Diane Palmer, spokeswoman for the RTA, said that the transit service’s three-year-old free ride system for seniors will be transitioning to a half-fare system.

Palmer said the change is expected to come “around Labor Day.”

The RTA has ordered new smart cards that will be replacing the 440,000 current Seniors Ride Free cards, continued Palmer. However, because the RTA could not acquire enough of the new cards in time for Labor Day, seniors will be receiving magnetic-stripe cards which must be inserted into the turnstiles, not unlike the older cards used by Pace and the CTA.

The cards will be mailed out around August 1, giving seniors a one-month buffer to receive them. The cards will be used until Pace, Metra, and the CTA all adopt a universal card system, which could come as soon as early 2012.

Free rides will continue only for seniors who have displayed eligibility under Illinois’ Circuit Breaker program. All other seniors will pay half fare.

The RTA anticipates that this change will bring in more than $30 million annually. The change is part of a revision to the RTA Act drawn up by former Governor Rod Blagojevich and signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn.

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The CTA is looking for corporate sponsors for its trains, buses and “el” stops.

A CTA spokeswoman says it hopes to get sponsorship deals by spring. The transit agency will be looking for a consulting firm to find a corporate sponsor for something as big as, say, the naming rights to the Red Line.

Charlie Wheelan, an economist at the University of Chicago, said, “You’ve got to look at this deal not relative to whether you like it or not, but what are the alternatives? Would you prefer higher fares? Would you prefer less service? Would you prefer higher taxes?”

Wheelan said CTA passengers are an advertisers dream: people standing around with not much to do. He said the sponsors are likely to be companies targeting the young urban professional demographic. “My guess is high tech firms, computer electronics,” he said.

The CTA hasn’t put a dollar figure on how much it can make in sponsorship deals.

Originally reported by Chicago Public Radio. Read the original article here.

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Officer John Mirabelli, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, said 53-year-old James Minter of the city’s South Side fell under the wheels of the bus near Harrison Street and Ashland Avenue Thursday afternoon.

A spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office says Minter was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.

CTA spokeswoman Wanda Taylor says the northbound Ashland Avenue bus was leaving the intersection after getting a green light when Minter either slipped or fell under the rear wheels.

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

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At a news conference Wednesday at ATU Local 241 headquarters, Local 241 attorney Joe Pass stated the union’s intent to file a series of lawsuits against the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to be completed by end of this week.

Those filings are now complete.

The lawsuits, which range from a class-action grievance aimed at CTA employee relations, a federal suit for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and a state lawsuit filed in Cook County to enforce 10 contract agreements, the Union claims the CTA has refused to honor and abide.

Pass noted that the CTA could resolve the grievance portion by hiring back at least 50 operators.

In response to CTA spokesperson Noelle Gaffney’s claims that employees signed a workbook to work overtime, and that the Union was “going to court instead violates the terms of the contract,” Pass retorted, “If the current situation was not so serious, Ms. Gaffney’s comments regarding Local 241’s lawsuits would be laughable.

Her suggestion that the Union must use the “grievance” procedure to resolve disputes demonstrates her ignorance to reality at the CTA, as well as the law.”

”If her comments are directed toward the federal lawsuit, certainly the CTA must be aware the law permits any employee denied his or her rights under federal statutes to seek redress in federal court,” Pass continued.

“Furthermore we shall continue to press our cases in the appropriate state and federal jurisdictions and are considering additional actions if the CTA continues on its ways.”

Pass also said CTA management has conspicuously not mentioned the huge union givebacks of recent years.

Local 241 gave back the CTA $1.3 billion, he noted, ranging from relieving CTA of retiree healthcare that they are no longer liable and bond money relief more than two years ago.

Additionally, Pass said, the union’s 2007, 3 percent wage increase went directly to the pension fund and not in the pockets of workers.

Moreover, in 2008, 3 percent of wages went to the retiree health care, and this year 2.3 percent of scheduled pay raises again went to the pension fund to bail out the CTA of their financial calamity.

Darrell Jefferson, president of ATU Local 241 made it clear that “We are not here to hurt the riding public. Some members may call for a possible strike vote as early as Monday, but I will be advising against it.”

