann Hagerty said she "spotted three of the 'Observers' outside the Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St. John Sciberras said he spotted Observers there too.

Vicky Jenkins also said she spotted Observers at the State of Illinois Building. She snapped this photo and the photos after the jump. Have you seen the Observers?

Trish Nee wrote to "Going Public" about a Blue Line train emergency in April 2008 that led to the evacuation of trains. Nee wrote to the CTA in April 2008 seeking compensation for clothes and a suitcase damaged in the evacuation. Nee said she still hasn't heard back from the CTA. Her correspondence with the CTA is after the jump.

Nee wrote to the CTA in April 2008: "I was one of the many people stranded on the Blue Line Tuesday morning. I left Cumberland at about 7:30 a.m. I was supposed to start work at 8:30 a.m. and did not arrive until after 10:00 a.m.

I was on the second train behind the stalled train. It was about 8:10 when our train stopped. The announcements were [sporadic] and not very informative.

When everyone finally started leaving the train, I was a bit apprehensive as I was caring a suitcase with items for my work.

I had to walk through the dark tunnel single file in what seemed like a mile to the nearest exit area.

There was a CTA man holding a flashlight at one point where we had to go around the red/green light. All this time I am trying to maneuver pushing my suitcase.

Then when we finally get to the exit we have to walk through utter filth and water to climb up the rusty spiral staircase!! ...

Quiana Bradley wrote to "Going Public" about a bad bus experience Tuesday night. Her letter continues after the jump.

"A little after 9 p.m. [Tuesday] night a friend and I were heading home from school. We boarded the No. 75 75th Street Damen bus going westbound from the 79th Street Red Line.

After we boarded, a group of boys between the ages of 6 and 12 years old got on behind us, some carrying sticks and white buckets.
 
On our bus ride going westbound one of the boys started drumming the bucket. Annoyed by the noise, my friend politely asked the boy to please stop. The boy continued saying he paid his fare (meaning he had a right to drum the bucket), even after other boy with him asked him to stop.

A female passenger on the back of the bus near the boys hollered up to the front of the bus for the driver to ask the boys to stop. ...

Dave Van de Walle wrote to "Going Public" about a possible scam on the Red Line. Van de Walle said he witnessed this incident on Monday morning.

Though "GP" typically redacts personal information about passengers and drivers such as race, we're making an exception so these alleged scammers can be found. Van de Walle's letter continues after the jump.

"Was coming back from a meeting downtown and got on the CTA at the State/Lake Red Line stop. Door opened, headed toward the back of the car to stand. Then all heck broke loose.

A short African-American gentleman, maybe all of 5'3", was halfway into the train car and a hubbub ensued.

Two women and a man began trying to help him, as his foot was 'stuck' between the platform and the train car. ...

***Update: Reader Brian Pitts said he "saw some of these guys near the Adams entrance from Union Station." Anyone else see the observers?

If you notice a stranger on the Brown Line Thursday morning, do not be frightened.

Let's hope the stranger is the "Fringe" Observer. To celebrate Fox's sci-fi thriller, men dressed as the Observer will be on the Brown Line train Thursday morning, according to a Fox spokesman.

If you spot an Observer, please e-mail "Going Public" at tswartz@tribune.com.

Here's the Observer schedule:

>> 8:45-9 a.m.
CTA Brown Line to Madison Street/Wabash Avenue

>> 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Michigan Avenue/Wacker Drive/State Street

>> 11:50 a.m.-2 p.m.
Michigan Avenue and Randolph/Madison Streets

For more information, check out the "Fringe" Facebook page.

For more on "Fringe," check out Show Patrol.

Via Twitter, Keri Kramer wrote to "Going Public" to ask if there would be a CTA holiday train this year. This afternoon, the CTA sent out a press release about the train. The release is below. The train's schedule are after the jump.

"Now in its 18th year, the festive CTA Holiday Train will make its first appearance Saturday, Nov. 21 spreading holiday cheer to CTA customers.

The six-car holiday train is decorated with multi-colored lights and features a flat car carrying Santa and his reindeer. Car interiors are decked with bows, garland, red and green lighting and hand poles wrapped to look like candy canes. Festive holiday music is played to ring in another holiday season.

Debuting on the Red and Purple Lines, the Holiday Train will travel along all CTA rail lines throughout November and December as part of its regular rail service. Normal CTA fares apply.

Schedules for each individual line will vary and are subject to change. All schedules will be posted on CTA's Web site at www.transitchicago.com."