Posted by Jim Walsh - 3:52 p.m., Tuesday, July 17

I like to complain about the CTA as much as the next guy, but it dawned on me recently that there are few things the agency gets right every once in a while--though not always as right as I’d like. Two examples, both from the Red Line Grand station downtown:

Keepin’ it clean

The Grand stop, like many CTA stations, is pretty dirty and dismal most of the time. Walking through it on a weekday afternoon, you’d think the idea of a cleanup down there hasn’t been mentioned since the station opened in 1943. Not true.

When I catch the northbound train after midnight during the week, I very often see a several-man cleaning crew, replete with power washers and squeegees, hosing down the platform. I’m told they do it every night, but I can only attest for the on-again-off-again encounters I’ve had with the mist from the machines flying in my face. Anyway, at least they’re trying.

Getting the 411

We all know the CTA is bad about telling customers what’s going on during delays. Between static-drowned announcements and no announcements at all, most of the time you never really know why you’ve been sitting on a halted "L" train for 20 minutes or more.

Well, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask. When I was stuck at the Grand stop for about 45 minutes recently (the announcement said it was due to a medical emergency), I went upstairs to talk to the CTA attendant. He had been trying to call CTA personnel throughout the delay and was just as frustrated as I was about the lack of information.

I asked him if he knew when the next train would be coming, and he got on the phone to find out. When he couldn’t get a response he offered me a free transfer for the bus. Not great, but not too bad either.

That's your story? Are you a schill of Ron Huberman. It's disgraceful that the manager at the Grand Station didn't have an answer for you. And all you got was a free bus transfer? You must have extremely low expectations for the CTA. Daley would love someone like you on his staff

That's your story? Are you a schill of Ron Huberman. It's disgraceful that the manager at the Grand Station didn't have an answer for you. And all you got was a free bus transfer? You must have extremely low expectations for the CTA. Daley would love someone like you on his staff

You gotta admit, the seats on the buses and trains are pretty comfortable. I've never heard anyone complain about a sore back or butt from the molded seats.

Perhaps the point is that Mr. Walsh and the Grand Station manager were in the same boat, and the manager reacted humanely? That's not always the case.

It IS shameful that station agents are often at as much of a loss of we lowly riders. I've had the same experience as Mr. Walsh at the Mart. Great managers (especially in the evening) - friendly, helpful in any way they can. Unfortunately, the CTA fails to communicate in a manner which allows station agents to help. On one occasion, I passed on to the station agent news heard on the platform. How many ways is this wrong? CNN's probably faster in getting the CTA news.

Methinks you're easily impressed.

There are a few bright spots in the CTA's performance, but it's a little odd to suggest that ineffective cleaning efforts and CTA communication failures are among them. If you want silver linings, consider:

1) the bus tracker and its imminent, system-wide expansion;

2) the comfortable new bus seats with lumbar support;

3) direct train connections to both of the city's airports;

4) elevated trains that provide pretty views of the city and its skyline from 5 or 6 different approaches; and

5) the minor miracle that the system moves as many people as it does each day with such ancient equipment and such appallingly deficient funding.

CTA HAS A LONG LIST OF PROBLEMS.FIRST IS THE TERRIBLE SERVICE,WHICH CONSISTS OF DELAYED TIMES,LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND PASSENGERS,AND MOST OF ALL LOUSY SERVICE WHEN IT COMES TO RUDE EMPLOYEES AND CONDUCTORS.I ESPECIALLY FEEL THAT WAY IN REGARDS TO THE HOWARD RED LINE STATION.IT LOOKS LIKE A SCENE OUT OF HOT GHETTO MESS! EMPLOYEES YELL FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER,THEY STAND AROUND TRYING TO HOLLA (HOOKUP) WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES,AND HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO BE SITTING IN THE FRONT CAR AND HAVING A CONDUCTOR STOP THE TRAIN FOR TWENTY MINUTES WHILE HE GOT OFF TO HUG UP ON A SECURITY PERSON WHO WAS WALKING WITH DOG ON PLATFORM AT LOYOLA!BEFORE ANYONE CAN ASK FOR FARE INCREASES THEY REALLY NEED TO WORK ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

Post a comment