With more CTA lay-offs scheduled for Sunday, Jefferson warned. “The longer waits and the longer lines are yet to come.”

Jefferson also reinforced his commitment to work with CTA to help find a permanent funding solution for mass transit in Chicago.

“I will work with CTA to get to any type of positive conclusion, whatever it takes,” Jefferson said.

“I’ll go to the state, to the feds, to Mercury, to Mars, I’ll go there with them if it’s going to bring funding back for mass transit in the city of Chicago. But, if we’re not going to try to get something permanent, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

ATU Local 241 is the voice of working people employed in the transportation industry.

It is the largest local within the ATU in the United States with nearly 11,000 members.

MEDIA CONTACT:

A. C. McLean, 312-341-1733
acm@firsttracecommunications.com
First Trace Communications

ATU Local 241 lawsuit filings against CTA now complete | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The House voted 83-27, with three other representatives voting present, to move legislation pushed by Rep. Suzanne Bassi (R-Palatine) on to the Illinois Senate.

Under Bassis plan, low-income seniors still could ride public buses and trains for free, but more-affluent seniors would pay half-fare.

Anyone making under $27,610 a year or a couple making $36,635 would continue to be able to ride for free.

Bassi said the move would save the cash-strapped Regional Transportation Authority $37 million a year. The transit agency is running a roughly $90 million annual deficit.

Its going to take the whole system down if we dont correct it now, Bassi said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the CTA board formally met today with the leader of the CTAs bus drivers union for the first time since staffing and service cuts were imposed more than two weeks ago, but they didnt agree on much, and no further meetings are planned, a spokeswoman for the transit agency said.

Darrell Jefferson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, told CTA chairman Terry Peterson that the union wont agree to any salary cuts or other concessions sought by the agency to bring back workers and restore service cuts, CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said.

The union, unfortunately, made it clear they wont make concessions necessary to bring back employees and restore service, Gaffney said.

Jefferson has said he might call a strike vote Monday. The head of the L workers union, though, has said he wont seek a strike vote in the wake of the Feb. 7 service cuts and 1,057 layoffs.

The bus drivers, meanwhile, said it plans to file a series of major lawsuits against the CTA, accusing the agency of contract violations.

One thing the two sides did agree on today: to work together to lobby Springfield and Washington, D.C., for more transit money.

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The CTA bus driver acknowledges that she distributed a flier a few weeks ago that tells workers to refuse overtime, which they’re entitled to do.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

Simmons has the support of her union.

Amalgamated Transit Union vice-president Larry Muhammad said union executives have issued at least two memos stating the same thing as her flyer — that drivers can refuse overtime.

Simmons said one of the reasons she passed out the flier was to inform the the new, young drivers about exactly the union’s memos.

“They don’t understand that overtime is, is very stressful, very tiresome and the last thing you want as a bus operator is driving up and down the street, stressful and tired,” she said.

A CTA representative contacted by FOX Chicago would not go on camera and would not refer directly to Sandra Simmons by name, but said a driver who passed out fliers engaged in an “illegal job action” and “encouraged other employees to violate rules.”

Leaders of the bus drivers’ union allege CTA executives are pressing for overtime because of the recent layoff of more than 1,000 bus drivers and train operators.

“They’re so short right now, that they want to use Ms. Simmons as an example, to make these people know, you better work this overtime or else you’ll get what she’s going to get,” said Larry Muhammad.

“We understand the CTA is going through a hard time, but don’t try to make an example out of one of the workers, just to make that point.”

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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Emergency crews responded to the incident at the CTA Rockwell Brown Line station at 6:54 p.m. where a bicyclist was apparently clipped by a train, Fire Media Affairs Dir. Larry Langford said.

The man was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in “stable” to serious condition.

CTA spokeswoman Wanda Taylor said the individual was on a bike when he made contact with a southbound Brown Line train at the Rockwell station, which is at ground level. She said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Preliminary reports indicate the lights and gates were working properly at the time, Taylor said. There were no service delays due to the incident.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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Especially on the south and west sides.

The CTA strongly denies that allegation.

This week the agency laid off a thousand fifty seven workers and cut numerous bus and train routes to cope with a ninety five million dollar budget shortfall.

