A Realistic Day In The Life: CTA Train Operator

When I started this post I didn't know there were four other parts. This was part. 5 from the YouTube Channel - The Perteets. Anyone interested in seeing these other parts?

 

[VIDEO] When I was a child this was something that was of interest. To be a CTA motorman or a CTA conductor.

Well those used to be two different positions, however, by the 1990s the conductor positions were eliminated making CTA trains one person train operations. The man you see here gives us his job title, rapid transit operator. The title of what I used to call the motorman back in the day.

He talks about his experience, how he started on CTA and the routes he regularly worked before he started working the CTA blue line - which once used to be the Congress (Forest Park)-Douglas (54/Cermak)-O'Hare. Though these days it's just O'Hare-Forest Park.

My understanding of how CTA works and whoever works for the Chicago Transit Authority can correct me if I'm wrong is that before they let you have the control of the train, you have to be a flagger. I think you'd have to work on the tracks for a time before you can get promoted to operator. Don't quote me the comments are open for those who knows what it takes to eventually become a motorman/operator.

Anyone interested in becoming a rapid transit operator? Write a comment.

Artistmac looks at the new Damen stop on the Green Line

 

[VIDEO] Damen/Lake opened last month as the newest station on the CTA Green Line. This station is very close to the United Center and among other options this will be where the delegates or anyone else going to the Democratic convention next week will be getting off the train.

And of course this is perfect for other events at the United Center which means Bulls/Black Hawks games in addition to any other events that will take place there when the NBA or NHL aren't in season.

CTA Ride the Rails: Purple Line to Linden in real-time

 

[VIDEO] The CTA L trains have always fascinated me and just think there's still planning to not only maintain the system as the current major project is taking place on what they would call the north side mainline between Howard and Wilson which is where the Red & Purple Line Express runs.

The L not only allows people travel within the city, they allow people to commute to the suburbs and as you see here the CTA L goes into Evanston, IL - home of Northwestern University. For the next twelve mins. this video will take you along the route of the CTA Purple Line Shuttle between Howard and Linden. This actual video was recorded in 2015.

If you know nothing of the Purple Line - colored because of Northwestern University who's sports teams are known for wearing purple, white, and black - in addition to running regular service between Howard and Linden they run rush-hour express service into the Loop during the week.

This video only shows the portion that runs within the City of Evanston.

CTA Connections: The First Motorwoman of the Chicago Transit Authority

 

[VIDEO] Happy April 1st!

I consider myself a bit of a railfan and this caught my eye. CTA put out a video about the first woman to be a "motorman" or perhaps she's the first "motorwoman". In 21st century parlance she's the first woman to be a rail operator.

Lena Phillips talks about how she started. There were other women ahead of her as far as being hired as a rail operator, however, she was chosen to be the first to operate the train. She was told of a lot of cameras and she recalls her first day as an operator as very hectic. She even talks about how uniforms weren't cut for women at that point in time.

I saw her metal CTA badge which has her employee number on it. We don't see that anymore. :(

CTA Dan Ryan 1969 grand opening brochures #tbt

 

[VIDEO] I enjoyed this look back at the L as it was over 51 years ago. The unveiling of then new bright shiny object on CTA. The line many riders might complain about over the years. One of the busiest on the system. Its been through many changes, but I wonder if this compares to it's grand opening.

Also artistmac made a quick shot at the fact that 50 years later the L still hadn't been extended further south since then. However, plans are in motion though most won't be happy until those plans are executed finally.

I look forward to the future grand opening of the Red Line extension.

A streetcar near 79th & Western #tbt

Streetcar at 79th & Western via Chicago History Today

On June 16, 1956 streetcar service ended on Western Avenue. Over 64 years ago according to this post from back in June at Chicago History Today. I wanted to show this south side scene provided in that same post. I could show another near Western and Pershing Rd. during that period of time.

Either way streetcar service was on the wane here in Chicago and by 1958 something I shared last year all streetcar service in Chicago was eliminated. If there was to be a revival of streetcars or light rail in the city I'd say Western Avenue is one main thoroughfare that could use it.

