The Official Illinois and Chicago Transportation Thread - Page 2

pottebaum · February 25th, 2005, 11:47 PM

Thanks for the url DMF!

I've read quite q bit about these CTA cuts, but I can't really understand the situation...What are they going to cut?

aion26 · February 25th, 2005, 11:56 PM

In my dreams....

http://www.gapersblock.com/detour/a_cta_map_for_2055/

oshkeoto · February 26th, 2005, 02:33 AM

1. I always use "El."

2. We need a circle line, but I would make it even further out than the one they proposed.

robhut · February 28th, 2005, 04:07 PM

that cta map for 2055 would be so, so COOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!
But I think it won´t get built.
Hopefully I am wrong.

pottebaum · March 1st, 2005, 03:44 AM

I just found some pretty cool pics in this thread:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=120696

So, what exactly is going on with the CTA? There always seems to be so much talk about it, but I can never really gather what's going on... What do they plan on cutting? Are they talking about merging with Metra?

oshkeoto · March 1st, 2005, 04:36 AM

^ They plan on cutting some bus lines altogether, ending 24-hour train service and greatly reducing frequency, ending other upkeep and expansion programs and various other bad things. No, they're not planning on merging with Metra.

aion26 · March 1st, 2005, 04:42 AM

At this point, they are in a position where if things do not work out financially, it will be much more than that. They are currently running on good faith that the budget will be sorted. If the state does not come through, things will be worse than the so called "gridlock budget". That being said, I have a friend who is employeed by the CTA and privy to a lot of stuff (he is not a bus driver, but works in the corporate offices) and is quite convinced this is a high stakes game and that ultimately the CTA will continue to run as it does now, but not without a lot of hollow threats first.

NWside · March 1st, 2005, 05:28 AM

Isn't this "doomsday budget" suppose to cut more then 50% of the CTA's operations if the state doesn't bail them out? Is there even a remote possibility of this happening? I mean come on imagine the backlash.

aion26 · March 1st, 2005, 05:45 AM

I see it as a high stakes game of chicken.

oshkeoto · March 1st, 2005, 05:50 AM

^ I can't imagine that Daley would allow that to happen. But who knows.

flatiron94 · March 1st, 2005, 03:43 PM

I went there resently and I never had to use my car. its realy awesome it gets you to places realy fast becaus it gives 2 seconds to get in the door I am not kiding.

aion26 · March 1st, 2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatiron94

I went there resently and I never had to use my car. its realy awesome it gets you to places realy fast becaus it gives 2 seconds to get in the door I am not kiding.

Except when you are stuck on the corner in freezing weather for 1/2 hour waiting for the stupid bus like I was this morning.

pottebaum · March 2nd, 2005, 02:07 AM

Dang...that'd really suck! One of my favorite things about big cities like Chicago is the mass transit, and I'd hate to see it suffer. Im gonna have to keep my eye on this situation.

pottebaum · March 2nd, 2005, 03:48 AM

BTW: What do you think the "L" or the rest of the Chicago transit system will be like in 5 years? I figure that's about the time I'll start really planning my move to Chicago.

simulcra · March 2nd, 2005, 08:53 AM

That 2055 map is pure heaven. None of it will ever happen, but I wish they would atleast do the circle line to 35th, which is something that I've been thinking about ever since the first circle line proposal was made back 2002 or something like that.

1. I love the CTA.
2. I don't call it the "L", I call it the CTA.
3. More downtown stops? There are so many stations in the Loop its ridiculous.

aion26 · March 2nd, 2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simulcra

2. I don't call it the "L", I call it the CTA.

Is there a particular reason for that? What is wrong with calling it the "L"? Seriously, I'd like to know because I've been calling it that since I learned how to talk (unless I'm talking to non-locals, then I just call it the subway).

mypetrobot · March 2nd, 2005, 06:09 PM

i just call it "the train". it sounds the most natural for me.

Roch5220 · March 2nd, 2005, 06:20 PM

NYC does have a bigger system, but I don't think its better. I definately think the CTA service is better than the MTA. People just assume by looking at the NYC subway map, and because its 'NYC' that is must be great, but quite frankly, I think the smaller systems in Chicago (well, Chicago isn't a small system by far, but smaller than NYC), Toronto, and Montreal are better. And the 24 hour schedule definately makes it stick out from most.

Um, post pics please. I thought there would be more picks of the rolling stock and stations.

itsnotrequired · March 2nd, 2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aion26

Is there a particular reason for that? What is wrong with calling it the "L"? Seriously, I'd like to know because I've been calling it that since I learned how to talk (unless I'm talking to non-locals, then I just call it the subway).

Are we talking about just trains here? People seem to forget the MASSIVE bus system here in Chicago. There are over 2,000 buses in service which handle twice as many riders as the train system. I call the trains the El and the buses...well, buses. System as a whole is the CTA. If I'm talking to someone not from Chicago about transit in Chicago, I use the term CTA.

crawford · March 3rd, 2005, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roch5220

NYC does have a bigger system, but I don't think its better. I definately think the CTA service is better than the MTA. People just assume by looking at the NYC subway map, and because its 'NYC' that is must be great, but quite frankly, I think the smaller systems in Chicago (well, Chicago isn't a small system by far, but smaller than NYC), Toronto, and Montreal are better. And the 24 hour schedule definately makes it stick out from most.

