Hop on Metra these days, and you'll hear about impending service cuts taking effect in February.  The announcement, repeated on every train, for every group of riders, is being read for the upteenth time by the train operator, or perhaps one of the other ticket-taker-dudes, and they sound about as excited by the prospect of reciting it as the customers are about hearing it (who could feel good about the prospect shelling out MORE for your daily commute anyhow?).

Catch a CTA train, meanwhile, and you'll be bombarded, stop-after-stop, by an equally repetitive announcement on the loudspeaker, that, "the doors are closing, do not attempt to board the train... the doors are closing..." The Tribune's transportation reporter says that officials explain the need for this new practice this way:

"(The announcments) are part of an effort in the wake of the stroller incident to try something new to catch people's attention and remind them to be safe," a CTA official said.

The 'stroller incident,' of course, is the story of the woman whose baby stroller was dragged in the doors of a train, and fortunately, did not result in any injuries.  Now, I get that it was a freakishly disturbing incident, and worthy of an extra press release or news conference regarding closing doors... but how long must riders endure this extra announcement, stop after stop, day after day?

To the Powers That Be:  We know we could die if we get squeezed out of the automated doors onto the third rail.  We know we're gonna have to pay more because of budget cuts, and union contracts, and retirement funds, etc.  But don't you get it?  Most of us are just trying to get home after a day of Working For The Man/Woman.  We just want to get on the train and tune the world OUT with our iPods, eBooks and iPads.  Frankly, we're feeling beaten down from the iPain-in-the-rear that is the cruel wind, a Wednesday, the weird office coffee, and hallway-upon-hallway of flourescent lighting and key-card-required glass doors.  Have mercy on our already-shrunken souls, and cut back the PA announcements.  The customers you have left would be forever grateful. 

Considering this is a blog about a transportation alternative to car-commuting, I'm going to use this forum to vent a little about mass transit in this region.  Specifically, the way Metra officials appear to have drug their collective feet all the way to the modern era.

I am referencing September 9th's changes regarding Metra, which have brought a new, much-better-looking website debuting today, and the ability to use that website to purchase tickets/passes with a credit/debit card (Metra then mails them to you).

This story, of course, has been a long time coming, and it will continue to evolve.  By February 2010 Metra has to install a system to enable customers to use their credit card at train stations to buy tickets.  Yes, I said "has to."  All of this would never be happening without legislation mandating this modernization.  Granted, it IS an unfunded mandate.  Meaning, lawmakers say 'do it,' and Metra has to figure out how to pay for it.  Now, hearing Metra officials quoted in various news stories, you will notice them reference the Springfield baddies who have imposed upon them the dreaded "UM" (unfunded mandate).  You may also see the point brought up that credit card companies will be skimming all of the user fees off the top as profit, and with Metra reluctant to raise ticket prices, they'll be taking a huge financial hit by providing this service.

Now, I understand, I really do.  As an interest-spewing Average American Consumer, I am well aware of the credit/debit industry and all it's wrought.  But seriously.  It's 2009, and every major cosmopolitan city (a category which it's obvious Chicago considers itself a part of) has at least some digitization in place when it comes to mass transit (credit/debit being the bare bones, Smart Cards on the higher end - ooh London!)  Besides, when the lady who owns a small nail shop on Western is paying similar fees on every relatively paltry transaction, she may not like it -- but she knows she'd lose countless customers without this convenience.

So what I'm saying is, yes, we know your budgets have been stretched to the max for years, we know that any extra money you get you first want to use to replace the sketchy rail cars on the Electric Line.  We know the credit card companies are going to suck you dry until possible increased ridership and a streamlined system starts to pay back your investment in this technology.... but get over it.  We commuters are already stressed to the max, whether we bike, ride, or drive to work, and you won't find sympathy here. 

