Credit: Seth Anderson
Eight state and local lawmakers took a tour of Chicago's mass transit system on Friday. Not a single one liked what he or she saw.
Unless billions are spent to fix the problems, says State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), Chicago's shot at hosting the 2016 Olympics is all but gone.
Not only are snippets of outer-Metra platforms rusting and showing serious signs of decay, 'L' platforms right smack in the loop are falling apart. One hundred years of constant use appears to cause some wear and tear.
Older buses and rail cars are also badly in need of replacement, but so far, the money to pay for that hasn't been approved. The Regional Transportation Authority wants a $10 billion capital plan. Lawmakers prefer a $1 billion-a-year plan funded by a gas tax increase. The state has until the end of May to present a proposal.
Let's hope some funding gets thrown at the problem. The CTA barely avoided raising fares again to cover another budget shortfall this year. You can't even pay credit for a ticket on a Metra train. Only 58 of the 226 buses taken out of service for structural problems are being replaced, and only with help from the federal stimulus plan.
It's clear that lawmakers aren't made aware of Chicago's transit problems until they become so severe as to generate a high volume of complaints. By that time, the fix causes massive inconveniences, as 'L' riders can attest. Maybe it's our job, then, to wine and moan about the little issues as soon as they surface. That way, we might be able to keep the rides running smoothly (except over those potholes).
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