Attention Blue Line Riders (Chicago: apartment, maintenance, bus)

[kgatchicago]

Today I had a very bad time riding in blue line.. It took more than 1.5 hours to reach jackson from cumberland. Do any one know the real reason why it is slow for the past 4 or 5 months ? if maintenance is the reason..will it take this much time ?? .
Is it not the responsibility of the authorities to run the CTA as efficiently as possible to encourge people to take Mass transit ?? When we are worried about green gas emission and asking people to take mass transit ..then shouldn't we make CTA riding more comfortable and efficient for the people . ?

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by kgatchicago

Today I had a very bad time riding in blue line.. It took more than 1.5 hours to reach jackson from cumberland. Do any one know the real reason why it is slow for the past 4 or 5 months ? if maintenance is the reason..will it take this much time ?? .
Is it not the responsibility of the authorities to run the CTA as efficiently as possible to encourge people to take Mass transit ?? When we are worried about green gas emission and asking people to take mass transit ..then shouldn't we make CTA riding more comfortable and efficient for the people . ?

The CTA found problems with the ties in certain sections and have designated them as slow zones. But today's delays weren't due to the slow zones, a train broke down in one of the tunnels. I got on the Blue line at California. The conductor announced that there was a disabled train in the tunnel ahead and they were waiting for fans to clear the smoke from tunnel before trains would be let through. I got off and took the Milwaukee bus.

They are working on the slow zones but I haven't seen any estimates on when they'll be completed.

[j33]

I've gotten so fed up trying to ride the Blue line that I've taken to riding the Milwaukee bus instead. It gets me downtown in about the same amount of time.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by Attrill

They are working on the slow zones but I haven't seen any estimates on when they'll be completed.

ROTFLMAO!!!

The CTA needs nearly six billion (yes, six BILLION), dollars worth of maintenence. Those slow zones will be fixed when you can take a flying pig to work. Maybe a bit sooner if that *#@(&!# Krusei gets kicked out on his a**.

(Can you tell I feel a bit hostile to the CTA?)

[j33]

one would think that with six billion dollars, you could bulldoze the thing and start over.

[prairiestate]

An expose from Crain's

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=23556

[tw_actuary]

So, on average, how long does it take to ride the Blue Line from Cumberland to Jackson downtown? I will be moving to the Chicagoland soon and is currently looking at an apartment near the Cumberland station. However, if it will take 1.5 hour to commute to downtown everyday, perhaps I should look for housing in other areas.

From the Trip Planner on the CTA website, it says it takes about 45 minutes to go from Cumberland to Jackson. How accurate is that estimate?

Thanks a lot!

[Drover]

45 minutes sounds a little optimistic. I'd say probably closer to an hour. But it shouldn't be 1.5 hours unless there's a major issue.