The RTA in Chicago looks to the wrong solution

Chicago IL - A report on WBBM-780 tells of stagnant transit growth in the Chicago area despite increases in ridership in other cities. While I am dubious of the nationwide transit growth numbers to start with, Chicago does have a problem attracting ridership.

The RTA has part of the answer but are looking towards the wrong solution. RTA Chairman Jim Reilly said, "Public relations can do only so much," and said a more flexible and reliable system would draw more riders. Part of that is having the money to build additional projects, to operate additional routes. I understand all that," he said.

Reilly is partially correct, they need a more flexible and reliable system but building more expensive transit projects is not the answer. Even running more routes is not the answer. The answer is running a service that takes people where they want and need to go on clean and reliable vehicles with reliable and convenient service.

For years I had thought my home city ran garbage on wheels until I saw Chicago. They had buses on the road that my local transit system wouldn't put out even if it was the only thing they had that ran.

Another part of the problem in Chicago is that they are running mostly historical routes. The entire operation needs an overhaul from the route standpoint. Routes that worked well 40 years ago may not be running as well today and that is due to changing demographics of the city. Most transit systems are very slow to react to population shifts and other demographics that effect service.

Adding more to a system that isn't working properly to start with will not solve the problem. All it will do is put further strain on the system, both financially and operationally.

Chicago can promote transit until the cows come home and it won't have much of an impact. The transit network in Chicago is falling apart, literally, and the major inefficiencies in the operation aren't helping matters. People are well aware of this.

Mr. Reilly, you need to fix what you have before adding more. Considering the budget crisis for transit in Chicago, the last thing the area needs are things added to the mix to suck down the money. It will be far cheaper and attract more riders if the routes in place were overhauled to reflect the current population demographics than building more projects and adding more routes.