Just a reminder as we (too) slowly chug towards this holiday weekend, Metra's bike restriction policy will be in effect, system-wide.  Here's an exerpt from Metra's web site regarding bikes on trains:  "Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 AM and leaving Chicago before 3:00 PM and after 7:00 PM, and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:"

• Blues Fest June 12 - 14 (weekend only: June 13 & 14)
• All days during Taste of Chicago June 26 - July 5
• Lollapalooza August 7 - 9
• Air and Water Show August 15 - 16
• Jazz Fest September 4 - 6 (weekend only: September 5 & 6)

Even if you aren't headed to Jazz Fest, it's probably a safe bet that you won't be able to bring a bike on system-wide, due to the anticipation of increased ridership on Sat. and Sun.

About two weeks ago, the Naperville City Council approved not the development project they wanted -- but the project that Metra commuters in the area need. 

In a lot alongside the Route 59 Metra station (On Metra's busiest commuter line...) the city had hoped a developer would be constructing shops/restaurants/offices.  But in this current market?  Not gonna happen.  Instead, Railway Plaza 8 LLC got approval to open up a large parking structure by the end of this month... and instead of leasing the spots, they are going to sell them.  This creates, essentially, 'Car Condos.'   And the great thing for the city?  It will rake in property taxes on these little gems!

The price of these spaces seemingly reflects the high demand for park-and-ride convenience in and around Naperville, a booming suburb.  Metra says nearly 6,000 people ride this line every day, and the waiting list to lease spots near the station (at a cost of $480/year) is five years long. 

So, to get in on a Car Condo -- you're looking at about $9,000.  However, after half of the 170-or-so spots are sold, that price increases to $9,600.  Add to that assessments for a condo board (yes, there will be one) and the aforementioned property taxes, and this parking spot is a serious investment. 

The purchasing of spots like this for thousands of dollars has been a long-standing practice in urban centers like New York and Chicago for years... but this suburban project seems to be a new sign of the times.  Would it be worth it for you to have your own spot?  A piece of asphalt likely to appreciate in value as Naperville continues to grow? 

This blog entry is a spin-off of my patented "Road Rant" series... let's call it a Rail Rant.  This one is something I'm sure all Metra and CTA riders can identify with:  The loud cell-phone-talker on the train.

This is not only annoying, and a blatant kiss-off to the signs that say "No Cell Phones" posted on said train cars... but this habit is invassive, pervassive, and nearly impossible to ignore.  Despite Vulcan mind-tricks, blackberry internet service, and the RedEye... your brain automatically focuses in on these one-sided conversations.

T.C., an engineer I work with here at CLTV was complaining about this just today.  He said he's even heard a guy on the train, talking to his wife, saying, 'Honey, I'm so sorry... I'm still at the office, working late tonight..."  Jeez.  Now the people around you are forced to confront your philandering ways... ick!  That's a violation of my private thoughts.

What have you overheard on the train?  Have you ever said anything to any of these loud-talkers?

A couple of weeks ago, my niece and I took a trip from her home in suburban Palatine into Chicago, where her fickle 5-year-old mind would (almost) be entertained by a stage production involving a flying nanny, precocious faux-British child actors and frolicking chimney sweeps. 

We took Metra.  And, not being a daily Metra rail commuter - I was confronted with a last-minute mad dash to an ATM - coughing up any service fee necessary so I could get the cash I needed to purchase our tickets from the conductor once on the train.  Yet a fix to this cash-only policy is on the (albeit far-too-distant) horizon.  

News out of Friday morning's Metra board meeting comes that by February of 2010, Metra will be accepting credit card payments.  I talked to Michael Gillis, a Metra Spokesperson, who was at said meeting.  He tells me Exec. Dir., Phil Pagano briefed the rest of the panel, stating his intention to allow these transactions online, and at stations where an agent is on duty.  In other words, no automated ATM-like ticket-buying technology will be available, but you can swipe your Visa with an agent, or on your Mac.  Gillis mentioned that any such stations would have to be designed specifically for Metra, and there's nor the time or money right now for that type of project.