trainman8119 Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Real weird sight this morning along La Salle St. Every Kedzie artic headed south between Madison and Randolph had no destination sign, they were all dark. Only 2 of the about 6 or 7 I saw had the paper sign in the front window. All the North Park buses had their signs functioning. When I got to Randolph St, a 60 headed west (standard Flyer) also had a dark sign with a paper sign in the window. I thought for a minute the 5500's were coming back or something !!! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Real weird sight this morning along La Salle St. Every Kedzie artic headed south between Madison and Randolph had no destination sign, they were all dark. Sounds like a garage based, universal programming error. The drivers certainly couldn't have consistently turned off all signs. Of course, I assume you mean that they had signs, but nothing displayed on them. As when I pressed this matter with Pace, the question may be in the gps programming, rather than the program in the sign itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Sounds like a garage based, universal programming error. The drivers certainly couldn't have consistently turned off all signs. Of course, I assume you mean that they had signs, but nothing displayed on them. As when I pressed this matter with Pace, the question may be in the gps programming, rather than the program in the sign itself. Maybe they're fixing the "8 Halsted" sign deadheading issue. Or an issue related to how they just recently changed the 124's signs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
See Tea Eh Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Maybe they're fixing the "8 Halsted" sign deadheading issue. Or an issue related to how they just recently changed the 124's signs Neither of those would have anything to do with a bunch of signs going blank. For what it's worth, I saw a number of Kedzie buses today, and as far as I could tell, all their signs worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 Real weird sight this morning along La Salle St. Every Kedzie artic headed south between Madison and Randolph had no destination sign, they were all dark. Only 2 of the about 6 or 7 I saw had the paper sign in the front window. All the North Park buses had their signs functioning. When I got to Randolph St, a 60 headed west (standard Flyer) also had a dark sign with a paper sign in the window. I thought for a minute the 5500's were coming back or something !!! You mean the 7500(NABI Junk) buses??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotjohns Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 Neither of those would have anything to do with a bunch of signs going blank. For what it's worth, I saw a number of Kedzie buses today, and as far as I could tell, all their signs worked. I actually saw a few of them too from Kedzie today while I was downtown, but I also saw a bus from 103rd street garage with its front sign in the dark, but the side sign was working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 I am noticing that a LOT of #60's that pass my job are displaying "To Columbus/Randolph" even though we're on the side going to 24th and Cicero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 I am noticing that a LOT of #60's that pass my job are displaying "To Columbus/Randolph" even though we're on the side going to 24th and Cicero That one is easier to explain in that the gps is supposed to switch the sign when it hits the coordinate for the terminal, in this case Columbus-Randolph. For instance, if you hang out at the Howard terminal, right at the stop sign on Rogers at Paulina, the 147 buses always switch signs right when starting that turn. However, the gps is not doing its job. Again, I've seen more of these on Pace. One must be an error in the gps script in that the bus (same run, different buses on different days) shows 423 Sheridan Road/423 Linden CTA when going southbound to Harlem CTA, even though the displayed sign is a legacy one that, as far as I can tell, hasn't been a valid destination for 7 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 That one is easier to explain in that the gps is supposed to switch the sign when it hits the coordinate for the terminal, in this case Columbus-Randolph. For instance, if you hang out at the Howard terminal, right at the stop sign on Rogers at Paulina, the 147 buses always switch signs right when starting that turn. However, the gps is not doing its job. Again, I've seen more of these on Pace. One must be an error in the gps script in that the bus (same run, different buses on different days) shows 423 Sheridan Road/423 Linden CTA when going southbound to Harlem CTA, even though the displayed sign is a legacy one that, as far as I can tell, hasn't been a valid destination for 7 years. So do you think it has something to do with programming? Because this kinda seemed to happen when they changed the #124's signs to display "VIA RANDOLPH". And there are still those pullouts from Kedzie that display "8 Halsted to Orange Line" as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 So do you think it has something to do with programming? Because this kinda seemed to happen when they changed the #124's signs to display "VIA RANDOLPH". And there are still those pullouts from Kedzie that display "8 Halsted to Orange Line" as well. Just as you were posting, I noted that 60 and 157 were rerouted westbound via Randolph instead of Madison. Same for 124. But, based on what I said before, the programming of two different things are involved. The Luminator sign was reprogrammed from 124 via Madison to 124 via Randolph. However, since the signs for 60 were still valid, the issue is that the current route has to be programmed into the gps. If it isn't, the gps thinks that the bus is off route. However, I see that Bus Tracker is o.k.* However, I still think it is a gps issue. _____________ *Instead of the situation when the south LSD buses were rerouted via 31st, and basically disappeared from Bus Tracker between 31st and Balbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 30, 2012 Report Share Posted March 30, 2012 Real weird sight this morning along La Salle St. Every Kedzie artic headed south between Madison and Randolph had no destination sign, they were all dark. The other possibility is whether the reroute changing the terminal for 134-136 from Adams-Wacker to Adams-Wells affected things, or this was a subsequent development? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