It says it needs concessions from the unions on pay raises and furlough days before services can be restored.

But now employees who are on the job are threatening to obey speed limits and CTA rules so closely, that service will suffer even more.

Some drivers said continued cuts will endanger public safety.

Union leaders said they hope to meet with CTA officials on Wednesday, and say they won’t settle for a temporary fix.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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Extra travel time is recommended.

Blue Line trains in both directions will operate on the same track between the Grand and LaSalle stations from 10 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday and again late-Saturday into early-Sunday, according to the CTA’s Web site.

The change is because of track maintenance work.

As a result, passengers must board and exit all trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Clark/Lake, Washington, Monroe and Jackson stations, the CTA said.

On the Red Line, trains in both directions will operate on the same track between the Lake and North/Clybourn stations from 11 p.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday, the CTA said.

Passengers must board and exit all trains on the 95 Street-bound platform at the Grand, Chicago and Clark/Division stations.

Minor delays are expected and passengers should allow extra travel time.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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Lorenzo Wiley claims that on Feb. 13, 2009, he boarded CTA bus No. 1353 with an RTA “Ride Free Circuit Permit Card,” but driver Geraldine Clark ordered him off the bus.

Chicago Police Officer K.M. Doyle then boarded the bus and physically assaulted Wiley, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court.

Officers K. Angarone and Doyle then handcuffed the 49-year-old Wiley and took him to the Near North District police station, where he was falsely charged with theft, the suit claims.

The officers never had a valid search or arrest warrant and did not have probable cause, according to the suit, which names the City of Chicago and the two officers as defendants.

All charges against Wiley were dismissed Nov. 16, 2009, according to the suit.

An amateur video of the incident surfaced on the Internet, showing an officer physically removing a man from a bus. That video led to an investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority, which reviews police conduct.

IPRA received a tip about the video, which showed an officer responding to a call to remove a passenger from the bus.

The passenger appeared to resist at first by refusing to leave, and then appeared to physically rebuff the officer trying to get him off the bus.

On the video, the officer was heard swearing as he ordered the man off the bus. There also appeared to be some sort of physical struggle after the passenger refused to get off and the officer repeatedly told him to exit.

The 10-count suit claims, among other things, false arrest, false imprisonment, excessive force and battery, and seeks an unspecified amount.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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CTA doomsday – meet Chicago snow day.

“The snow is going to make it a little bit more difficult,” said CTA President Richard Rodriguez.

“The rail side is typically not impacted as much by the snow.  But the buses are because of the streets.”

Rodriguez says, allow a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes extra commuting time.

“The goal is to try to get people to and from work as efficiently as they had been previously.  Individuals may not be sitting anymore on a bus, but the goal is to try to get them on a bus.”

Yesterday, commuters told stories of being bypassed by buses too full to take on even one more passenger.

By Steve Miller

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

Now, CTA riders have two reasons to allow extra time | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Bus service is available during all hours the show is open.

CTA’s #3 King Drive and #21 Cermak bus routes provide direct service to McCormick Place. #3 buses serve McCormick Place from North Michigan Avenue and the South Side every nine to 15 minutes.

#21 buses serve the West Side, operating to McCormick Place from North Riverside Park Mall approximately every 13 to 18 minutes and 20 minutes later on weekday evenings and Sunday evenings.

#21 buses also serve the South Side from Mercy Hospital operating approximately every 15 minutes. Customers also can take the CTA’s Red Line and transfer to #21 buses at the Cermak-Chinatown station.

In addition, the #129 West Loop/South Loop operates between the Ogilvie Transportation Center and McCormick place during weekday evening rush hours.

CTA also will operate two bus routes dedicated to Auto Show service. One route will provide convenient connections with CTA’s rail lines downtown and Metra lines at Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and LaSalle Street station.

Service will operate approximately every 15 to 20 minutes on weekdays and approximately every seven-and-a-half to 15 minutes on weekends between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day, and until 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21.

On weekends only, a shuttle service will operate from the Halsted station on the Orange Line approximately every 15 minutes beginning one half hour before the Auto Show opens to one hour after the event closes.

Auto Show Service

Auto Show buses start their trips from Ogilvie Transportation Center on Clinton at Washington, making stops south on Clinton, east on Monroe and east on Jackson to Wabash.

