If I ran Transit for one day...

[Busjack]

38 minutes ago, Elkmn said:

I just did a bit of back of the napkin math, but repurposing the parking lots at Wabash and Van Buren into a yard/maintenance facility would allow for storage of at least 16 8-car trains, which could be an extra 5-6 trains for the Pink, brown and orange lines during rush (if yards are at full capacity). It could also allow trains coming into the loop to end there instead of run back to their terminals near empty, if the CTA wanted that. 

Plenty of excess capacity at 54th. Other than that, it would have to be the world's most expensive train yard.

[YoungBusLover]

Doomsday 2.0 is looming and I have no idea how any agency would find a way to fill a massive $771 million budget gap in less than 9 months without the help of State/Federal bailout. To any member out there what would you do to mitigate the looming service cuts? From Pace/CTA/Metra?

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, YoungBusLover said:

Doomsday 2.0 is looming and I have no idea how any agency would find a way to fill a massive $771 million budget gap in less than 9 months without the help of State/Federal bailout. To any member out there what would you do to mitigate the looming service cuts? From Pace/CTA/Metra?

1. If this is like Doomsday 1.0 (2006-2008), it's a political stunt. Transit agencies that try to cry "wolf" without a clear plan for reform shouldn't be allowed to just make threats.
2. As 2010 demonstrated, if they have to cut, they'll do it in a more responsible manner.
3. All 4 boards are lobbying Springfield, but it is mostly to save their own jobs. See the thread on that subject.
4. Tribune and Joe Schwieterman complaining about $26,000 in leased car payments isn't going to close a $770 million deficit. But if Schwieterman is the sole expert, at least as local media are concerned, maybe he should volunteer to be CTA Executive Director, pro bono.