As far as transit planning in Chicago, however, there has been emphasis on this idea of bus rapid transit. However, these plans haven't been implemented as of yet.

CTA Red Line extension project #RLEReady #Ward09

[VIDEO] CTA has a new video out about the CTA Red Line extension that is still being planned that takes the Red Line further south into Roseland and Altgeld Gardens where the final destination is 130th Street. The next critical phase for this ambitious project is construction which is expected to cost $2.3 billion half of that would come from federal funding and the rest from non-federal funding i.e from the city of Chicago, state of Illinois and/or even CTA itself.

I like these renderings of the various stops on the southbound Red Line extensions.

Let's start with 130th not much to be seen here though. They note this stop will be right at Altgeld Garden

Here's Michigan Avenue

Here's 111th Street

And here's 103rd Street

All of these locations look very different don't they. They assume there will be some new development around those stations. I definitely wouldn't mind that new L station on Michigan Ave helping to develop that vacant lot on the corner of 115th & Michigan. It's a long time in coming if that happens as it's been vacant since the mall had been demolished there during the 2000s.

If you got a plan for a "Roseland Coffee Shop" start creating your business plan right now! Don't wait for this L route to be built! Whatever businesses would come to this area, they need to start planning now.

Meanwhile, here's hoping even in these uncertain times that this new L route will come through and be built before the end of this decade.

Tribune: CTA and Pace buses will begin collecting fares again, as riders slowly return to public transit

If you've gotten used to boarding the rear of a CTA bus during the course of this coronavirus pandemic, that time is ending. If you enjoyed avoiding paying your fare, especially for those of you who prefer to pay with cash as opposed to using a ventra card those days are about to end.

In another sign that things are getting closer to normal in the Chicago area, the CTA and Pace will start collecting bus fares again, and the CTA will end rear-door boarding.

The CTA will require customers to enter buses via the front door and pay fares starting Sunday, while the Pace suburban bus service resumes fare collections Monday.

Both agencies had waived fare collection as a way to protect operators and passengers from the coronavirus. But since the agency started rear-door boarding in April, the state and the agency have adopted other ways of keeping people safe, including providing masks for all drivers, requiring that passengers be masked, and implementing new cleaning technology, said CTA spokesman Brian Steele.

The agency limits the number of passengers on buses to no more than 15 people on a 40-foot bus and no more than 22 on a 60-foot bus. The CTA also has a ridership information dashboard on its website that shows when buses are the most crowded to help people choose a better time to travel.

Keith Hill, president of the bus drivers’ union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, said his group agreed with the resumption of front-door boarding. Hill noted the CTA had agreed to increase the “standee line,” or how far passengers have to stand back from drivers, to more than six feet.

In addition to outdoor dining, opening the lakefront, even allowing businesses that provide such services as barbers, pedicures, tatoos, etc to reopen it's a start!

Starting Sunday, rear-door boarding on CTA buses will end. As we begin to welcome people back, riders will return to boarding at the front as we’ve taken many steps to provide the healthiest environment possible for customers and employees. Learn more: https://t.co/VDccvU5ct2 pic.twitter.com/SuRgcZfCwr

— cta (@cta) June 19, 2020

CTA cleaning #Pandemic

[VIDEO] Since I shared Amtrak's response, what about the response from the Chicago Transit Authority. Unfortunately many Chicagoans have a love hate relationship with their public transportation provider.

I don't often see CTA workers giving the "spit-shine" to at the very least the CTA trains especially when they get into their respective terminals. To be honest it's probably hard to do when say a train get into its final destination and it has to go right out and you have passengers coming around and taking their seats.

Another thing I've noticed on trains during the heat of this pandemic is that increasingly you see homeless people riding the trains. Unfortunately they're just as vulnerable to the coronavirus and I get the idea less likely to seek out medical help for this very dangerous illness. So unfortunately there's that the content with on CTA at all hours.