A stop is also made on Columbus at 11th to serve the Museum Campus.

From Columbus and 11th, the buses run express to McCormick Place.

Customers can connect to buses on Jackson from the Blue Line at Dearborn, the Red Line at State, and from Brown, Green, Orange and Pink Line trains serving the Adams/Wabash station (one block north of Jackson).

CTA Fares

For bus customers who use CTA fare media, fares are $2 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. For rail customers the fare is $2.25 and transfers are an additional 25 cents.

The fare for bus customers paying cash is $2.25. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.

For further information about CTA service, call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA Web site at transitchicago.com.

CTA provides service to McCormick Place for 2010 Chicago Auto Show | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Big CTA service cuts and changes will start this weekend.

Mayor Richard Daley said CTA leaders and their unions need to sit down at the bargaining table one more time before this weekend in hopes that employees will not lose their jobs.

Workers say the layoffs would be devastating.

CTA workers and passengers are bracing for big changes this weekend including layoffs and service cuts.

If the CTA and unions can not reach an agreement – service will be reduced on almost every bus and train line come Sunday.

That means crowded buses, trains and longer wait times.

Representatives from the unions say if a deal is not made by today, it probably will not happen over the weekend – and the cuts will take place.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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Riders are expected to feel the full impact of service reductions on Monday, February 8, the first weekday under reduced operation.

Service will run less frequently on 119 bus routes and seven of CTA’s eight rail lines, and hours of service will be reduced on 41 bus routes.

These routes either will start service later in the morning, end service earlier at night or both.  In addition, nine express bus routes that have corresponding local service will be eliminated.

Although the service reductions were designed to minimize the impact on rush hour service, riders should expect to experience longer wait times, particularly in off peak hours, and more crowded buses and trains.

Under current operation there are already numerous rail and bus routes that are at capacity during rush periods.

When service is reduced, crowding on these routes will increase so, in addition to longer wait times, riders who travel on the agency’s highest volume routes may have to wait for multiple buses or trains before boarding.

The CTA is advising riders to allow for additional travel time.

“We don’t want to reduce service or lay off employees – we would rather be adding service, growing ridership and saving jobs.  We know that the service reductions will inconvenience our riders and add time to their commutes,” said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez.

“Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that we don’t have the funds we need to maintain our existing service.  Our largest labor unions have been unwilling to help us reduce costs, even if it means more than 1,000 of their members lose their jobs.”

“We know that we have many dedicated employees that will be laid off on Sunday.  Their preference would be to keep working rather than join the ranks of the unemployed,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson.

“Sadly, the leaders of the labor unions have not shared our urgency in working to save jobs for their members and preserve service for our riders.  These service reductions will make it more difficult for people to get where they need to go.”

Over the last few weeks, CTA has posted information on its vehicles, at stations and on its Web site.

Hundreds of CTA representatives have been out on the system at key locations to pass out informational brochures to riders which will continue into next week.

Information has also been provided to offices of local elected officials to share with their constituents and help them prepare for the impact of service reductions and to Chambers of Commerce, municipalities, city agencies and faith-based organizations to have on hand for residents who may contact them for information.

Customer alerts have been posted across the system listing routes that will be impacted.

Information has also been programmed on digital displays and electronic signage at rail stations and affected bus routes have been playing announcements outlining specific changes since early January.

Signs are also posted at all CTA bus stops notifying customers of the changes to service.

Service has been scheduled so that vehicles are carrying as many people as possible.

As a result, both buses and trains will be crowded at all hours.  As a general guideline, riders can expect an additional two to five minutes between buses during weekday rush periods.

Rail customers can expect an additional one to two minutes for a train during rush hour, and generally two to five minutes longer during off-peak hours.

Although that may not seem significant, both buses and trains will fill up faster as a result of the service decrease, particularly during peak service hours, and riders may be forced to wait for multiple vehicles to pass before being able to board.

During off peak service hours, generally riders can expect an additional two to eight minutes between buses – during very late evening hours, there may be an additional 10 to 15 minutes between buses.

Customers are strongly encouraged to check the CTA Web site for specific information regarding their routes.

