Posted Nov. 11 at 8:35 a.m.

The CTA has all kinds of whizz bang technology planned for us riders.  We've got almost half the routes online with bus tracker (Word to CTA: hurry up with the rest) and in the near future, next-train alerts will keep us from pining away on the platforms.

But recently, I wondered what was up with what I considered a low-tech, but fairly effective solution for those of us who cannot seem to get adequate info from customer assistants and do not have the supersonic hearing required for garbled platform announcements. 

I'm talking about the whiteboards you've seen, perhaps particularly around the Blue Line, which update you on construction and closures.  Sure beats trying to guess, huh?

CTA spokeswoman Wanda Taylor hit me with an update on what is up with whiteboards for systemwide consumption. Apparently, the pilot project -- started last year-- performed pretty well and the boards may launch systemwide.  Taylor said: "Through the test, the CTA learned a great deal about providing real-time information through the boards and refinements that are needed in the boards' design before they can be mass-produced throughout the system.  The CTA is currently using information learned from the experiment to create a new prototype of the board."

Before they do all that:  Are you on board with the boards?  Would you like to see more of them?  Why or why not?

I think the white boards should be replaced by LCD or Plasma Displays that display updated information direct from the CTA controllers. That way 1) there is no dependence on the different stations, 2) the information is always up date and never stale, 3) it would is easier to read than handwritten information, and 4) it will look more professional and therefor more official.

The best solution would also include having this same information published via RSS or XML; readable by any service or device the consumers want including on transitchicago.com, email, blackberries, iPhones, or twitter. Transparent and standardized data would reduce the effort needed by the CTA to update passengers as the passengers will find a way to obtain the data how they want it when they want it instead.

Who is the person who decides where the bus stops are please check out the stop for both Fullertn Rte# 74 and the Rte #11 going west they make people wait at the verycornerof Sheffield & Fullertn where these days it's cold,snownig why could'nt they just made the stop under the L" of Fullerton at least there's some shelter there?

How come we - the middle class ++ - is getting screwed (again) and no one has said anything about it. If it were the lower class and the fares went up three cents, everyone would have raised high-hell.
But for us, stiffing us for an increase of close to 50%, no one has said anything.
Why not?
Here's what I am talking about. Effective Jan 1, CTA fares are going up.
OK. We know that.
But for those of us who pay in advance, thus allowing the CTA to use our money even before we get any of there (lousy) service - (like our 34 minute wait tonight (Friday 12/26) just outside of the UC right after a Blackhawks game - sitting there between 10:48PM and 11:22PM - for the lone East Bound #20 Madison) we will now pay close to $7 more for every $20 pre-payment.
Here is the breakdown.
Let's say - for the purpose of this example - for our $20 we take 5 bus rides and 5 "el" rides.
At today's (2008) prices that's $8.75 for a total of 5 bus rides and another $8.75 for 5 "el" rides. Coming out to a total of $17.50.
Plus we get a two dollar bonus, so all in all we would still have $4.50 remaining on our account. Allowing us almost 3 extra rides. With the average ride costing us: $1.53.
But come 2009, those same 5 bus rides will now cost us $10. Those same 5 "el" rides will now cost us $11.25. All this for a total of $21.25 And all the while not receiving any $2.00 bonus.
Now our average ride costs us: $2.12.
Thats close to a $0.60 cent increase per ride, and for three fewer rides.
Then if you multiply that $0.60 x what was 13 rides, that's an increase - for the same amount of rides of $7.80.

Where do we go to fight this?
Sincerely,
Peter
Chicago

How come we - the middle class ++ - is getting screwed (again) and no one has said anything about it. If it were the lower class and the fares went up three cents, everyone would have raised high-hell.
But for us, stiffing us for an increase of close to 50%, no one has said anything.
Why not?
Here's what I am talking about. Effective Jan 1, CTA fares are going up.
OK. We know that.
But for those of us who pay in advance, thus allowing the CTA to use our money even before we get any of there (lousy) service - (like our 34 minute wait tonight (Friday 12/26) just outside of the UC right after a Blackhawks game - sitting there between 10:48PM and 11:22PM - for the lone East Bound #20 Madison) we will now pay close to $7 more for every $20 pre-payment.
Here is the breakdown.
Let's say - for the purpose of this example - for our $20 we take 5 bus rides and 5 "el" rides.
At today's (2008) prices that's $8.75 for a total of 5 bus rides and another $8.75 for 5 "el" rides. Coming out to a total of $17.50.
Plus we get a two dollar bonus, so all in all we would still have $4.50 remaining on our account. Allowing us almost 3 extra rides. With the average ride costing us: $1.53.
But come 2009, those same 5 bus rides will now cost us $10. Those same 5 "el" rides will now cost us $11.25. All this for a total of $21.25 And all the while not receiving any $2.00 bonus.
Now our average ride costs us: $2.12.
Thats close to a $0.60 cent increase per ride, and for three fewer rides.
Then if you multiply that $0.60 x what was 13 rides, that's an increase - for the same amount of rides of $7.80.

Where do we go to fight this?
Sincerely,
Peter
Chicago

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