It's great to see this b-roll footage of CTA workers sanitizing even train stations from handrails to Ventra card machines. It's great to see workers get on the buses and deep clean once their in their respective garages. Indeed, this is also occurring to CTA trains once they're in the yard.

There could be more CTA could do to insure passengers are in a very clean and safe environment on public transportation during this pandemic. Perhaps make more of an effort to keep the homeless from using CTA as a shelter for example - although granted I hear a lot of the shelters are crowded right now.

Another odd thing that has been going on with CTA right now is their attempt to protect their employees, especially bus drivers. CTA riders will have to board the back of the bus now.

To help #KeepTheDistance and better protect you and our frontline workers, beginning today, we’re implementing rear-door boarding on all buses and allowing some buses to run as “drop-off, only” to avoid crowding.

Full details: https://t.co/xFgooEI7lQ pic.twitter.com/5wq3YGDmOj

— cta (@cta) April 9, 2020

While this had in my mind conjured up images of the Montgomery Bus Boycott - and its not really something I've seen discussed in the media - I realize these are not those times. There are reports of CTA bus drivers being diagnosed with coronavirus and have little issue with ensuring their safety. Getting on the bus through the back doors are something we have to get used to for now for the safety of the transit workers.

Not that I advocate for this, however, at least until we get back to normal if you pay cash fare to board a bus CTA isn't collecting your fare. Reportedly, however, they plan to place Ventra card readers at the back of the bus though so far most buses don't use this feature yet.

CTA Red Line extension update

Rendering 103rd Street Red Line station - CTA 

Over at The Sixth Ward on Tuesday I shared a tweet to a Curbed Chicago article with regards to various upcoming transit projects throughout the city. One project that many who live near the 95th terminal is the planned CTA Red Line extension. One reason that Curbed article was of interest to me is the seeming progress in which case is to merely fund engineering & design work.

Of course the reason for this interest is mainly the safety and activity of the area. The 95th terminal is one of the busiest of the CTA. The CTA Red Line connects with not only CTA and Pace suburban bus routes, also intercity bus services with Greyhound and Indian Trails buses. So there's definitely a lot of activity there especially during the week.

The main thing is building this extension further south to the city's southern limits might mean less activity at 95th. Or perhaps hopefully for local leaders in the community less opportunities for criminal activity. Either way another stated and important purpose for this extension is to cut commuting times for those individuals who must use public transit who must travel to other parts of the city.

WBEZ: Teens Say Free CTA Rides On First Day Of School Are Not Enough

Usually on the first day of school students and their parents will ride CTA for free. Some students say this still isn't enough.

Students say it’s helpful, but they want the offer year round.

“I think students should get free rides because I don’t really know how you will expect youth who are focusing on their education and career to have constant money,” said Jennifer Nava, a senior at Kelly High School in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

It’s a big ask in a city dealing with a huge financial deficit. Just last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city faces a projected $838 million budget shortfall next year.

Still Jennifer, an outspoken teenager who keeps close tabs on city affairs, wants to remind Lightfoot that she promised to make transportation more affordable for students during her campaign.

“If time is not now, then when?” Jennifer said.

How about this, create a U-Pass program for K-12 students especially designed for those students who must depend on public transit. If there isn't enough money to allow free rides for CPS students year round then do what the city's universities have done, require activity fees. Probably not a popular solution, however, as stated in the article the reduced fares for K-12 students add up.

Badger City presents - Wednesday's CTA red line AM commute

[VIDEO] This is a rare moment a videoblog for the Shedd School blog termed a Badger City presentation, a Sixth Ward production. It records my commute from the south side to downtown. As it turns out there was a problem.

From what I heard from our operator the whole State Street subway was closed due to police activity. As a result our train and all other red line trains would have to be rerouted through the loop elevated making all brown line stops before returning to their regular routes.

When I started recording at the Garfield stop our operator started snapping over the PA system telling us that the emergency buttons aren't to be used for asking directions. Even suggested if anyone wanted directions everyone should have a cell phone, especially a smartphone. Use your phones to figure out where you need to go he would state.

