Do you think CTA Riders Deserve Better?

We do. The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization has been surveying riders about slowdowns on the Cermak/Douglas Pink and Blue Lines since the beginning of summer. Our latest survey shows that since the Pink Line began, 46% of trips were reported to be longer by an average of 20 minutes. 13% of riders reported their trips take the same amount of time. 33% reported a shorter trip. 8% of the trips were made by undecided riders. Over 70% of people surveyed want the 54/Cermak Blue Line back without a cut in frequency.

Now the CTA has revealed that in addition to the lack of Blue Line trains connecting Cermak to O'Hare, in addition to the slowdowns caused by extra Pink Line trains on the Loop, nearly every rail line on the system is experiencing slow zones due to construction, train traffic, and poorly maintained track. In fact, 18% of the linear track (almost 1 in 5 sections) is under slow zones and there is no way to get it all moving again before the end of the year. Why? Instead of doing necessary maintenance on existing track, the CTA is diverting operating funds to questionable projects like the Pink Line. (see below for links to news articles on this)

With CTA budget hearings around the corner, we may again be facing Doomsday service cuts and fare hikes. This is NOT AN OPTION for Chicago's workers, students, and families. We need to keep EVERYONE in this city moving.

We invite all CTA riders and community groups to the first Transit Justice Coalition meeting, if you feel you have a complaint with the CTA, want to get back the Cermak/Douglas Blue Line and/or have an idea about cheaper, safer, more efficient public transit for all.

Transit Justice Coalition Meeting

When: 6:30pm, Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Where: Little Village Community Church
2300 S. Millard, Chicago

(accessible from 54/Cermak Central Park Station)

Earlier this summer, CTA President Frank Kruesi justified the $38 million of taxpayer money spent so far on the Pink Line by claiming it would save riders 5, 10, or even 15 minutes. According to the new survey, the average CTA trip is about four and a half minutes longer since the Pink Line began, but those with longer rides have felt the change much more sharply. Now slow downs are paralyzing the entire city, and things are only likely to get worse as winter weather approaches!

If the CTA rearranged spending priorities, they could keep the existing train system running. For example, with the $5 million spent on Pink Line operations, the CTA could hire 3 additional 18 person crews to work on eliminating the system wide slow zones.

We thank all of you who took the time to complete our survey. Now we need to get the word out to the media. It’s time the CTA Board and President Frank Kruesi act like they care by giving us, their clients, what we want - regardless of our race, income, national origin, or the neighborhood we come from. We need to restore the 54/Cermak Blue Line to pre-June 25 service levels during all hours of the day, and cut back the Pink Line to relieve potentially dangerous train congestion from the Loop.

Please contact the following reporters and write letters to the editor of Chicago newspapers and independent/alternative media outlets.

MEDIA

ABC Channel 7
Kevin Roy
312.290.3701
kevin.r.roy (at) abc.com

News Radio 780 - WBBM
Bob Roberts
WBBM comment page
www.wbbm780.com/pages/2062.php?

Chicago Public Radio - WBEZ
Catrin Einhorn
312.948.4748

Eight Forty-Eight
848 (at) ChicagoPublicRadio.org

WVON 1450AM
Cliff Kelly
773-247-6200 (Main)
E-mail: wvonwebmaster (at) wvon.com
Studio: 773-591-5990

Chicago Sun Times
Monifa Thomas
mjthomas (at) suntimes.com

Chicago Tribune
Letters to editor
ctc-tribletter (at) tribune.com

Virginia Groark
vgroark (at) tribune.com

John Hilkevitch
jhilkevitch (at) tribune.com

Eric Zorn
ezorn (at) tribune.com

Liam Ford
lford (at) tribune.com

Chicago Reader
Ben Joravsky
letters (at) chicagoreader.com

La Raza
Editorial
(773) 273-2900
Tania Unzueta
(773) 273-2900

Hoy
Jamie J. Reyes
jreyes (at) tribune.com

Chicago Defender
Editorial Newsroom
editorial (at) chicagodefender.com

NEWS LINKS

No repair money means slow `L' trains
www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/premium/interceptlogin.register

The slow and the furious
www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-slowzone14.html

CTA: Slow funding means slow zones
www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060913cta,1,2858423.story

CTA 'Slow Zones' Make Molasses Seem Speedy
Riders Complain As Track Repairs Crawl
www.nbc5.com/news/9847351/detail.html

CTA Riders Frustrated By Slow Zones On 'L' Lines
CTA Says Old Tracks, New Construction To Blame For Delays
cbs2chicago.com/seenon/local_story_257082015.html

Pace, Metra and CTA searching for more tax dollars to stay afloat
www.dailyherald.com/story.asp

RTA threatens service cuts, fare hikes after '07
www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-transit15.html

RTA: More money needed for transit system
abclocal.go.com/wls/story

Tranist Officials Hoping For More Funding In 2007
www.wbbm780.com/pages/83311.php

RTA hopes for more funding from state legislature $163 million extra needed, officials say
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0609150329sep15,1,3213452.story

RTA to Springfield: Send money
www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060914rta,1,6069703.story

Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
2856 S. Millard Ave, Chicago, IL 60623 Email: publictransit (at) lvejo.org
Phone: (773) 762-6991 Fax (773) 762-6993 Web: www.lvejo.org