See Tea Eh Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 The Randolph reroute for the 60 has been in effect since last summer (maybe earlier?), so that wouldn't require any adjustments to the routing in AVAS. If anything, it just sounds like CTA is starting to get lazy with maintaining the Clever Devices units and the destination signs again. Five years ago, you wouldn't even flinch if you saw three or four buses in a row with incorrect destination signs. Then CTA started fixing the systems, and they got better for a while. Now, it seems things are starting to fall off again. I should also note that even the change in terminals for the 134/135/136 is over two and a half months old, so that in and of itself shouldn't be the issue either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2847 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 60, 124 and 157 were rerouted via Randolph since 7/5/2011 when Madison/ Wacker was closed. The Randolph reroute for the 60 has been in effect since last summer (maybe earlier?), so that wouldn't require any adjustments to the routing in AVAS. If anything, it just sounds like CTA is starting to get lazy with maintaining the Clever Devices units and the destination signs again. Five years ago, you wouldn't even flinch if you saw three or four buses in a row with incorrect destination signs. Then CTA started fixing the systems, and they got better for a while. Now, it seems things are starting to fall off again. I should also note that even the change in terminals for the 134/135/136 is over two and a half months old, so that in and of itself shouldn't be the issue either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUSANGEL#1 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 The Randolph reroute for the #60/124/157 is permanent, because of the traffic congestion on Madison with too many bus routes on that street. Since those routes have moved to Randolph, the CTA has saved money because the running time is faster on Randolph versus Madison (especially the traffic signal time). The Randolph reroute for the 60 has been in effect since last summer (maybe earlier?), so that wouldn't require any adjustments to the routing in AVAS. If anything, it just sounds like CTA is starting to get lazy with maintaining the Clever Devices units and the destination signs again. Five years ago, you wouldn't even flinch if you saw three or four buses in a row with incorrect destination signs. Then CTA started fixing the systems, and they got better for a while. Now, it seems things are starting to fall off again. I should also note that even the change in terminals for the 134/135/136 is over two and a half months old, so that in and of itself shouldn't be the issue either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archon Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 It's been said that the GPS satellites might have problems this year do to solar flares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 The other possibility is whether the reroute changing the terminal for 134-136 from Adams-Wacker to Adams-Wells affected things, or this was a subsequent development? That was definately subsequent. It barely started happening a week or two ago. Plus the reroutes were definately programmed into the systems and show up on bustracker plus are announced on board. So maybe it IS laziness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 The Randolph reroute for the #60/124/157 is permanent, because of the traffic congestion on Madison with too many bus routes on that street. Since those routes have moved to Randolph, the CTA has saved money because the running time is faster on Randolph versus Madison (especially the traffic signal time). So you're saying that even after the whole Wacker Drive project is completed, those 3 routes are to stay that way for good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 So you're saying that even after the whole Wacker Drive project is completed, those 3 routes are to stay that way for good? It is possible. During the erection of the CBS building at Dearborn and Washington, some routes including the 14 Jeffery were moved off of Washington to reduce congestion and delays, yet the 14's reroute was made permanent to travel via Monroe between Wacker and Michigan. Unless customers demand the bus be moved back to Madison, I would think the 60, 124, and 157 may keep this routing after the project is completed, considering that the routes could've gone back to normal routing along Madison and it hasn't. The other noteworthy thing is that once upon a time, Randolph did have routes, but the city decided to speed up traffic flow for cars along Randolph, all of the routes that operated along that street were moved to Washington (initially with the reverse flow traffic lanes), then Madison. It seems the Chicago area is the only area I've seen that has so many problems with malfunctioning and blank destination signs. I can't ever