Informational brochures are available to customers at rail stations, on CTA’s Web site at transitchicago.com and through CTA’s Customer Service Center via e-mail at feedback@transitchicago.com or by calling 1-888-YOUR CTA (1-888-968-7282).

Brochures are available in English, Spanish, Polish and Chinese.  Detailed route-by-route information is available on the CTA’s Web site: transitchicago.com

Reduced CTA service set to start Sunday, Feb. 7; Prepare for longer wait times, more crowded buses | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The incident happened at 3 a.m., when a CTA employee was cleaning the Jefferson Park Blue Line at 4917 Milwaukee Avenue, Jefferson Park Police Capt. Edward Lenti said.

The employee left his keys unattended in a CTA-owned van while he was working, Lenti said.

The van was not running so when he heard the van start, it brought his attention to the van and police learned a woman had jumped into the van and took off, according to the captain.

Officers spotted the van 25 minutes later near North Cicero Avenue and West Touhy Avenue and pulled the vehicle over.

A woman in her early 40′s was taken into custody without incident, Lenti said.

No one was hurt, and the woman has not been charged as of 4:30 a.m.

A CTA spokeswoman had no information immediately.

Grand Central Area detectives are investigating.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

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An arbitrator ruled the plan is legal.

The issue was which workers could be laid off. The union said, under its contract, layoffs are to be made by seniority. In this case, that would’ve meant temporary and part-time employees being cut.

Nevertheless, the arbitrator ruled CTA can lay off whichever workers it wants.

The union called the ruling repugnant.

Unless the union and the CTA reach a last-minute deal on pay cuts, 1,067 workers will be laid off on Sunday.

CTA is making service cuts in conjunction with the layoffs, which will reduce frequency of service on seven CTA rail lines, eliminate nine express bus routes and reduce frequency of service on 119 bus routes and hours on 41.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Arbitrator sides with CTA on plans to lay off more than 1,000 union workers next week | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Again in late 2009, drastic fare increases for paratransit and the CTA loomed, only to be forestalled at the last minute by an agreement between state government and transit agencies.

But despite the reprieve, suburban and Chicago mass transit commuters still will face fare hikes, route cuts and layoffs in February.

For some riders, the impact is devastating.

“I’ll be able to finish this semester thanks to rides with friends,” Harper College undergraduate Thomas Groh said. But after that, “I think I’m dropping out of school.”

The Pace bus the Elk Grove Village student usually takes is being combined with another route to save money, but the segment of the route near his home will be discontinued. A taxi to the Palatine college would cost about $30 one-way, said Groh, who can’t afford that sum.

“This has pretty much taken away my future,” said Groh, who has battled a brain tumor and learning disabilities on his way to college.

Here’s a look at the changes the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace and Metra are instituting in February to offset a steep decline in revenues caused by the recession. Sales taxes along with fares are the main source of funding for the three agencies. The CTA also depends on a real estate transfer tax, which has been unproductive.

• Pace will eliminate 15 routes including Route 535 Fox Valley Shuttle, Route 654 South Glen Ellyn, Route 637 Wood Dale Rosemont CTA, and Route 690 Arlington Heights Road. Weekend service will be eliminated on nine buses including Route 209 Busse Highway on Sundays and Route 715 Central DuPage on Saturdays. Eight routes will be reduced or consolidated including Routes 696 and 699 that service Harper College.

• Metra on Monday will raise the price of weekend passes, one-way fares and penalties for buying tickets on trains.
• The CTA is bracing for layoffs of more than 1,000 employees unless the labor unions and management can rework contract deals, which is appearing unlikely. Service will run less frequently on 119 bus routes and seven train lines and hours will be slashed on 41 bus routes. Changes are set for Feb. 7.

For suburbanites who depend on Pace to get to jobs, schools and necessary errands, it’s a grim forecast.

Single mom Azizia Cameron who works at Harper College and studies mass communications there is one of the riders hit. Service reductions mean Cameron is scrambling to buy a car with her limited income. In the meantime, she’ll take taxis to fill the gaps in bus service.

“I work and go to school as well, so it hurts that the bus is going to be eliminated. It’s going to be real tight for the first couple of months having to make car payments,” she said.

