Metra changes coming on 2/1

In case you missed the recent news, Metra has overhauled their fare structure. I grabbed one of these handouts from the train.  These changes are effective on Thursday 2/1. 

The number of fare zones is being reduced from 10 to 4. The new monthly pass from Beverly and Morgan Park to the Loop will be a reasonable $75, significantly less than the pre-pandemic cost of around $160. 

The info below is about changes related to buying tickets. There won't be ticket agents at any stations as of 2/1, only ticket machines and the Ventra app. 

If you are boarding at a station without a ticket machine and you don't use the Ventra app, you can pay cash to a conductor on board the train. If you board at LaSalle or another station with a ticket machine and you want to pay cash on the train, you will be charged a $5 surcharge, though they're waiving that in the early days of this transition. 

All ticket options (1-way, day pass, day pass 5-pack, monthly pass, Saturday/ Sunday/holiday pass, weekend pass and regional connect pass) will be available on the Ventra app. Only the 1-way and Saturday/Sunday/holiday pass will be available for cash on the train. 

Yes, they're really trying to nudge as many riders as possible to use the Ventra app. The good news is that it's pretty reliable now. I tried it in the early days and got frustrated because it crashed a lot. That rarely happens now.

They're also allowing bikes on all Metra trains now and they're starting to increase capacity for carrying bikes. Click here for more info.

The new fare zone map is below. If you want to see a bigger version, click on the map to go to a bigger version on the Metra web site.

survey for Metra Rock Island riders - and those who don't ride often due to frustrations

I've had so many conversations with various people in recent years about Metra's shortcomings and ways that they fail to serve our communities well.  When Metra does customer surveys, they often fail to ask the right questions. I'm offering an unofficial survey. I'm going to share the results with Active Transportation Alliance.

Here's a link to the survey.   It's fairly brief.  If you could spend a few minutes sharing your thoughts, I'd be grateful for the information. Yes, I did include comment fields.

Thanks for your help.  Please share this with friends who ride the Rock Island.

Metra community meeting tomorrow (2/13)

Active Transportation Alliance has organized a community meeting regarding the proposed Cook County pilot project to reduce Metra Electric and Rock Island fares and create a more functional and affordable network with CTA and Pace to improve transit access to jobs for the south side and south suburbs.

This meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and voice your support.

To give organizers an idea of how many people to expect, please register at this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transit-equity-for-the-south-side-and-south-suburbs-tickets-92368152631

thoughts on Safe Routes to School and life skills

I've referred to Safe Routes to School programs a few times in previous blog posts. A successful program that encourages more families to let their kids walk or bike to school means less traffic, less stress for kids and school neighbors, healthy transportation and exercise for kids.

I have friends who have been involved in organizing these programs at schools in various neighborhoods over the years. Talking with them about their efforts made me think of my own experiences walking to school as a kid.

Compared to riding in a car, it increased my awareness of surroundings, helped me learn street smarts and navigation, and develop decision making skills. Walking or biking or using public transit is about much more than transportation. These are building blocks for many important life skills.

If kids are driven everywhere in the name of "safety" and they never have this kind of learning opportunity, are they as well prepared as they could be for high school, college and life after school?  How safe are they later on when they are trying to function independently, beyond the cocoon their parents have created for them?

Several years ago, I met students who were juniors and seniors in high school who were attempting for the first time to navigate independently outside their neighborhoods and figure out how to get where they were going on public transit. They got lost and were an hour late for the workshop they were attending. Examples like this are all too common now.

Investing in ways to make our streets safer for pedestrians and bikes is an investment in quality of life in our community - for the present and the future.

CTA red line changes starting this week

If you depend on the red line, check out this article about service changes to accommodate construction at 95th St. station. This will affect red line service between 63rd and 95th.

Metra rider survey

Have you taken Metra's survey about rider habits, preferences and fares?

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MetraFareStudy

lack of transparency on 95th Street

I was concerned and disturbed to learn about the nature of a proposed zoning change and redevelopment proposal for the parcel immediately west of 95th St. Metra station. Another 19th ward resident wrote an insightful piece about why such a proposal makes no sense for a transit-adjacent parcel, where we should be prioritizing pedestrian-oriented usage.