After we leave Garfield, another voice comes onto the PA system. I don't know if he was from a control center somewhere or from our train but he tries to offer directions for those passengers trying to get where they need to go. Of course our operator also chimes in saying there are those customers who still don't get it. I'm sure he was still getting people pressing the emergency button even after this other voice starts speaking on the train.

The rest of the video after Cermak-Chinatown shows my train going over the top the way trains from 95th used to go through downtown Chicago. We go on tracks along 18th Street and then we turn north on a right of way between State Street and Wabash Avenue. Before arriving at the elevation Roosevelt stop our operator announces that the State Street subway has been reopened. The other voice chimes in again to let us know of the next stops after Roosevelt.

Sun-Times: Man fatally hit by Metra Electric train, service resumes with ‘extensive delays #Ward09

Well it's a bit interesting I post that Metra Electric ride along video this morning and there was an incident on that same line this morning near Kensington or 115th Street. Here's a tweet with a link to the Sun-Times story

The CTA will honor Metra tickets for affected riders on the Red Line from 95th to Lake and on the 1, 2, 6, J14, 28, 71, 115 and 119 buses. https://t.co/lyRUkPKgHH

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) February 22, 2019

From the twitter page for the Metra Electric line a new update.

Metra Alert ME - CTA will no longer honor Metra tickets on the Red Line (95th to Lake) and bus route 1, 2, 6, J14, 28, 71, 115 and 119

— Metra Electric (@metraMED) February 22, 2019

Curbed Chicago: CTA completes $280 million 95th Street terminal overhaul #Ward09

I know this is old news at this point and had already shared one article about this, but Curbed Chicago also covered the opening of the north terminal at 95th. It really does look like a hub of activity, and it does seem like an airport. Perhaps CTA's answer to Midway Airport...

CTA completes $280 million 95th Street terminal overhaul https://t.co/TLw6J8IHJ2 pic.twitter.com/sSNLJK4VvM

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) January 4, 2019

There are some other articles I would like to share with regards to transit projects in Chicago.

The new 95th terminal is now open... #Ward09 #BuildingwithBeale

The CTA terminal at 95th is 90% complete. The north terminal is now open as of Friday morning. As a result it gives me the excuse to share this article from the Tribune before the north terminal opened:

The $280 million project replaces the original 50-year-old rail and bus terminal at the southern end of the Red Line, which runs along the Dan Ryan Expressway. The station, one of the busiest on the CTA system, serves 20,000 daily commuters and sees about 1,000 CTA, Pace and Greyhound bus trips on an average weekday, CTA officials said.

The four-year station construction was also a necessary step in building the extension of the Red Line south to 130th Street, which is part of the agency’s long-range plan.

“This is a huge, huge accomplishment for the city of Chicago and the Far South Side,” said Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th. Beale said the station will be more user-friendly for bus, rail and pedestrian traffic and will draw business to the area.

The south terminal was completed last spring. Having two terminals eliminates the conflict between eastbound and westbound buses on 95th Street, allowing eastbound buses to use the south terminal and westbound buses to use the north terminal, CTA officials said. Previously, there was only a north terminal.

The new station includes a heated, glass-enclosed pedestrian bridge over 95th Street, connecting the north and south terminals and cutting down on conflicts between cars and people walking. The number of bus bays has increased to 26, from 12, CTA officials said.

The station also will have more turnstiles and Ventra vending machines, a longer train platform to reduce overcrowding, additional bike racks, and new signage.

“I think it’s a great lift to the community,” said Ald. Howard Brookins Jr., 21st. “It’s a beautiful station. It will spur additional economic development down 95th Street, and it will ease traffic going down that corridor.”

As for that future CTA Red Line extension:

The construction of the new station needed to be done before the Red Line can be extended to 130th Street, CTA officials said. Last year, the CTA picked a route for the extension, which will include four new rail stations. The agency is now preparing to complete the preliminary design and engineering work needed to pursue federal funding for the project.

