Waste of Money
The CTA is installing the first of 400 LED signs at 20 percent of all bus shelters serving 80 percent of all riders who use them to bring Bus Tracker information to commuters when and where they need it most.
The signs will carry four lines of text with information about the next four buses due to arrive at that location and, ultimately, other important transit alerts. Visually-impaired riders will hear an audio alert after pressing a button.
The signs face outward so approaching bus passengers can see the information and hustle over to catch an arriving bus. Motorists with decent eyesight will also know when to change lanes.
The electronic signs will be purchased and maintained with a $3.8 million mix of CTA, RTA and federal congestion funds.
Emanuel declared an end to the days of commuters “standing in the middle of the street craning their neck to look down and try to figure out, `Are those lights a bus?’”
He added, “We finally have the technology to do what’s right to serve the commuter.”
Business as usual.
Labels: city politics, money questions
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
40 Comments:
Actually, I believe this was mandated by the Feds many years ago and Chicago is, as usual, playing catch up with the technology.
Of course, had it been installed when mandated it would probably have cost about 25% of what they are paying to deploy it now.
Virtual reality, SCC. Virtual reality. If we distract everyone with pretty lights and signs, they won't notice what's going on in the ugly ACTUAL reality world.
Seriously, it's the CTA. The bus is coming. Whenever, but the bus IS coming. It's not like the bus is going to decide to detour to Boston on a whim.
But, we're catering to the video game generation, so we need the pretty lights.
You can text the number provided on the bits stop sign and get the info, OR look up the status updates on your smart phone-- waste of money!!
In Europe they have them at bus stops and train (subway) stations, and it is actually kind of nice, when you are waiting for the bus or train, the sign tells you how many minutes until your particular bus/train will arrive, with almost constant updates...
Although it might be a waste of money considering how many other things the city should be spending money on, it is a nice feature if you are depending on public transportation.
C'mon now, SCC. Information is one of the primary ways transit agencies can increase customer satisfaction, boost ridership, and get more paying butts in seats. Cities like San Francisco have had these for ages; don't complain that we're not a world class city and in the next breath suggest we should never spend for capital improvements.
Since CTA capital usually gets diverted to operations, it's good at to see a little at least get used to make things better. Maybe eventually they'll have enough to keep the tracks straight and the signals working during rush hour. With more people using it, who knows-- maybe the sketchy Red Line demographic would find somewhere else to commit crime!
I always thought standing in the middle of the street made the bus come faster.
That will teach America and Chicagoan's a thing or two about how you live within your means.
You're bankrupt, down to robbing everyone's future pensions to put up pretty signs that we can do without.
When did the people ask for this anyways? Why are our lawmakers and politicians continually working on things that we do not want or do not need? Why?
How many decades will it take for our kids, once they graduate from college, to pay this $3.4 million dollars off -- when their future consist of WalMart part-time temporary shovel-ready work that requires government food stamp subsidies to survive.
One more thing to get smashed by traffic accident or criminal damage
"Ummmm, silly question, but is anyone going to get anywhere any faster by knowing when a bus is 10 minutes away? What's the point?"
Yeah, man. It's like pushing the elevator button a dozen times. It changes nothing and it'll show up when it shows up.
After the maggie flower pots, we need these lights. It's the chicago way.
Fuck you, Rahm.
It does help. When you're standing on Clark St. wondering, and decide to take a cab instead, (but the bus was actually just around the bend at Wrightwood, only you couldn't tell.)
Or, when you're standing on North Ave. at California for 50 minutes, thinking "the bus is bound to come soon," but you could have walked to Damen in 15 minutes right at the start if you'd known it was an issue ...
Just to name two actual situations I've experienced where it would have helped.
The real issue is that most people have a device they can text for the next-bus info, so these things should be deployed at particularly busy corners and at places where people are less likely to have cell phones.
But no, if you don't know how the information would be useful, you're not making an intelligent point - you're just proving you don't ride the bus. The info is useful.
But they took the free rides away from most senior citizens, who could be contributing to the economy and paying taxes on things they buy.
This is a needless extravagance but just typical of the spend thrift democrats.
Some more ueless expensive toys we don't need. How about hiring more cops so you can safely wait at that bus stop without being victimized by animals roaming the streets. Weasels like Racoon Eyes and his ilk have limos and armed body guard hauling their sorry asses around all day at our expense. Does anyone really think he cares about some poor working stiff standing in the street looking for a bus that may never come. Selfish corrupt bastards could care less. Handing out expensive useless contracts keeps you in power!
This is why our country is broke. The City, Country still act like they they are high at Costco. Its all funny until you get to the register.
