More CTA ineptitude: The Red Line drives me to near insanity
So it took me over an hour to get home on the “L” tonight. Why? Who knows. The disembodied voice at Grand informed the throngs of folks waiting that there had been an “emergency,” which is the CTA’s vague term for anything that goes wrong, while the ever-informative CTA website tells me that service resumed at 4:58 p.m. So yes, an 11 mile trip took over 60 minutes, meaning one of those lanky fellas from Kenya could have easily outpaced the CTA trains tonight. And the saddest part? I was on the express.
Riding the “L” is a bit like watching broadcast television on an old TV with a bunny-ears antenna. It usually works just fine, but God forbid someone bump into the TV and mess up the perfect north-by-northwest alignment of that antenna. You’ll be stuck recalibrating the entire frickin’ TV situation for an hour to try to get a clear signal. That’s basically what happens on the “L” when one of the train’s doors won’t close.
In related news, the Trib reports that the fine folks at the Chicago Transit Authority actually want to raise fares, or cut service, or perhaps some harrowing, witch’s brew combination of both. This is awesome, baby! And they love it at the CTA Tattler, too. The best part? They might cut the Purple Line altogether. Unbelievable.
[Contingency Plan #2] Long wait-time: All existing bus routes would continue service, but waiting times would increase an average of 110 percent. Severely overcrowded buses, trains and platforms would result. Overnight rail service would be eliminated on the Red and Blue Lines, and Purple Line/Evanston Express service would be terminated. An estimated 350,000 bus customers per day would switch to other transportation.
If they run the Purple Express any more infrequently and I have to watch more Brown Lines pick up yuppies as I freeze my ass off at Belmont, I may very well beat the crap out of a pea coat-wearing, iPod-toting Wicker Park resident.
Hey, by the way, have I mentioned that the CTA is still trying to fritter away money on a retarded cell-phones-in-the-subway plan while considering fare increases and service cuts? Yep. Only in the government, baby.
March 11th, 2005 at 1:17 am
If you’re referring to the delay that I think you are(brown or purple line at about 3:45 or so), it was due to yet another suicide attempt. I know becaues I saw it happen about 10 feet away from me at the Wellington stop). Ever seen someone get smacked by an oncoming train? It puts things in a whole new perspective, let me tell you. I frankly am disgusted to hear the complaining and whining of completely fortunate and healthy people. Who cares if you have to sit on the train for an extra half-hour or even an hour! At least you’ll be here tomorrow to sit on the train again! She lived, by the way, so maybe you could call her when she recovers and tell her how much she inconvenienced your evening. For just one minute maybe you need to stop thinking about yourself, consider for just a moment that something really bad might just have happened to someone and be grateful for your own fortunes. Maybe you should get an i-Pod, it’ll give you something to do besides judge perfectly good people while your waiting for the train!
March 11th, 2005 at 8:21 am
Man, if I had the self-esteem issues to commit suicide, I certainly wouldn’t do in a fashion that would inconvenience hundreds of thousands. What a hubristic way to go out!
But you’re right. These types of situations can’t be resolved much more quickly than they were yesterday by the CTA. More information on yesterday’s debacle is here in the Trib. If these people want to die, step in front of the Metra; I guarantee that will get the job done.
March 11th, 2005 at 9:51 am
And here’s info about the suicide attempt from the CTA Tattler.
March 13th, 2005 at 12:10 am
I’ll post this as I would if I were Tom’s inner monologue:
F-that! I’ll complain about whatever I want to…In fact, why don’t you stop complaining about other people complaining?! The fact is that I don’t know this person from Adam’s housecat, and I couldn’t care less. Sounds cold? Well, as a finite human being you can only invest so much empathy and emotion. There’s only so much you to go around. That’s why you have a circle of friends and family. These are the people you will mourn. If you gave everyone in the world that kind of attention you’d be overwhelmed with sadness. You’re probably one of those people who tries to channel other people’s sadness to justify your own pathetic life.
It sucks that this person was/is so depressed that she decided to try and take her own life, but…it’s not my problem. Well, it WASN’T my problem until she made it my problem.
“I frankly am disgusted to hear the complaining and whining of completely fortunate and healthy people.”
Get used to it. Vocalizing displeasure is theraputic. If no one ever complained things would never get fixed. “Oh that pot-hole just ruined my alignment and suspension for the 3rd time this week. Oh shucks. At least I’m healthy.” You obviously had something to get off your chest, some may even call it a complaint. And if you are also “fortunate and healthy”, then you disgust me.
“Maybe you should get an i-Pod, it’ll give you something to do besides judge perfectly good people while your waiting for the train!”
1.) No judging was going on
2.) i-Pods are for tools
3.) “Perfectly good” people don’t try and commit suicide.
March 13th, 2005 at 12:18 am
omg best comment EVAR bahahah pwnage!@#@!
Seriously, I think you know me too well. (But how?!) By the way, the guy with the blog about the Red Line (it’s a popular one) made a new post about this argument. Mel and I had it out in the comments section on his blog, too.
May 7th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Oh, mel, yes suicide attempts (or successes) do indeed justify (perhaps) the red line’s (or any line) delay, but the thing is… if the train was delayed once or twice a year or even a month, it could be somewhat acceptable, however, the cta trains are constantly delayed. Sometimes the trains are delayed DAILY and for stupid reasons. AND now that the brown line is being renovated… they seem to have a whole slew of excuses for their delays. In the CTA’s defense, the United States in general can’t seem to figure out how mass transit is supposed to be clean, safe and on time. (BTW- have you guys seen the Chicago card’s little saying - it actually states that the cta is clean, safe and on time HAHAHAHAHA)
June 28th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
@ Tom: I agree with your message except for the doomsday plan part. This is actually what the CTA claimed what the consequences would be if the State refuses to give them $100 million. The CTA really does not want to cut service, they just wouldnt have no choice. As far as the suicide part, well there are emergencies every week on the red line (+probably every day on every line) but whether its a suicide or not, it always takes forever to solve, i think people dont care anymore, Chicago simply has the most retarded public transit system in the USA and its unacceptable.