“This doesn’t just hurt the people going to school, but it hurts people’s lives. It’s a ripple effect.”

Harper officials said they were working with students affected by the changes.

The suburban bus agency used ridership and operating expenses of routes in deciding what to cull, Pace spokesman Patrick Waldron said.

“Routes that operate more frequently, for longer hours during the day, longer distances, or some combination of these factors impact the financial performance of the bus route. By law, our system must recover 36 percent of our operating expenses from the fares we collect from riders,” he said.

If the economy doesn’t improve, the cuts could go deeper in 2011.

“Economic recovery is absolutely crucial in the coming year, both from an employment standpoint – which will impact ridership – and a funding standpoint, because we’re funded by a portion of the sales taxes collected in the region,” Wilmot said. “We’re optimistic but there’s just so much that can happen between now and preparing next year’s budget.”

Pace advised stranded riders to check the Web site Pacebus.com for alternatives.

The Chicago region is not alone, Regional Transportation Authority officials say. About 80 percent of other transit agencies are in the budget badlands.

“We certainly don’t like cutting transit at all when there’s a demand for more transit in the region. The long-term goal is to expand transit not to contract it,” RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman said.

One bright spot is that RTA planners say a conservative estimate shows revenues growing by about 2.6 percent in 2010s. In the meantime, transit agencies are instituting hiring freezes, furlough days and other cost-cutting measures.

In fall 2009, the CTA was looking at significant fare increases and Pace was considering raising the cost of rides for paratransit, the pickup service for people with disabilities.

Gov. Pat Quinn reached an agreement with the two agencies to keep fares level for two years but it relied mainly on borrowing.

This year’s gloom is “a portent of things to come,” University of Illinois at Chicago transportation professor Joseph DiJohn said. Previously, in transit crises the state legislature was able to bail out agencies, in 2008 approving increases in the sales tax and real-estate transfer tax, which benefited Chicago.

Now with a pending election and state budget woes, getting help from Springfield isn’t likely, said DiJohn, director of the Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative at UIC’s Urban Transportation Center.

“They’ve got to deal with it internally with service cuts and fare increases. I just don’t know where that’s going. These are Band-Aids.”

One source of cash could be restricting the controversial seniors ride free policy to low-income users.

“That’s an opportunity to pick up tens of millions of dollars a year,” DiJohn said. Despite its potential to be a third rail, limiting the program could be transit’s only chance in the near term.

“I think that will come back,” DiJohn said. “It’s something the legislature should consider. They certainly should address senior free rides.”

The RTA and transit agencies will lobby lawmakers this session about senior rides along with another issue – getting $250 million in back payments from the state.

Since last summer, “we haven’t seen a dime from them,” Schlickman said. “We are unable to deal with that hole much longer.”

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Transit agencies plan layoffs, cuts, fare hikes | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Orange Line trains will be rerouted from the inner track to the outer Loop track, and travel counterclockwise.

Entering the Loop, Orange Line trains will make their first stop at Adams/Wabash, then Madison/Wabash, Randolph/Wabash, State/Lake, Clark/Lake, Washington/Wells, Quincy/Wells, LaSalle/Van Buren and Library, then proceed to Roosevelt and resume the normal route.

Crews will install new switching equipment as part of the Loop Signal project that will replace the signal and train control systems in the Loop.

The Loop Signal replacement project is expected to conclude in late 2010.

The project is being conducted in phases to help minimize the impact to customers.

The majority of the work has taken place on weekends and in the early morning hours.

Orange Line trains to reroute on Loop elevated tracks on Sunday, Jan. 31 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

David Csicsko, a Lakeview artist, designed the tiled mosaic mural of bright, multicolored faces riding the train that stretches across the main staircase of the hub for the Red, Brown and Purple Lines.

Mr. Csicsko said his idea was “to really make it about diversity and celebrating all of the people who come in and out of this station.”

He said he also found room on the mural for depictions of his dog, President Obama at age 8 and “the Goddess of Belmont, who watches over all the club kids as they do crazy things at night.”

Most commuters passed by, oblivious, but Kasey Dieb, 17, a Lane Tech student, said the mosaics made the station “much more welcoming.”

Read the original article from the Chicago News Cooperative.