Bwaaaaahahaha! How long will those fancy LED displays last with all of the honor roll vandals in Chicago? Just like throwing $3.8 million in the lake. No problem. Just raise taxes on the working stiffs.
Does anyone in Chicago REALLY think that these things will work properly?
I'll give it a week before a few of these wind up in the headrests of some ghetto "hoopties".
The same system will be put in effect when someone calls 911 and requests police service.
A voice recording will respond... "Thank You for calling 911. The estimated waiting time for a beat car for an in-progress call is presently 35 minutes.
Your call may be answered in the order it was received. If you are calling about a break-in or suspicious person the present waiting time is 2 hours to 2 shifts, whichever comes first.
If you are calling about an illegal parker or barking dog,Press 1. (Once there, there is a continual loop recording of... "Bwaaahahaha!")
Finally, if you are calling to complain about police service, hang up and call 311 and request to talk to 9.5. Press 2 for Spanish, Polish or Chinese. Stay on the line and we'll cut you off. Thank You for calling Chicago's Emergency 911. Vote Democratic."
Click!
(Crickets)
This is Chicago.
In all likelyhood there is going to be no correlation between the time on the sign and the time the bus actually arrives. And, that assumes the sign is actually operational most of the time.
If the company that got the contract is that French company that did the high maintance high, glass content, bus-stop shelters with the most asinine design for a cold, windy city like Chicago, the sign design & construction will probably be crap.
The paint on those bus-stops and light posts is peeling and no undercoat primer at all. I've seen many just a few years-old that are seriously rusting and look like crap. In a few more years they'll really look good. Our winters are killing 'em.
Daley got a nice trip to France buying that shit with our money, though.
There wasn't a Chicago or U.S. based company that could have made those things??
The extent Daley fucked us is just fucking never ending.
CitizenOfChicago
Bus tracker itself (website or apps on smart phones or texting for times) is very useful, but not for knowing how long at a stop. It's for knowing how long for a bus BEFORE I LEAVE. I know how long it takes me to walk from my house to my stop, so I can wait at home until the bus is close. Same thing with leaving a restaurant or bar.
You want to see how much this gets used, look at the express bus stops along lake shore/sheridan/stockton on a winter morning. Almost nobody at the stop until 2 minutes before the bus gets there, then bam, everyone shows up because they've all used bus tracker at home. So what's the point of signs?
THE HOODLUMS WILL BUST AND BREAK THE SIGNS, THE WAY THEY BUST THE GLASS.SILLY RABBIT TRIX ARE FOR KIDS.CUT CUT CUT '''SPEND SPEND SPEND'''ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
These fucks cry broke for anything they deem non-important....like they see us as being. When it comes time for something they want they have no problem "finding" the money. It's all about priorities and Rahm and his boot lickers have their priorities all screwed up.
Rahm sees us as a necessary evil but he really holds contempt for us and will continue to stick it in our ass every opportunity he gets.
It's not a waste of tax payer money when some brilliant politician wants it. They have all the best ideas no matter what the cost.
Who's doing this? I'll bet it is the Vanecko Virtual Sign Company. He's getting $50 Million to do all of the bus shelters.
Anonymous said...
You can text the number provided on the bits stop sign and get the info, OR look up the status updates on your smart phone-- waste of money!!
10/02/2011 12:21:00 AM
Sorry Bill Gates/Steve Jobs/ Steve Wozniak.
Not everyone needs or owns a smart phone.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED
"Or, when you're standing on North Ave. at California for 50 minutes, thinking "the bus is bound to come soon," but you could have walked to Damen in 15 minutes right at the start if you'd known it was an issue ...
Just to name two actual situations I've experienced where it would have helped.
The real issue is that most people have a device they can text for the next-bus info, so these things should be deployed at particularly busy corners and at places where people are less likely to have cell phones.
But no, if you don't know how the information would be useful, you're not making an intelligent point - you're just proving you don't ride the bus. The info is useful.
10/02/2011 03:46:00 AM
Here is an intelligent point for you yuppie. The avg male walks at a pace of 3.1 miles per hour. You are waiting for a bus for 50 minutes just to walk 4 blocks from Damen to Calif.?
Is the line ready?
And where the hell in the city of Chicago or the USA for that matter, are areas where you are less likely to have a cell phone? Chicago may sometimes look like Africa, but it's not
Listen Big Ten college transplant to Chicago. Don't come on this site with your "I'm smarter than you attitude", because you ride the bus (short bus). You are the one who does'nt sound intelligent.
