The Chicago Traveler

About two weeks ago, the CTA began testing its new “max capacity” reduced-seat ‘L’ cars on the Brown Line in an attempt to provide more space (and garner more revenue) from overcrowded rush-hour trains.
About a dozen seats were removed from the trial rail cars, allowing each to hold approximately 25 more riders than normal cars. Originally, the CTA planned on removing all of the seats from these cars, but engineering studies showed that this would actually provide too much capacity. If filled, they would have exceeded the train’s maximum weight limits.
With more people on their feet, the CTA has improved …read more

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The Chicago Traveler and all of us here at b5media send our thoughts and well-wishes to all those along the Gulf coast who have been affected by Hurricane Ike.
I also want to extend my sympathies to many in the Chicagoland area. The hurricane’s residual effects brought two days of steady, pouring rain. Rivers and creeks overflowed their banks, and many communities were flooded. Streets, cars, and hundreds of homes were submerged in several feet of water. Families were encouraged to evacuate their homes and take shelter in locations designated by the American Red Cross.

In Northbrook and Prospect Heights, firefighters had …read more

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Time-Out Chicago dutifully posts updates, reviews, and photos of the Pitchfork Music Festival.
The PBLT (a cross between a peanut butter sandwich and a BLT) at Lula Cafe is a bit more than you’d bargain for, according to Drive-Thru.
Yesterday, today, and…? You know the word I’m looking for, but do you know how to spell it? Don’t ask the employees at the Jade Dragon Tattoo parlor, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
How’s this for something different? A blog wrap-up linking to another blog wrap-up. The Chicago Tribune explores some of Chicago’s Best Blogs. This week, check out some “Around Chicago” blogs and …read more

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Now that seniors can ride the CTA for free and with the rising costs of gas, more and more people have been using the city’s public transit. While this is great in terms of “traveling green,” this means that there are more commuters during rush hour on already crowded buses and trains. But due to limited funding, the CTA cannot afford to buy more buses nor more rail cars.
The answer to the problem? Cattle cars!
Okay, not exactly, but not far from it. According to the Tribune and the Sun-Times, the Chicago Transit Authority is considering removing seats from at least …read more

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A few folks from San Francisco, California, have created a website where they list some basic etiquette rules for riding public transit. I think politeness on buses and trains is a universal necessity though, and many of the suggestions can apply even to Chicago’s very own CTA commuters.
For example, they advise riders to keep cell phone usage to a minimum while on the bus or train. I could not agree more. Oh, Mr. Inappropriate-Volume, all of us do not want to hear your conversation, no matter how interesting you may think it is. Please, please lower your voice or, even …read more

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With the rising costs of gas, more and more people are turning to public transit to get where they’re going. Now, Google Maps can help guide your way.
Just enter your start and end points. If available for your route, you’ll see the option to “take public transit.” You can even see bus and train schedules, so you’ll know when to set your departure time. Step-by-step directions are available both in text and on the map.

In addition, the Chicago Transit Authority has recently released the CTA Bus Tracker. Select a route, direction, and transit stop in the Estimated Arrival Times Window, …read more

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Happy Birthday to the eL! Or rather, to the idea of the eL. On this day in 1883, the world’s first elevated electric railway made was given a test run.

New York City already had been using elevated trains since the early 1870s, but they were steam-powered. Thomas Edison and Stephen D. Field amazed the crowds at the Chicago Railway Exposition 125 years ago by building a 3-foot-wide, 1552-foot-long (0.9-meter-wide, 473-meter-long) track around the edge of the main exhibition building. The locomotive, weighing in at 3 tons (2.7 metric tons), drew electric current by rubbing a wire brush on each side …read more

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The other day, before driving to the grocery store, I pulled into the gas station to fill the car’s tank. I read the sign… $4.20 for a gallon of regular gas! Eep! Filling the tank would leave me with no money left for groceries. And I’m certainly not the only one feeling the pinch on the wallet.
Chicagoans are now paying an average of $4.07 a gallon for self-serve regular gas. Not only is it the first time the average has surpassed $4 a gallon, it’s the highest price anywhere in the nation, even more expensive than bigger cities like New …read more

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People 65 years old or over can ride free on Chicago’s public transportation starting today. The free ride programs include the CTA, Metra, and Pace systems which serve Chicago and its surrounding counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will).
Back in January, legislators agreed to a sales and real-estate-transfer tax hike to help bail out the financially struggling CTA. However, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wouldn’t sign it unless a provision was added: seniors ride for free.
Seniors must have the Senior Reduced Fare Card to take advantage of the free transit. Those who already have a Card are automatically registered. Seniors who …read more

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Ron Huberman, the president of the Chicago Transit Authority, stated that the CTA plans to eliminate the 54th/Cermak branch of the Blue Line, beginning April 27. The CTA declares low ridership on these West Side trains as the reason.
Fortunately, the new Pink Line covers most of this branch. However, there are three stops which the Pink Line doesn’t service: Racine, UIC-Halsted, and Clinton. Therefore, people who used to take the Blue Line (54th/Cermak) east to these destinations will now have to (a) use the Pink Line, get off at Polk, and take a bus the rest of the way or …read more

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