Attention commuters: Stop to enjoy the tiles | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago Transit Authority President Richard L. Rodriguez today reminded customers that CTA bus and rail service reductions and layoffs will go into effect in two weeks and outlined steps the CTA is taking to inform riders.

Beginning Sunday, Feb. 7, service will run less frequently on 119 bus routes and seven of CTA’s eight rail lines, and hours of service will be reduced on 41 bus routes.

These routes either will start service later, end service earlier or both.  In addition, nine express bus routes that have corresponding local service will be eliminated.

Although the reductions were designed to minimize the impact on rush hour service, riders should expect to experience longer wait times, particularly in off peak hours, and more crowded buses and trains.

Under current operation there are already numerous rail and bus routes that are at capacity during rush periods.  When service is reduced on Feb. 7, crowding on these routes will increase so, in addition to longer wait times, riders who travel on the agency’s highest volume routes may have to wait for multiple buses or trains before boarding.

The CTA is advising riders to allow for additional travel time.

“There are several avenues for customers to obtain information about the upcoming service changes,” said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez.

“Over the last few weeks, we have posted information on our vehicles, at our stations, and on our website.  Starting today and continuing through February 7, CTA representatives will be deployed at key locations to pass out informational brochures to customers. Our primary focus is to have riders prepared – I want to avoid having riders waiting for a bus that has had its service hours shortened.”

More than 630 CTA representatives will be manning 100+ locations across the bus and rail system over the next three weeks, with special emphasis placed on reaching riders who will be most impacted by reduced service hours for the 41 bus routes with shortened spans of service.

Information specialists will provide customers with a brochure that contains information on changes to service hours and frequency.  Detailed route-by-route information is also available on the CTA’s Web site: transitchicago.com.

Brochures will be available to customers at rail stations, on CTA’s Web site at transitchicago.com and through CTA’s Customer Service Center via email at feedback@transitchicago.com or by calling 1-888-YOUR CTA (1-888-968-7282).  Brochures are available in English, Spanish, Polish and Chinese.

Information has also been provided to offices of local elected officials to share with their constituents and help them prepare for the impact of service reductions and to Chambers of Commerce, municipalities, city agencies and faith-based organizations to have on hand for residents who may contact them for information.

Customer alerts have been posted across the system listing routes that will be impacted.  Information has also been programmed on digital displays and electronic signage at rail stations and affected bus routes have been playing announcements outlining specific changes since early January.

Signs are currently being posted at all CTA bus stops notifying customers of the changes to service.

“These reductions will make traveling during rush hour more difficult for the majority of our riders and we regret having to take these actions, however, by law we are required to operate under a balanced budget,” said Rodriguez. He said efforts to avert the reductions by reducing labor costs have been unsuccessful.

“Because nearly 90 percent of CTA’s workforce is unionized, we have tried to work with the labor unions to implement cost-saving measures such as furlough days, deferred wage increases, and changes in health benefits to help scale back service reductions,” he added.

“Although it is extremely difficult to ask dedicated employees to sacrifice, the aim was to preserve service and thereby keep people employed.  Unfortunately, CTA has been unable to reach an agreement with the unions so service reductions and the corresponding layoffs of more than 1000 employees will go forward on Feb. 7.”

The service reductions are designed to retain as much service as possible while reducing costs and maximizing efficiency.  Service will be scheduled so that vehicles are carrying as many people as possible.  As a result, both buses and trains will be crowded at all hours.

As a general guideline, riders can expect an additional two to five minutes between buses during weekday rush periods.  Rail customers can expect an additional one to two minutes for a train during rush hour, and generally two to five minutes longer during off-peak hours.

Although that may not seem significant, both buses and trains will fill up faster as a result of the service decrease, particularly during peak service hours, and riders may be forced to wait for multiple vehicles to pass before being able to board.

During off peak service hours, generally riders can expect an additional two to eight minutes between buses – during very late evening hours, there may be an additional 10 to 15 minutes between buses.

Customers are strongly encouraged to check the CTA Web site for specific information regarding their routes.

All rail routes and all bus routes will be maintained except for nine express routes that have a matching local route. Owl service on both bus and rail remain unchanged, preserving service for those third-shift workers who have few options other than public transit.

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