Now go have a $5 latte, pay $75 bucks to watch a 25yr old movie at Wrigley. Rent a pieace of crap apartment for $1700 a month in Lincolin Pk., drink $3.50 CANS of Pabst and then go and blame Unions for all of your problems.
As the world churns?
As the pensioners starve!
What next?
The Morlocks vs The Eloi?
The Hatfields vs The Macoys?
Soylent Red vs Soylent green!
It does help. When you're standing on Clark St. wondering, and decide to take a cab instead, (but the bus was actually just around the bend at Wrightwood, only you couldn't tell.)
Or, when you're standing on North Ave. at California for 50 minutes, thinking "the bus is bound to come soon," but you could have walked to Damen in 15 minutes right at the start if you'd known it was an issue ...
Just to name two actual situations I've experienced where it would have helped.
****************
Spoken like the "It's all about me" generation that you are. We spend millions so you won't be inconvenienced? Of course you think it's a great idea. It's all about you.
As a regular CTA rider, I second what Bratton fan said. Very useful to know when (or if) that next bus is going to show up and if my time wouldn't be better spent walking or (say) stepping into a Starbucks and buying a coffee so I'm not standing out for 20 minutes in the rain.
As for the commenter who said:"I always thought standing in the middle of the street made the bus come faster." --
Everyone knows that it's lighting up a cigarette that makes the bus come faster :-) I think that maybe not enough of us are smoking anymore.
The new crop Einstein's coming out of Chicago schools can't read anyway. Why waste money on signs. To help the unemployment in the city Racoon Eyes can hire hundreds of urban folks to announce bus schedules in broken English and Ebonics at all bus stops. The mayor seems to have plenty of cash to piss away so why not employ some of the unemployed.
If only they had been up at olympic selection time.
C'mon SCC - you're jousting at windmills. This is a good product for the consumer of the CTA, who has had to pay more for less service over the years. They should have had this 15 years ago; its not as if the technology didn't exist. On the rare occasions I do use the CTA, I find the Bus and Train trackers extremely convenient. For those who depend on it daily for their livelihood, this gives them an opportunity to spend a few fewer minutes out of the biting cold. I'm with 03:46:00 AM on this.
We're craning our necks because the transit is too slow. The CTA needs to:
- remove many unnecessary stops on all the routes. We don't need a stop on every block
- we need a train route north/south out by midway to enable residents and visitors to effectively reach the outer city and suburbs
- the trains need to run faster and i think "express" should be utilized more enough on morning and evening rush
Mr. Claypool, can you see a way to
spend some of that three million dollars to install a shelter at the
southwest corner of Cicero and Cermak Rd. to accomodate and protect the riders waiting to board a southbound # 54 or a # 54B
bus ? I'm sure they would appreciate it, especially during periods of rain or snow. Thanks.
J.C. DeCaux, is that Chicago's "French Connection?" Waiting for a CTA bus or train, time well spent.
Great idea...15 years ago when I saw them at European tram stations. With GPS and smartphones, everyone can figure out when the bus is coming. Even the little grannies on my block walk up to the stop a minute before the bus comes. If even they can use Bustracker, then why get signs?
Speaking of a waste of money.
Why are people in this city still paying about $4.00/gal for gasoline?
Oil hit a 52 week peak of $114/barrel and it's now down to about $78/barrel -- that's over a 30% drop! We have to be paying the highest prices in the nation for gas.
No-car-use public-transit-or-walk person here.
They've had that system at the Fullerton Red Line stop for a while, but I digress....
Why would you need to know the next FOUR arrival times? And the person who chose the French company with their ass-freezing-in- Chicago design should have been shot.
Nice idea, but a, b, and c - this city can't afford it.
--No Cop Here
What happened to the millions in grants CTA got a couple years ago. The money was ear-marked to change the electric motors in the 'el' trains from DC to AC thus creating smoother starts and stops.
And what's the matter with just looking down the block to see when a bus is coming?
The bus route turns a corner a block away.
Or the route goes over an elevation a block away.
Or it goes under a bridge or viaduct a block away.
There are lots of places where the line of sight is obstructed, and one can't see whether a bus is coming.
Even where one can see the bus coming... there may be multiple bus routes on that street, and one can't tell whether the bus that is coming is, say, a 97 which goes to the Skokie Swift station, or a 215 which goes direct to Old Orchard. (Yes, I live just south of Howard Street.)
I wouldn't call this a priority, but it will be useful and convenient - more worthwhile than a lot of things the city spends a lot more money on.
Just A Civilian (who doesn't drive and depends a lot on buses)
Post a Comment
<< Home