1800 W 95th St.

The lack of public notice for this proposal is equally disturbing. Sticking a sign in a window at a location that few people walk past is NOT sufficient public notice. There's nothing at that location now to give people a reason to walk there and see that notice.

This is a significant change for a location that has the potential to attract a good volume of business from Metra riders - if it's the right business. A well-publicized venue for public input should be mandatory for such a major change. Why haven't the ward office and community organizations publicized this so that 19th ward residents and Metra passengers could have a voice in the decision? Hiding this until it's only one approval short of having a green light smells worse than last week's garbage.

95th St. is already choked with traffic for much of an average day. There are many existing auto parts stores within a few miles of this proposed location, including Auto Zone stores at 89th andAshland and 95th and Richmond and O'Reilly at Western and 92nd Place (less than 1 mile away). As much as I want to see more businesses on 95th St., this one is NOT a winner for the community as a whole.

Comments on this topic on EveryBlock have certainly been relevant:

* Yes, let's tear down a beautiful old building and put up an ugly box that will sit there empty after the store goes out of business like the auto parts store at 115th and Pulaski. How about using our brains and encourage a business that would cater to train "traffic". Put the box in the huge parking lot at the former location of Borders. Or do what some communities do...require that the new business conform to the architecture of the existing building and find businesses to create a boutique mall in the borders building. Jeez, is it that hard?

* When is the public hearing for this zoning change? There wasn't any proper meeting for those of us who will be affected.

* I just called the zoning department - looks like they approved this zone change already. I hope there will be some sort of opportunity for the community to review the design and voice opinions. Does anyone know what the next step for this proposal will be? Have they already purchased the existing building?

* Because of their design, most Borders are being repurposed into medical practices. Not in Beverly. The old library was supposed to become a Wishbone restaurant, more pizza place opened but not Wishbone? Now an Autozone to compete with O'reilly a few blocks away. We seem to have great people in place for urban planning and development! What about all the money spent in updating 95th street? Was it just to give contracts to some friends or was it actually to improve the business area? If so, Autozone doesn't need beautiful landscaping, never mind the traffic issues. somebody is not thinking very far here, while using our tax money. How about the mechanic shop down the street on 95th, are they trying to put them out of business? People walk to go to Metra, how about shops that cater to these people? When I get off the train, I'm not usually trying to bring home a couple of new tires and a new battery for my car in my purse. I love small squares and park, Beverly has those, in places that nobody wants to go to, and nothing around it. Anyone fancy reading a good book by busy 95th street, on the other side of the library parking lot? While I applaud green spaces, we can do better than that. More tax payer money spent in vain. How about the pedestrian crossing by 99th street Metra? On the wrong side of the street?!!!

Excuse my ranting, but I could go on as well as many of you. The problem is that you can't leave urban development to developers, they are just going to build stuff, make a buck and move on. ... If there is a petition going around against Autozone, count me in, I'll sign it.

* All good points. Why is everything decided in stealth mode? We need to remind our representatives that the represent us. They do not rule us.

Now we have a detailed EveryBlock post with research. Click here. And this is what it takes to appeal a zoning change.

Why didn't Alderman O'Shea give a reasonable opportunity for public input? Will there be curb cuts added to make 95th St. an even worse place for pedestrians? We don't want Beverly to look or feel like Evergreen Park. This kind of inappropriate change gives us a hard shove in that direction and makes Beverly less attractive as a place to live.

supporting advocacy for better walking, biking and transit

Do you want to see improved conditions for walking and biking in the city and across the metro area? Do you want better transit? You can help by supporting our voice for sustainable transportation, the Active Transportation Alliance. Become a member now, or renew your membership if it's lapsed.

Better walking, biking and transit helps make Chicago a greener, healthier place to live.

snow far not quite snow good

Last night when I was walking home from the Metra station, I followed 95th St., hoping that the sidewalk would be reasonably walkable. All was good until I got to the bus stop in front of the Trinity community center.  From both directions, snow was decently plowed.  That plowing stopped just short of the bus stop, and the plow guy was so considerate in blocking access to the bus stop with a wall of snow. 