Um, post pics please. I thought there would be more picks of the rolling stock and stations.

By most objective measures, New York has massively "better" transit than Chicago, though a preference for Chicago is perfectly valid. The NY subway system carries about 5 million weekday passengers, the CTA rail carries about 500,000 weekday passengers. NY is 2.5 times bigger but has 10 times the passenger load.

Chicago's transit is somewhere between 2nd and 4th best in the U.S. Either Boston, DC or Chicago hold spots 2 through 4.

I'd rank systems as follows:

NY
Boston
Chicago
DC
Philly
SF

March 2nd, 2005, 08:53 AM	#35
simulcra Cynical post-collegiate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 937 Likes (Received): 0	That 2055 map is pure heaven. None of it will ever happen, but I wish they would atleast do the circle line to 35th, which is something that I've been thinking about ever since the first circle line proposal was made back 2002 or something like that. 1. I love the CTA. 2. I don't call it the "L", I call it the CTA. 3. More downtown stops? There are so many stations in the Loop its ridiculous. __________________ Mmm... forbidden donut...

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February 25th, 2005, 11:47 PM	#21
pottebaum Minneapolis Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 0	Thanks for the url DMF! I've read quite q bit about these CTA cuts, but I can't really understand the situation...What are they going to cut?

February 25th, 2005, 11:56 PM	#22
aion26 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 398 Likes (Received): 0	In my dreams.... http://www.gapersblock.com/detour/a_cta_map_for_2055/

February 26th, 2005, 02:33 AM	#23
oshkeoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 565 Likes (Received): 0	1. I always use "El." 2. We need a circle line, but I would make it even further out than the one they proposed.

February 28th, 2005, 04:07 PM	#24
robhut Chicago lover Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 22 Likes (Received): 0	that cta map for 2055 would be so, so COOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!! But I think it won´t get built. Hopefully I am wrong.

March 1st, 2005, 03:44 AM	#25
pottebaum Minneapolis Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 0	I just found some pretty cool pics in this thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=120696 So, what exactly is going on with the CTA? There always seems to be so much talk about it, but I can never really gather what's going on... What do they plan on cutting? Are they talking about merging with Metra?

March 1st, 2005, 04:36 AM	#26
oshkeoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 565 Likes (Received): 0	^ They plan on cutting some bus lines altogether, ending 24-hour train service and greatly reducing frequency, ending other upkeep and expansion programs and various other bad things. No, they're not planning on merging with Metra.

March 1st, 2005, 04:42 AM	#27
aion26 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 398 Likes (Received): 0	At this point, they are in a position where if things do not work out financially, it will be much more than that. They are currently running on good faith that the budget will be sorted. If the state does not come through, things will be worse than the so called "gridlock budget". That being said, I have a friend who is employeed by the CTA and privy to a lot of stuff (he is not a bus driver, but works in the corporate offices) and is quite convinced this is a high stakes game and that ultimately the CTA will continue to run as it does now, but not without a lot of hollow threats first.

March 1st, 2005, 05:28 AM	#28
NWside Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 463 Likes (Received): 0	Isn't this "doomsday budget" suppose to cut more then 50% of the CTA's operations if the state doesn't bail them out? Is there even a remote possibility of this happening? I mean come on imagine the backlash.

March 1st, 2005, 05:45 AM	#29
aion26 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 398 Likes (Received): 0	I see it as a high stakes game of chicken.

March 1st, 2005, 05:50 AM	#30
oshkeoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 565 Likes (Received): 0	^ I can't imagine that Daley would allow that to happen. But who knows.

March 1st, 2005, 03:43 PM	#31
flatiron94 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: A suburb of good ole minneapolis Posts: 204 Likes (Received): 0	I went there resently and I never had to use my car. its realy awesome it gets you to places realy fast becaus it gives 2 seconds to get in the door I am not kiding.

March 2nd, 2005, 02:07 AM	#33
pottebaum Minneapolis Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 0	Dang...that'd really suck! One of my favorite things about big cities like Chicago is the mass transit, and I'd hate to see it suffer. Im gonna have to keep my eye on this situation.

March 2nd, 2005, 03:48 AM	#34
pottebaum Minneapolis Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 0	BTW: What do you think the "L" or the rest of the Chicago transit system will be like in 5 years? I figure that's about the time I'll start really planning my move to Chicago.

March 2nd, 2005, 06:09 PM	#37
mypetrobot Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Likes (Received): 0	i just call it "the train". it sounds the most natural for me.

March 2nd, 2005, 06:20 PM	#38
Roch5220 My dog rules Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, NYC Posts: 1,677 Likes (Received): 0	NYC does have a bigger system, but I don't think its better. I definately think the CTA service is better than the MTA. People just assume by looking at the NYC subway map, and because its 'NYC' that is must be great, but quite frankly, I think the smaller systems in Chicago (well, Chicago isn't a small system by far, but smaller than NYC), Toronto, and Montreal are better. And the 24 hour schedule definately makes it stick out from most. Um, post pics please. I thought there would be more picks of the rolling stock and stations.