The Transit Task Force was formed in
the 1990s to vet plans for Metra station renovation.
It also addressed the largely successful overhaul and
upgrade of CTA bus routes on the South Side. In 2015
the Conference, through the TTF, was a founding member
of the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric, advocating
for increased frequency, CTA-level fares in Chicago,
transferability to and coordinated schedules with CTA
and Pace via the Ventra Card, and cleaner, safer stations
on the Metra Electric lines (formerly the "IC").
Transit
Task Force Followed Up on Complaints About CTA #6 Bus
Service
(As in the Nov. 18 2019
HPKCC e-Newsletter).
The HPKCC Transit Task Force held a listening meeting
for residents on November 13 about complaints and suggestions
we’ve heard about the CTA #6 Jeffery Express bus service
for Hyde Park and the South Side. Attendees gave us
specifics about consistent types and times of poor service
that we will share with our contacts at the Chicago
Transit Authority, along with requests for data and
information about the route’s scheduling, ridership,
public communication about delays, and other service
issues. The Transit Task Force and meeting attendees
will keep in regular touch; one or more of the attendees
made public comment at the November 20 CTA Board meeting,
at which several improvements were announced and promised.
It appears that CTA has kept its promises. We can be
reached at transit@hydepark.org.
Roger Huff and Gary Ossewaarde, Transit
Task Force Co-Chairs
Here is link to CTA's #6
bus schedule https://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/6/bus-tt_6.pdf
Community members interested
in transit issues are invited to participate. Contact
Gary Ossewaarde and Roger Huff via email: transit@hydepark.org
Upcoming
events
CMME
- monthly planning meeting:
When: Generally third Thursday (now
virtual- contact Roger Huff as below)
Where: If interested, email: transit@hydepark.org
Metra
CMME held a general meeting
in Pullman February 13 to support pilot
project for Metra Electric upgrade.
HPKCC is a member of a very large coalition of community
organization and most of the officeholders along the
Metra Electric to promote a pilot project
to enhance this underutilized resource and increase
transit ridership through reduced fares (in the city
to the CTA fare), increase train frequency, and seek
universal fare card transfers with CTA and PACE.
(The Conference’s Transit Task Force has been a strong
advocate for transformative ideas for the electric
line for over twenty years under such names as “Gray
Line” and “Gold Line.”)
In this pilot program, Cook County
would hold CTA harmless for three years for any fare
loss from riders switching to Metra. Study has shown
that overall transit ridership should increase and
the south lakefront and south suburbs will be better
served and a major transit desert decreased. County
Board President Toni Preckwinkle and many officeholders
along the line will attend. A show of support
and commitment from them and the public is needed
to push this program, widely endorsed by the media
and regional planners, over the top.
The meeting will take place February 13, Thursday,
6 p.m. at St. John MBC, 211 E. 115th St.
METRA ELECTRIC SCHEDULES
ARE PROPOSED TO BE CHANGED, WITH REDUCED RUSH HR SERVICE
NOTE- during duration of stay-at-home order,
Metra is running on the Weekend Schedule (excepting
Heritage Corridor).
On April 9 2020 Metra modified the proposed changes
a bit, mostly to help the large rush hour volume at
59th-University of Chicago. Many more stops were added
for 59th-University of Chicago, in effect alternating
between 59th and 55th. 51st-53rd did not get much
more. For PM rush only 4 rains will stop at 59th,
a large number at 55th-57th. A new outbound express
incl. HP will run midday. There are changes to the
late evening departures, and more South Chicago evening
service. Reason is instituion of Positive Train Control
mandated by Congress. Here are links re: changes:
The link to the Press Release on the Metra Website:
https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/final-new-metra-electric-schedule-released
The link to the 'final-v1' schedule:
https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/communications/med_ptc_public_-_final_v1.pdf
(formatted for printing on letter-sized paper!)
The link to the detailed summary of changes made /
not made (with reasons!):
https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/communications/med_ptc_public_-_final_v1.pdf
Metra proposes for when normal schedules
are resumed, to reduce the number of rush hour trains
and move times forward (varying but about 5 minutes).
SEE THE CURRENT AND ORIGINALLY PROPOSED SCHEDULES-
https://metrarail.com/electric2020,
supposed to be viewing and printer friendly.Total
Inbound rush trains are cut from 22 to 17. Outbound
pm trains are cut from 17 to 15.
Residents and the U of C expresses serious concerns
resulting in adjustments in the "final"
schedule as discussed in upper paragraphs, mainly
improvement to AM arrivals at 59th St.
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