recall seeing any such problems in the Twin Cities specifically, or anywhere else generally. It is a problem at CTA and Pace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2847 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 It is possible. During the erection of the CBS building at Dearborn and Washington, some routes including the 14 Jeffery were moved off of Washington to reduce congestion and delays, yet the 14's reroute was made permanent to travel via Monroe between Wacker and Michigan. Unless customers demand the bus be moved back to Madison, I would think the 60, 124, and 157 may keep this routing after the project is completed, considering that the routes could've gone back to normal routing along Madison and it hasn't. The other noteworthy thing is that once upon a time, Randolph did have routes, but the city decided to speed up traffic flow for cars along Randolph, all of the routes that operated along that street were moved to Washington (initially with the reverse flow traffic lanes), then Madison. It seems the Chicago area is the only area I've seen that has so many problems with malfunctioning and blank destination signs. I can't ever recall seeing any such problems in the Twin Cities specifically, or anywhere else generally. It is a problem at CTA and Pace. I catch the 157 every day from Washington/Clinton. Once south of Madison there is always an anouncement that the diversion has ended. Latest bus stop flag at Washington/ Clinton has 60 and 124 but not 157. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 So you're saying that even after the whole Wacker Drive project is completed, those 3 routes are to stay that way for good? Valid question because the CTA website still states those as temporary reroutes due to Stage 2 and 3 phases of the Wacker Drive Reconstruction project. Some of the bus congestion you state on Madison could come from the 1, X28, 129 PM rush, and 151 being partially or fully rerouted from Adams to Madison, with the 151 by itself operating a lot of bus traffic heading to Union Station.. Once buses from the 60, 124 and 157 get around I believe the Clinton/Monroe stop, the stop announcements system still says detour has ended after calling off the stop. I'm guessing we'll find out for sure when construction on Wacker at Adams is complete and westbound buses on Adams go back to normsl routing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Valid question because the CTA website still states those as temporary reroutes due to Stage 2 and 3 phases of the Wacker Drive Reconstruction project. In that there was the supposed circulator grant for street furniture on Washington and Madison, discussed in this thread, based on a certain number of routes using the two streets, I doubt that the diversion is permanent, unless CTA is fooling the feds or vice versa, or either fooling CDOT. BTW, the FTA link is dead, but the current one is here. The one to the City website is still good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUSANGEL#1 Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 The detour hasn't been changed yet in AVAS for 60/124/157, but the routing on Randolph is permanent since its faster than Madison. Valid question because the CTA website still states those as temporary reroutes due to Stage 2 and 3 phases of the Wacker Drive Reconstruction project. Some of the bus congestion you state on Madison could come from the 1, X28, 129 PM rush, and 151 being partially or fully rerouted from Adams to Madison, with the 151 by itself operating a lot of bus traffic heading to Union Station.. Once buses from the 60, 124 and 157 get around I believe the Clinton/Monroe stop, the stop announcements system still says detour has ended after calling off the stop. I'm guessing we'll find out for sure when construction on Wacker at Adams is complete and westbound buses on Adams go back to normsl routing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 The detour hasn't been changed yet in AVAS for 60/124/157, but the routing on Randolph is permanent since its faster than Madison. From Bus Tracker, it looks exactly the opposite, for, as I noted, the stops are listed on Bus Tracker as on Randolph. So, what's your source? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 The detour hasn't been changed yet in AVAS for 60/124/157, but the routing on Randolph is permanent since its faster than Madison. One thing I'ved learned on this forum when I do have time to look at what's being discussed these days is to have a believe it when I see response to assertions about service changes made based on unnamed sources. That way it doesn't go into these neverending debates that have a potential for unintended slights or misunderstandings. So that's my reaction here just as it is with the assertion by one other person in the rail section that CTA is completely shutting down the entire Dan Ryan segment of the Red Line for a five month stretch for track construction. Though this has higher plausibility in my mind than that one. There is that wrinkle involving FTA and CDOT that Busjack points out CTA would find itself placed in that part of the premise for the CDOT project through that stretch of Madison was that there were a set number of bus routes operating there when Madison is construction free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUSANGEL#1 Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 Exactly that's the point Randolph is the permanent routing for those routes. The source is from CTA directly. From Bus Tracker, it looks exactly the opposite, for, as I noted, the stops are listed on Bus Tracker as on Randolph. So, what's your source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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