Chicago Transit

[masonite]

I just got back from a weekend in Chicago and noted a few things.

For some reason the Blue Line on the EL was not working downtown in the loop so they had a shuttle to a Blue Line station farther out but they did not charge for the entire trip to the airport on the shuttle or EL (vs. a $40 taxi).

The Blue Line uses a variety of subway, elevated track of course, and freeway median utilizing heavy rail. Just another example of how heavy rail can be used in a variety of settings, which we forget sometimes here in Los Angeles.

The recorded announcements on the train are very nice in that they are loud and clear and announce the station, the line you are on and its eventual destination, and the side of the boarding/exiting to the station just before you actually get to the station. There are also reminders not take up an extra seat with your luggage and other type announcements. Why we can't do this in our system is beyond me. It would really help those poor people who get on the Purple Line when they really want the Red Line and don't realize they are on the wrong line.

The airport terminus is in a subway, but the transfer walk to the Terminals is very easy (at least for my terminal), and this is the biggest airport in the world. Time to really work on this for LAX.

[spokker]

May 3, 2009 21:05:38 GMT -8 masonite said:

It would really help those poor people who get on the Purple Line when they really want the Red Line and don't realize they are on the wrong line.

A sign on the side of each train specifies whether it's a North Hollywood or Wilshire/Western train. There is an announcement at Wilshire/Vermont and Union Station that specifies which train you are on. The schedule for the next few rains appears on TV screens in each station. The monitors specify whether the train that is arriving is for North Hollywood or Wilshire/Western.

I don't see how it's so hard.

[ieko]

Maybe they were replacing the old wooden ties on the blue line with concrete ones, last few times I've visited that's what they've been doing.

I think the EL is a fantastic example of what a system in Los Angeles should be, the announcements are definitely my favorite and reminded me of when i was in Japan. I also thought the signs on the side of the trains were absolutely what we need for our red & purple lines, and eventually when our light rail lines begin to interface we'll need it there too.

I could go on about Chicago, it's by far my most favorite city on this earth.

[masonite]

May 3, 2009 23:50:18 GMT -8 spokker said:

May 3, 2009 21:05:38 GMT -8 masonite said:

It would really help those poor people who get on the Purple Line when they really want the Red Line and don't realize they are on the wrong line.

A sign on the side of each train specifies whether it's a North Hollywood or Wilshire/Western train. There is an announcement at Wilshire/Vermont and Union Station that specifies which train you are on. The schedule for the next few rains appears on TV screens in each station. The monitors specify whether the train that is arriving is for North Hollywood or Wilshire/Western.

I don't see how it's so hard.

Since I don't work downtown anymore and get there very often, I haven't been on the subway since they installed the monitors so I am sure that helps. The signs on the side of the train are easy to read if you are looking for them, but you don't really notice them unless you are.

Maybe they have changed the announcements since I have last ridden. Before all I ever heard was a mostly inaudible message from the conductor. The pre-recorded messages are much much better. Back when I mostly rode the subway there was no such thing as a Purple Line (just two branches of the Red Line) so getting that straightened out has been a big improvement.

I know many first time riders ended up at Western when they were going to Hollywood and weren't happy about it. I know it seems easy to us, since we are locals but to a newbie you have to make things clear so I think it would be a good add-on for our system, especially when we get the DTC and trains going all over the place. Also, it would be better to have these announcements bilingually in Los Angeles as many people can't read the English (Purple Line - maybe the monitors say in Spanish - I plead ignorance). Instead, we just do silly things that are meaningless as far as ease of transit use like the La Linea de Oro moniker.