By what stretch of the imagination is it acceptable to treat our bus stops as snow dumps and bus passengers as second class citizens?  This has been a consistent problem and it needs to stop now.

a perspective on retail development, traffic and the 19th ward

For months, a years-old sustainable transportation graphic has been generating a lot of discussion about road use, specifically about how much road space each mode of transportation takes to move a person - car vs. bus vs. bike. In case you haven't seen it, I've included it below.

The Northwestern student news site ran a well written article about the graphic and response to it. When I visit 19th ward businesses, I am often struck by the limitations that parking and car dependence create for so many of those businesses.

Many locations along Western, 95th, 103rd (west of Western) and 111th (west of Western) and Kedzie aren't the easiest to reach by biking or walking, unless you're coming from an adjacent side street.  Western has a good number of bike racks.  Some of the other locations listed above are not as well equipped with suitable bike parking.

As traffic gets worse with the redevelopment of Evergreen Plaza and the 91st and Western nightmare (if and when it's built), it will certainly have an impact on our business districts, especially along 95th and Western.  If we start working now to promote walking and bike access to neighborhood destinations (more bike parking, education, promotions), it can help our local businesses by taking more cars off the roads for trips to nearby destinations.  This would ease traffic congestion and parking demand, allowing our businesses to serve more customers with fewer car trips, without needing more car parking spaces.

If we start working to improve conditions for pedestrians, it can help people using all types of transportation to reach our local businesses.  Right now it can be a life threatening proposition to cross one of our major streets at a non-stoplight intersection.  In spite of the Illinois law passed 2 years ago, things have not gotten any better for pedestrians in most locations.  The video in this news story illustrates the problem well.

I can wait a minute or more to cross half of 95th or Western and wait again to cross the other half, being passed by a dozen or more cars on each half, who could have allowed me to cross by easing off on the gas pedal for just a few seconds.   This doesn't just affect people walking or riding bikes.  It also affects people arriving by car who need to cross the street from where they parked to the business they are visiting.

The redevelopment proposal for Evergreen Plaza (shown below) appears to be a typical suburban car-centric design, uninviting and hazardous for pedestrian or bike access, as well as ugly.

As presented, this design does not appear to offer any accommodation for pedestrians crossing the parking lot from Western.  It's unclear if there's any pedestrian access from the stoplight at 98th St. or from Campbell.  To reduce car traffic congestion, there should be pedestrian access from ALL sides of the redeveloped mall.  Do you have a problem with this car-centric design?  I do, and I'm writing to the developer to ask for safe pedestrian and bike access. 

If it's built according to this sketch, it's unlikely that I'll be able to walk there easily.  I refuse to drive to a place so close to home if all I'm doing is visiting Carson's to buy something I can easily carry.  I refuse to add to our area's traffic congestion with an unnecessary car trip.  I am telling the developer that I will not patronize any business at the redeveloped Evergreen Plaza unless it's built to allow safe pedestrian access from adjoining neighborhoods.  If we can and do walk there, the traffic impact of the redevelopment could be significantly reduced.  If this issue matters to you, I encourage you to write to the developer.  Contact info via email and snail mail is on this page.

We can each make a difference by choosing to walk or ride bikes to existing businesses, and by asking for new businesses to safely accommodate customers and employees who choose to get there by methods of transportation other than individual cars.  We may or may not have a say in what gets built, but each of our choices can affect the overall impact of these projects.

meeting on 9/20 re: red line extension to 130th St.

I just got the following information from Developing Communities Project and wanted to share it with you.

The Red Line Oversight (Extension) Committee (ROC) is preparing to push for more jobs and transportation spending as part of National Support Transit Day
on Tuesday 9/20, 6:00-7:45 p.m. (5:30 p.m. Sign In) at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 1335 W. 115th St. (fully accessible space)

President Obama’s newly proposed “American Jobs Act” prioritizes transportation spending as the key component to “Jump Start” the economy! Eliminating slow zones along the South branch of the Red Line and station improvements at the 95th street station are both “Shovel Ready” projects. Fast tracking the Environmental Impact and Engineering Study for the Red Line Extension is now “Center Stage”. Come prepared to participate!

