CHICAGO, April 1, 2007 -- A five-step plan that will help keep Chicagoans avoid "commuter hell" for the next two years was released today by 49th Ward aldermanic candidate Don Gordon, who forced incumbent Joe Moore into an April 17 runoff election.
"This plan can help Rogers Park residents and commuters across the city avoid the burdens and aggravation of long delays while the CTA makes vital repairs and upgrades to our rapid transit train system," Mr. Gordon said.
Gordon proposes five solutions:
1. Work with Metra to Add More Rogers Park Stops. Add even more frequent stops of Metra trains to the Lunt Ave. stop in Rogers Park to provide an easier travel between downtown and the far north side.
2. Run Shuttles from CTA Stops to Metra. The addition of CTA shuttle buses from the four Rogers Park El stations to the Rogers Park Metra station will help further unclog the morning and afternoon commutes.
3. Add More Express Buses from Rogers Park. The CTA could more effectively transport Rogers Park and Edgewater commuters with the addition of more buses to the #147 and #151 routes.
4. Promote the PACE 426 Bus. The PACE #426 bus is actually the shuttle service that runs between Northwestern University's Evanston and Downtown campuses, with stops in Rogers Park. Promotion of this largely underutilized option will help further ease the CTA crunch.
5. Explore Flex Time for Employees. Chicago businesses can work with their employees to explore how flexible work schedules can reduce public transportation traffic during peak commute times.
"My opponent has publicly criticized the CTA and its plans, while voting in favor of its multi-million dollar Super Station plan, and he repeatedly promised City Council hearings with the CTA, which ultimately never happened," Gordon said. "Rather than settle for inaction, we have developed a series of simple, logical actions that can immediately help deliver our 49 th Ward residents from 'commuter hell,'" he said. "I'm confident the same solutions can be explored throughout all Chicago communities affected by the CTA interruptions.
"It is an unfortunate fact that the CTA needs to make significant repairs and upgrades so that Chicago maintains a first-class system of public transportation," Gordon added. "And while we can't achieve this without some inconvenience to those of us who use the system, real city leadership can do much more than complain, point fingers and promise hearings that never come to fruition."
Additional information about Don Gordon and his ideas for leadership in Chicago is available the Citizens to Elect Don Gordon Web Site or by calling 773-262-9473.
10 comments:
Regarding Idea One from Don Gordon's Commuter Plan:
"Work with Metra to Add More Rogers Park Stops. Add even more frequent stops of Metra trains to the Lunt Ave. stop in Rogers Park to provide an easier travel between downtown and the far north side."
I ride the Metra daily to work to Ogilvie from the Rogers Park stop at Ravenswood and Lunt, and back home. Effective April 1, 2007, Metra's Chicago/Kenosha line has already added additional stops during rush hour in the morning and evening. I received this new schedule over a week ago. It appears Mr. Gordon has not done his homework or he would have known the following:
During the morning peak hours, in addition to the 7:51 am, the 8:14 am, and the 8:43 am, two stops have been added: the 8:03am and the 8:19am. Instead of the 7:24am, there are two stops, the 7:20am and the 7:35am.
During the evening peak hours, in addition to the 5:10pm, the 5:21pm, the 5:43pm,and the 6:00pm, two stops have been added: 5:15pm and 5:50pm.
Metra has already been proactive in adding these stops.
Metra has also had several delays in recent weeks with their newscheduling. A co-worker rides it.
For those of us who don't want to go all the way to the Metra in the dark dreary streets - yes, this is not just a summer thing - we need the 151 bus running to/from Howard on weekdays. It only runs to Howard on weekends.
Don's ideas are good and so are those of the people commenting. The 151 definately needs to run to Howard at all hours during this time, as the 147 does not serve those riding from south of Foster, and it should run 24/7.
These alternatives are about the best anyone can do that is economically feasible. It's just a rough time.
Note to rpsister:
Metra still has five inbound trains that bypass the Rogers Park Station over at Lunt Avenue each weekday morning rush period, and five outbound trains that bypass that station each weekday evening rush period. I assume Don Gordon wants those trains to stop at the Rogers Park Station. Kudos to him!
As for the Alderliar who infested that office for the past 16 years, just 16 days until he can be sent into political oblivion!
I'd add one more idea - a Rogers Park Rideshare clearinghouse. Some people drive to work from RP to the loop every day and could offer a couple of spaces on a regular basis. I've looked for a place to post availability and haven't found one.
Why has the 147 bus stop on the corner of Fargo been eliminated.
JoMo lives on Fargo.
Does he take the bus ?
I tried riding the 147 from Pratt to W Jackson. It's awful. I wouldn't take it to anything south of Chicago Ave, because it's so damn slow on Michigan.
The only original idea I see here is shuttles to the Metra. that's not a bad idea, but it does double the cost of your metra commute.
I don't think JoMo ever takes the bus and I also don't think JoMo really lives at his address on Fargo.
Most of all, I believe that while Joe may nominally reside in Chicago, that he does not live here in the sense of being committed to this area or the concerns of its residents.
A guy who gets campaign funds AND personal recognition from rich West Coast entertainment celebrities is apt to think he is far, far above the things that crawl on the Earth of RP, like you and me.
These proposals sound great. Outside of being unaware of the new Metra stop times (which is understandable), Gordon is putting ideas out there.
But if you run this through the Westgard filter, it's more of angry Gordon offering no solutions.
Old Broad,
Really liked the idea of a ride share program. I have always found it odd that a city the size of Chicago does not encourage this or designate HOV lanes as other major cities do.
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