Signal problem delays trains at Union Station
In the middle of the Friday morning rush hour, all trains were temporarily stopped at Union Station because of signal problems. An Amtrak spokesman said the signal problems were fixed and trains were moving again by 8:30 a.m., although commuters can expect delays.
Metra hikes price of 10-ride ticket
Metra riders are in for another fare hike early next year. Metra’s board voted 8 to 2 Friday to increase the price of the 10-ride tickets about 11 percent.
CTA abruptly postpones budget as union talks continue
The CTA abruptly postponed the unveiling of its budget recommendations on Thursday because of ongoing negotiations with the unions representing rail and bus workers.
Controversial ‘defeat jihad’ ads show up on CTA buses
Controversial ads a local Muslim organization calls “racist” and the CTA calls “divisive” popped up on 10 buses Wednesday. “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad,” the ad reads.
CTA plans to discuss settlement for family of woman killed by bus
The family of a Polish immigrant killed when a CTA bus ran her over as she took a bike off the front rack may get millions in a settlement with the transit agency. The CTA Board will discuss Wednesday a recommended settlement of $5.45 million …
Peotone airport supporters ‘moving forward’ without Jackson
A group backing the construction of an airport in south suburban Peotone is “moving forward” without Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., perhaps the airport’s biggest cheerleader.
Jeffery Jump aims to cut length of bus trip from South Side
Aside from a bright blue exterior, a bus on the CTA’s new Jeffery Jump route doesn’t look that special. But the bus gets special treatment that cuts seven minutes off the normal 16-mile trip along Jeffery Boulevard from 103rd Street to downtown.
Metra picks Orland Park official as new chairman
Metra on Friday appointed Orland Park village trustee Brad O’Halloran as chairman, despite some political theatrics before the vote.
Wells Street Bridge rehab to start Monday, affect Brown, Purple lines
A yearlong construction project to rebuild the historic Wells Street Bridge begins Monday and will coincide with a CTA project that will re-route the Brown and Purple lines for two nine-day periods in the spring, the city announced on Tuesday.
Drivers hit with private-parking lot tickets may be due refund
Patti Piasecki found a yellow parking notice on her driver’s side window weeks ago at the River North parking lot she’s parked in for more than a year. It wasn’t the signature orange and white City of Chicago parking ticket envelope. Still, Piasecki paid the fine online, as did dozens of other drivers. The city of Chicago, however, says she didn’t have to — and she could be getting some money back.
Cops: Drunken birthday reveler drives under truck, gets dragged for a mile
A trucker hauling a load of rice through Gary didn’t realize a drunken woman plowed her car into the back of his big rig — and he dragged her wedged-under car for more than a mile, police said. Indiana State Police say the woman, Natasha M. Garza, was out celebrating her 34th birthday when she rammed into the truck on westbound I-80/94 in Gary at 2:40 a.m Saturday.
Metra set to vote on first Cook County-based chairman
Metra may soon have a chairman from Cook County, a first for the commuter rail agency. Sources said board members were caught by surprise at the Oct. 12 meeting when Orland Park village trustee Brad O’Halloran’s name came up for vote as permanent chairman. He …
Blue Line trains briefly delayed Wednesday morning
A report of smoke at a CTA Blue Line station on the Northwest Side Wednesday morning briefly delayed trains as fire department crews responded to the scene. Fire department personnel responded to a report of smoke at the Belmont Blue Line station aboout 7:30 a.m., …
Watchdog group: CTA overstated bus mileage reports for decades
The CTA overstated bus mileage reports as far back as 1982, allowing it to receive up to $150 million of additional federal taxpayer dollars, according to a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group. Cause of Action’s report “A bus tour of Chicago-style fraud” alleges the CTA inflated …
City launches website to suggest spots for bike-share hubs
Want to be able to grab a rental bike at your CTA station? The city has launched a website to get the public’s suggestions on where to place 300 new bike-sharing stations.