We need you to join us to:
• Roll up your sleeves, bring your hard hats and prepare to push for Jobs and Transit!
• Kick off the Far Southside’s Environmental Impact Study and related Projects.
• Add to the public call to include the Red Line Extension in the State’s 5-year Transportation Budget Plan. Comment period ends September 30th.

This season over $80 billion in Federal/State Transit dollars are up for grabs!
The Red Line Extension Deserves SOME!

Confirm your attendance by calling John Paul Jones, DCP’s Community Organizer @ 773-928-2500 ext. 15 or via email jpjones.dcp@gmail.com. Check out the website: www.dcpchicago.org. Join us on Facebook @ developing communities project.

new Rock Island schedule effective 4/3

As of Sunday 4/3, the Rock Island Metra schedule will be revised to include the new 35th Street Station. The new schedule will be available at the downtown stations starting Monday 3/28, so you can pick up your new schedule then.

I'm looking forward to using the new station for easier visits to friends in Bridgeport and to 31st St. beach, as well as easier transfers to the red line for trips to the north side.

transit freebie today

McDonald's is giving away free coupons and transit cards this morning for a promotion. Read the article for details.

restoring transit options

Wish they'd had this service while I was living in NH. I hope they're able to restore it. Right now intercity public transit options in NH are limited to a local Greyhound-equivalent bus line. It would be great to see a boom in transit projects due to the stimulus program.

increased transit service on election day

Our local transit agencies will be increasing the level of service tomorrow for election day. Metra's information on extra runs is here. Their extra runs are mostly to get folks home at the end of the workday to vote. The web site says that they will add some extra late night runs between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. but does not list specific details.

the same all over

Rudeness on public transit is not unique to the CTA. Here's a Boston perspective. All the issues sound all too familiar.

gas prices and transit ridership

No big surprise.

Boston,
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/07/28/riders_flock_to_t_in_record_numbers/
Twin Cities, Seattle, New Jersey, and Madison.

but operating costs for transit systems are up, too.

legislation for areas too sparse for public transit

Most of New Hampshire is sparsely populated enough to have little or no public transit. In some areas, the Trailways bus is used for commuting. They have park and ride lots by highway exits, and Trailways sells monthly passes by distance, similar to what we have here for Metra. The state is recognizing that another option is needed and has proposed legislation to that end. I hope that they will continue pushing for more alternatives to single commuters in cars and get at least one commuter rail line extended across the border into New Hampshire, as many NH commuters go to Boston-area jobs.

Drive Nowhere Day

from a message I just got - wish I'd gotten it yesterday to post it sooner....

Happy Drive Nowhere Day! Today thousands of us are leaving our cars at home in favor of walking, biking, or taking public transit - and it's not too late to take part.

Today also marks that day when we have consumed as much oil as we will produce domestically for all of 2008 - it's our oil Dependence Day, and this year we're marking it by not using our cars. So if you haven't taken the pledge to drive nowhere today, please do so by clicking here. If you have, then please help out by forwarding this message to five of your friends, and ask them to take part.

Driving nowhere today will help send a strong message to our elected officials that one simple solution to our dependence on oil is public transit.

Hopefully, it will also show thousands of people how easy public transit can be, and Drive Nowhere Day will become drive nowhere month, year, and life.

Are you running an errand later that's only a few blocks away? Take a walk. Going a little further? Take the bike or check out your local public transit system. Got no bike? Pay a visit to your local bike shop, take a test ride, and buy one. It's a great way to get around. Happy Friday!

a different transit world

I was reading a DC-area blog and clicked on a transit-related link in the story. Ended up looking around the web site for the DC transit system. I was amazed to find this.

When incidents happen on CTA, even when they cause significant service interruptions, how often can we get any information from CTA about them? And wouldn't it be nice to be able to get real-time delay information from Metra? One day recently I was waiting at LaSalle Street station for the 5:50 Rock Island train. It was 5:55. There had been no announcements. The train had not appeared. It's usually in the station before 5:40. A barely intelligible announcement came over the crackly speakers. "Attention Rock Island commuters....train number 619 will be delayed." Many groans were heard. "Tell us something we don't know." The train appeared 10 minutes later.

Wouldn't it be nice if those big new LED displays could actually be used for useful information, like current time, service delays, etc.? Nah, that would make too much sense.