With all the fanfare and publicity surrounding the opening of the new Metra North Central line from Antioch to downtown, one would think we were really making progress. Supposedly this new line was used by about 1,000 people at its opening and is expected to serve perhaps 4,000 to 5,000 eventually.
I also read recently that all levels of government had contributed to the building of this new line, the federal government’s portion being some $50 million. Really!
Meanwhile, tens of thousands (or more) users daily stand on street corners and in elevated and subway stations in longer and longer waits, riding equipment that is not properly working much of the time and faced with fare increases and even more cuts in service. All this because of continuing cuts in federal and state appropriations to mass transit.
And new Metra routes are being planned. And more roads (leading to further sprawl and more widespread flooding) are being planned. Let’s put some money where it is badly needed and will serve by far the most people–into the CTA. It is unconscionable not to do so.