You want to know the financial scale?

The cost of the station exceeds that of two recent big projects: the $203 million Wilson Street station rebuilding on the Red Line’s north branch and the $75 million Washington/Wabash station in the Loop. The 95th Street station construction was larger than the other projects and included track work in the rail yard at 98th Street, CTA officials said.

Finally seems like an unnecessary expense:

The new station, which has a distinctive red roof, will feature two new public art displays by Chicago native Theaster Gates. The south terminal will have a pair of tapestries made from the strips of decommissioned fire hoses that are sewn together, and the north terminal will include a radio station and DJ booth that will broadcast over the station’s public address system.

A DJ Booth and a radio station, really? Though I hear that there will be public bathrooms available. Still not sure about that idea of DJ at a transit terminal.

Regardless can't wait to see the finished project... 

Happy New Year

 Time already to bring in a new year. You plan to party do so by using the CTA as your designated drive. From 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM rides on CTA are free. And don't tap your ventra cards as there will be no refunds.

BTW, and if someone offers to tap you on a bus or train for a small fee there's no need to utilize that hustle. What this means is you don't have to tap your ventra cards for a ride on CTA.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Dec 28, 2018 at 7:20pm PST

Did you see the pedestrian bridge over 95th?

[VIDEO] Well this is old news, but for the last week if you've been driving along 95th Street across the Dan Ryan Expressway you see a bridge over the street. It's a pedestrian bridge that will connect the new south terminal with the original north terminal.

I did a quick snapshot when I noticed the bridge and finally posted it to our IG page. I think some of the structure for the bridge was staged at the old service station at 95th & State before it was eventually put up.

Thanks to the continuing work at 95th according to WGN:

Drivers along 95th Street will notice lane reconfigurations for the next 2-3 weeks as crews work to put the glass enclosures and flooring in place. For the latest details, visit transitchicago.com/alerts.

Here's our ig post

Washington Heights Visioning Session - Red Line Extension Coalition

Red Line extension

This invited with an attached newsletter was sent to us via the West Chesterfield Community Association with regards to the red line extension.

• THE FOURTH AND FINAL WASHINGTON HEIGHTS VISIONING SESSION BY ENDELEO INSTITUTE.
  
  6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Thursday October 18th, 2018
  Woodson Library Auditorium
  9525 S Halsted, Chicago

#fbf 95/Dan Ryan - 1971

Wanted to share this ig post from CTA earlier this week. It shows trains departing and arriving at the 95th terminal in 1971 which was back when the line was brand new. I wrote a lot about the history of operations at 95th since the Dan Ryan branch of the CTA Red Line has been in operation over at The Sixth Ward.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Oct 1, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

A streetcar named retire

According to an ig post from CTA the last streetcar ran in Chicago on June 21, 1958 - 60 years ago. The last streetcar route was the 22A which after that date was converted to buses and survives currently as the 24 Wentworth. The 22A was split from the 22 Clark in 1957 according to chicagorailfan.com - relevant page here. Note that many of the numbers for CTA bus routes are derived from the streetcars that formerly ran throughout the city.

TBT: 60 years ago, CTA ran its last streetcar. So, you could call this final Green Hornet run down Vincennes Ave. on 6/21/58, “A Streetcar Named Retire.” Bus service replaced streetcars, but tracks are buried under many streets.

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Jun 21, 2018 at 9:44am PDT

While buses replaced streetcar service 60 years ago, evidence of streetcars exist throughout the city. Michigan Avenue was once host to a streetcar route. You may see former streetcar tracks near the intersection of 95th & Michigan which often surface once the pavement is worn down. I snapped this shot for The Sixth Ward over 10 years ago.

Pic from The Sixth Ward May 2008

BTW, just think there's a current light rail - a more modern name for the streetcar - proposal on the north side. Question to ask is whether or not transit starved areas of the south side can get some action as far as light rail. Especially in those areas that doesn't have ready access to the L. Some of which are located in Chicago 8th, 9th, and 10th wards.