Long road ahead
The delays due to three-track operation around Fullerton and Belmont are reasonable–the CTA is working to improve the system for the next hundred years, and we riders understand that. But they should not be allowed to start this stage of the project before fixing all of the slow zones on the main north-south corridor (“Stuck in ‘L,’ ” Jan. 11 cover story).
The upcoming delays would be more tolerable if, for example, the southbound Red Line trains didn’t have to crawl upon entering the tunnel like the operator is afraid of the dark. These delays are unbearable. They drive me nuts and I’m not alone.
It would be, at the very least, a show of goodwill for the CTA to make up some of our lost time by replacing the ties, straightening the tracks, or whatever else has to be done so that our trains move faster in 2007 than a horse and buggy. Without these fixes, the CTA will lose even more customers, and Chicago’s workers will lose even more hours of productivity to the commute.
Rafael Jaramillo, 26, Lakeview
Waiting for change
The headline in today’s RedEye reads that starting in April, the CTA “L” service will experience “massive delays, service cuts and jam-packed cars.” How does that differ from today’s poor CTA “L” service of “massive delays, service cuts and jam-packed cars”?
Mike Clark, 32, Lincoln Park
Same old, same old
And after all this is done in 2009, I’m sure we’ll have the same crappy CTA service as usual. And I’m sure the CTA will be crying broke again and wanting another fare increase.
James Catalano, 41, Edgewater
Don’t cry out loud
Seeing how the situation has come about, this is something that we all should’ve expected when this project came about. There is no use in crying over a project that will seriously improve the quality of the transit system as a whole.
It’s similar to the whole “pleasure before pain” philosophy–in order to enjoy the benefits of what this project will bring, we have to endure hell and high water to get to it. That being the case, we have to endure this for about 2Q years. There is no use complaining and there is no use in crying, but it’s best to take advantage of other transit options that we are given.
David Sorrell, 21, DeKalb
You asked for it
Every week I read “Going Public,” and every week there are always complaints from commuters over various issues: trains are slow, station maintenance is sub-standard, the lady with the Gap bag wouldn’t let me sit down and so on. Then I see the Jan. 11 article, “North Side strangler,” which contains quotes from several commuters dreading the increase in travel time that is in their certain future.
People complain about CTA service without any ideas of how to fix it. This project seems to be a result of a public outcry, yet when commuters learn that their complaints have been noticed and improvements are in the works, they whine about the amount of time that construction is going to take. Do we think that CTA officials have a magic wand that instantly makes platforms longer and helps to alleviate congestion?
My commute is affected by this expansion project, and I’m not looking forward to sitting on a bus for up to an hour when I used to be able to get home in half the time, but I’m acknowledging that the delays are a result of improvements that commuters asked for.
Daniel Jackson, 23, Lakeview
Solution needed
This is a joke. Commuting times doubled? The ease of public transportation is a major reason why people live and work within the city limits, and now the CTA is taking that away.
The city and the CTA need to find a solution to keep commuting times the same before blowing up the system for three years. Why not more express trains? New routes? More express buses up north?
Cory Murphy, 29, Edgewater
Means to succeed
The situation in Iraq is complicated. Thus, if we do remain, we should compose a viable plan and supply enough troops for implementation (“More troops, more backlash,” Jan. 10 cover story).
Ricky Dorham, 44, Bronzeville
Big mistake
The entire Iraq war has been an unmitigated disaster. The last thing Bush should do is compound his folly by prolonging it at the cost of more American lives. I have never supported him in anything during his entire misbegotten presidency, but this is his worst mistake yet.
Christopher Wallace, 34, Chatham
