Blue Line riders hit the skids - Shuttle an 'irksome' alternative to many
Blue Line riders hit the skids - Shuttle an 'irksome' alternative to many
By Ofelia Casillas
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 15, 2007
Travelers were flustered Saturday to discover the CTA Blue Line to and from O'Hare had been suspended for the weekend between the Western and Clark/Lake stations because of construction on the rail lines.
Frederick Woodbery, 23, traveled from Memphis to see a Cubs game and attend a music festival this weekend. Instead of the train, he had to board a bus and then figure out where it dropped him off downtown.
"It was a pretty big annoyance. It felt like forever from beginning to end," he said. "At first, I was concerned because I have no clue where I'm going."
Deteriorated wooden rail ties are being replaced with concrete rail ties, which will eliminate "slow zones" along the tracks between Grand and Division and restore normal train speed to 55 m.p.h., CTA officials said. Similar construction will be done from Grand/State to Clark/Division and from Armitage to Diversey on the Red Line. Work is expected to be completed on the Blue Line in September and by year's end on the Red Line.
For the next two months, Blue Line trains will operate on a single track between Grand and Division overnight and during some weekends. On weekends when there are no major festivals downtown, sections of the tracks will be shut down to allow for more work to be completed. During those weekends, supplemental bus service will be provided.
Bus shuttles will run between the stops from 11 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Monday. The shuttles will stop at the following Blue Line stations: Western, Damen, Division, Chicago, Grand and Clark/Lake.
Suspension of service between Western and Clark/Lake stations also will occur from 11 p.m. July 20 to 1 a.m. July 23 and from 11 p.m. Aug. 24 to 1 a.m. Aug. 27.
Service will be suspended between Western and Jackson from 11 p.m. Aug. 10 to 1 a.m. Aug. 13. Weeknights through Aug. 31, the trains will operate on single tracks between Grand and Division from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Bridget Welsh, 23, an executive assistant from Atlanta in Chicago for a conference, said she worried other people attending the conference would be late because of the detours.
"They are so crowded. We were face to face," she said of the bus ride from the Western stop. "Weekends are probably not the best time to shut down the train line."
Two first-time visitors to Chicago from Washington, D.C., were disappointed to have to deal with the bus.
"I could see how it could be annoying," said Dannel Dan, 26, a health policy analyst. "I don't think it's as welcoming as I would have liked."
His friend Adam Boltz, 23, a government contractor, said the trip also was time-consuming.
"It was irksome," Boltz said. While in town, he said, he and his friend "might consider not taking" the CTA.
Jason Reyna, 21, a flight attendant on Spirit Air who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, was taking the Blue Line for the first time Saturday feeling "a little concerned."
"As long as I can get to where I want to go, I'm OK," he said.
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ocasillas@tribune.com
By Ofelia Casillas
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 15, 2007
Travelers were flustered Saturday to discover the CTA Blue Line to and from O'Hare had been suspended for the weekend between the Western and Clark/Lake stations because of construction on the rail lines.
Frederick Woodbery, 23, traveled from Memphis to see a Cubs game and attend a music festival this weekend. Instead of the train, he had to board a bus and then figure out where it dropped him off downtown.
"It was a pretty big annoyance. It felt like forever from beginning to end," he said. "At first, I was concerned because I have no clue where I'm going."
Deteriorated wooden rail ties are being replaced with concrete rail ties, which will eliminate "slow zones" along the tracks between Grand and Division and restore normal train speed to 55 m.p.h., CTA officials said. Similar construction will be done from Grand/State to Clark/Division and from Armitage to Diversey on the Red Line. Work is expected to be completed on the Blue Line in September and by year's end on the Red Line.
For the next two months, Blue Line trains will operate on a single track between Grand and Division overnight and during some weekends. On weekends when there are no major festivals downtown, sections of the tracks will be shut down to allow for more work to be completed. During those weekends, supplemental bus service will be provided.
Bus shuttles will run between the stops from 11 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Monday. The shuttles will stop at the following Blue Line stations: Western, Damen, Division, Chicago, Grand and Clark/Lake.
Suspension of service between Western and Clark/Lake stations also will occur from 11 p.m. July 20 to 1 a.m. July 23 and from 11 p.m. Aug. 24 to 1 a.m. Aug. 27.
Service will be suspended between Western and Jackson from 11 p.m. Aug. 10 to 1 a.m. Aug. 13. Weeknights through Aug. 31, the trains will operate on single tracks between Grand and Division from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Bridget Welsh, 23, an executive assistant from Atlanta in Chicago for a conference, said she worried other people attending the conference would be late because of the detours.
"They are so crowded. We were face to face," she said of the bus ride from the Western stop. "Weekends are probably not the best time to shut down the train line."
Two first-time visitors to Chicago from Washington, D.C., were disappointed to have to deal with the bus.
"I could see how it could be annoying," said Dannel Dan, 26, a health policy analyst. "I don't think it's as welcoming as I would have liked."
His friend Adam Boltz, 23, a government contractor, said the trip also was time-consuming.
"It was irksome," Boltz said. While in town, he said, he and his friend "might consider not taking" the CTA.
Jason Reyna, 21, a flight attendant on Spirit Air who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, was taking the Blue Line for the first time Saturday feeling "a little concerned."
"As long as I can get to where I want to go, I'm OK," he said.
-----------
ocasillas@tribune.com
posted by Carlos T Mock at 6:19 AM
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