News

Local, national or global stories that are fairly interesting, screwed up, or guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

CTA Fare Hikes and Service Reductions

  Frederick Linsmeyer • October 13, 2009 • News, Trains
Passengers could be paying $3.00 for one of these.

Passengers could be paying $3.00 for one of these.

Chicago commuters are facing fare hikes and service reductions on the CTA. Due to declining sources of public funding and the current economy, CTA President, Richard L. Rodriguez, detailed changes for bus and rail service for the 2010 budget.

The good news is that no bus or rail routes will be removed. However, service will be at lower frequencies and either start later or end earlier – Night Owl and rush hour service will not be impacted.

Bus fares are expected to rise 25 cents to $2.50 and rail fares will increase by 75 cents to $3.00. Passes will also increase – $8 for the 1-Day pass, $18 for the 3-Day pass, $30 for the 7-Day pass and $110 for the 30-Day pass. Reduced and Transfer fares will remain unchanged.

All service changes and fare increases are set to take place starting February 7th, 2010.

This budget will be presented during a meeting in November 2009 to the RTA and Cook County Board. The transit authority must submit a balanced budget to the RTA before November 15th, 2009 and must be approved by the RTA before the end of the year.

See the full proposed budget on the CTA web site.

Google Maps Streetview comes to Canada

  Frederick Linsmeyer • October 7, 2009 • Local, News

After a lengthy wait, Google Maps streetview is now available in select Canadian cities. Vancouver, Banff, Calgary, Kitchener, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax are now viewable online including most major and side streets. Canada finally joins the United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and other European nations who use the streetview service.

Google Maps streetview is  great tool when trying to confirm a restaurant location or want to see if there’s bank or other point of interest near your destination.

Chicago loses the 2016 Olympics

  Frederick Linsmeyer • October 2, 2009 • News
Chicago

Chicago

The International Olympic Committee announced today who would be hosting the Olympic Games in 2016. Unfortunately, the city of Chicago, which was believed to make it to the final round of voting against Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Tokyo, Japan; and Madrid, Spain, had been dropped after the first vote. Not even presentations from the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and various other celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, were able to woo the sporting organization.

Rio de Janeiro has been chosen to host 2016 Olympics, making it the first time the event has ever been held in South America.

SkyTrain ticket vending machines upgrade

  Frederick Linsmeyer • September 23, 2009 • News

TransLink is advising commuters using the ticket vending machines on the Expo and Millennium Lines that they may experience problems when paying with debit or credit cards. For the next six weeks, the ticket vending machines are being upgraded, and during this time debit or credit service may be impacted. However, those who are paying with cash shouldn’t expect any problems.

TransLink recommends bringing cash along just in case or to pick up FareSavers or FareCards from authorized vendors. Should you encounter any problems, try using another machine or inform a SkyTrain attendant for assistance.

TransLink will try and limit the interruptions during of peak hours of operation.

Source: TransLink

Evergreen Line progressing

  Frederick Linsmeyer • September 20, 2009 • News, Trains
SkyTrain at Waterfront Station

SkyTrain at Waterfront Station

The latest extension of the SkyTrain, the Evergreen Line — which will run from Lougheed Station on the eastern edge of Burnaby, through Port Moody and up to Coquitlam, is slated to have construction start in late 2010.

Although TransLink is struggling to obtain additional funding to maintain existing services, both the Provincial and Federal governments have earmarked $800 million dollars for the 11km project. The Province will work with the Metro Vancouver-based transit company on how to raise the estimated $400 million needed for completion.

The Evergreen Line will use the same Mark I and II cars that run on the Expo and Millennium Lines and is expected to be completed sometime around 2014.

Tolls on Lower Mainland bridges

  Frederick Linsmeyer • September 17, 2009 • News

Cash strapped TransLink is looking to plug a hole in its pocket by possibly adding tolls on some bridges in Metro Vancouver. The Knight Street Bridge on the north arm of the Fraser River between Richmond and Vancouver, has the potential for charging motorists who use the span. Currently, only the Golden Ears Bridge, linking Maple Ridge and Langley, has tolls.

TransLink, the organization that operates many of the bridges in the region, needs around $130 million a year  in order to maintain costs in keeping the bridges up to code along with bus and rapid transit service, according to the Regional Transportation Commissioner.

The plan for tolls on the Knight Street Bridge have not been finalized and it may take some time to get the idea out and work with the communities that use the crossing.

Source: News1130

Possible new Green Line stop

  Frederick Linsmeyer • September 16, 2009 • News, Trains
CTA Pink Line at Quincy

CTA Pink Line at Quincy

The Chicago Sun-Times overheard the CTA talking about a new station on the Green Line near the Museum Campus and Soldier Field. While there are no plans for this stop at either Cermak Road or 18th Street in the immediate future, there is a need for a station on the Near South Side in the 2.5 mile gap between Roosevelt and 35-Bronzeville-IIT. Unfortunately, the Green Line is plagued with a few significant stretches of track where there are no stations.

Up until 1978, there was a station on Cermak Road, but was closed and removed due to budget cut backs.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Canada Line running August 17

  Frederick Linsmeyer • August 4, 2009 • News, Trains
Canada Line at YVR

Canada Line at YVR

TransLink has announced that the Canada Line, the new rapid transit line from downtown Vancouver to YVR/Richmond, will be up and running on August 17th, 2009. From 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm PDT, passengers will be able to make the 25 minute journey for free.

The Canada Line uses different cars from the existing Millennium and Expo Line trains, making use of Hyundai Rotem’s technology for longer, more spacious cars with electronic destination signs and air conditioning. These trains use electric traction motors powered by an electrified third rail instead of Bombardier’s linear induction motors which is already in place with SkyTrain.

Actual revenue service begins on August 18th.

Source: TransLink

And let there be heat…

  Frederick Linsmeyer • July 29, 2009 • Local, News
Thermometer

It's 99° F right now!

Vancouver and much of southern British Columbia has been sweltering under temperatures climbing into the high 30s (upper 90s for those south of the border). Since Saturday, records have been shattered around the province as the mercury climbed — Lytton in Fraser Canyon is reached 40° C yesterday and Port Hardy hit 39° C, while those in Vancouver cooked under a reported 32° C (though the thermometer pictured shows close to 100° F).

Good news though as temperatures are supposed to cool off towards the weekend as the heat wave diminishes. Remember to keep cool by drinking plenty of fluids, staying in the shade, and taking it easy.

So long Sears Tower

  Frederick Linsmeyer • July 16, 2009 • News
Sears Tower

Sears Tower

Since 1973, Chicago’s Sears Tower has set the skyline over the mid-west city, easily trumping the AON Center (ironically, which was previously known as the Standard Oil Building) and John Hancock Center in its shadow.

Today, the British insurance firm, Willis Group Holdings Ltd., started moving in after purchasing 140,000 square feet of space in the landmark earlier this year, along with its naming rights.

In the late 1960s, Sears Roebuck and Co. commissioned the construction of the 110 story tower as a way to consolidate a considerable chunk of their operations into one building. However, Sears moved out of the building in 1993, leaving the name (and empty offices) behind.

The Willis Group obtained the naming rights during their purchase as Sears’ rights had expired in 2003.

Chicagoans, will you call it the Willis Tower? Or stick to what everyone knows it as? It’s still the Sears Tower to me, so let’s hear what you have to say on this.

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