Chicago is My Home

19
May

New Survey Finds Average Gasoline Prices in Chicago Highest in the Nation

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

CHICAGO – A national survey released Sunday found that Chicagoans are paying the highest prices for fuel in the U.S. On average, gas in the Windy City is selling for $4.07 a gallon.

Conducted by Lundberg Survey, Inc. – an independent market research company that specializes in U.S. petroleum marketing and related industries – the survey said the national average price for gasoline rose about 17 cents in the last two weeks.

On Friday, national average gas prices were $3.79 a gallon for regular, $3.91 for mid-grade gas and $4.02 for premium gas. Average gas prices crossed the $4 mark in two metropolitan areas: Chicago and Long Island, N.Y.

OPEC President Chakib Khelil said on Monday it is unlikely to increase its output of crude oil in the coming months because there is no shortage in supply. The announcement sent oil prices climbing once again above $127 a barrel.

By Megan O’Neil

29
Apr

Fuel Surcharge of $1 Goes Into Effect on Monday For All Chicago Cab Rides

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

CHICAGO – Taxi passengers found their cab fares more expensive beginning on Monday as a city-mandated fuel surcharge of $1 went into effect across Chicago.

Approved by the Chicago City Council on April 9, 2008, the ordinance is intended to provide relief to city cab drivers as fuel prices continue to climb. According to AAA’s fuel gauge report, the average price for a gallon of gas in Chicago was $3.67 for the month of March 2008. Those numbers have only increased in April.

According to Chicago’s Department of Consumer Services, $1 will be added to taxi fares regardless of the distance of the ride when the average price of gasoline in Chicago is above $3.20 for seven consecutive days.

The surcharge is lifted if gas falls below $2.70 a gallon for seven consecutive days. Notices are to be posted in all cabs notifying customers of the extra charge.

By Megan O’Neil

09
Apr

Google Launches New Web Site For Chicago Transit Authority Rider Planning

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Technology, Transportation

CHICAGO – Public transportation riders in Chicago have a new way to virtually plan their trips through a collaborative effort between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Google.

Chicago mayor Richard Daley and CTA officials announced on Tuesday that the new Google site will allow CTA users to get mapping and directions in 11 languages to help plan trips on buses and rail lines. Chicago joins Seattle, San Francisco and other cities that already offer the trip-planning service.

“The ease with which people can access information via Google demonstrates the true value of technology. It makes the world a global community,” Daley at a news conference on Tuesday.

The service is similar to CTA’s trip planner that would plan a customer’s travels on public transport. The new service uses Google’s advanced mapping technology. As an added bonus, the service shows users the difference in price between driving and taking public transportation.

By Stephanie Huls

01
Feb

Sales Tax to Increase in Chicago to Help Bail Out Chicago Transit Authority

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

Illinois legislators have passed a 0.25 percent Chicago sales tax increase to help fund the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

The increase raises Cook County’s merchandise sales tax to 9.25 percent. It will become effective on April 1. Sales tax in collar counties such as DuPage and Lake will increase by 0.50 percent. As well, RTA riders 65 years or older will be eligible to ride transit for free beginning on March 17.

By Stephanie Huls

14
Jan

Air Traffic Controller Exodus Stifling Airline Industry in Chicago, U.S.

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Business, Technology, Transportation

CHICAGO – On Aug. 26, 2006, 35-year-old airplane captain Jeffery Clay spent the evening dining with his wife and two children. After dinner, he went back to his hotel to catch some needed sleep for his 4:15 a.m. wake-up call. One last time, though, he picked up the phone and spoke to his wife. That call lasted four minutes.

Mrs. Clay would never again speak to her husband. The short evening phone call would be their last.

Captain Clay reported for work at 5:15 a.m., but at 6:07 a.m., he would be killed along with 48 other passengers and crew at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky. When Comair flight 5191 ran out of runway, the captain could be heard shouting an expletive. At the same time, the plane’s black-box recorder caught the sound of it hitting an embankment.

The crash occurred because the plane was set to take off from runway 22, but instead, the crew aligned the aircraft at runway 26. It was an unused, unlit and short runway. Though the accident in Lexington was blamed on pilot error, there was only one air traffic controller working the tower that morning.

“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) didn’t give the controller an error. There were all these extra duties that he shouldn’t have been in charge of,” said Bob Richards, a retired air traffic controller, in an interview.

Richards – a controller at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago for 22 years – says the error may have been caught if another controller had been working in the Lexington tower. His recently released book entitled “Secrets From the Tower” chronicles a behind-the-scenes look into the life of an air traffic controller at O’Hare and details how being a controller affected his personal life.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation of the crash revealed that the controller had cleared the plane for takeoff and then turned his back on the runway to work on administrative duties. The next time he saw Comair flight 5191 was after it had burst into flames following the crash.

Such incidents are on the rise, according to a Washington, D.C.-based Congressional watchdog agency. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Dec. 5, 2007 concluding that runway incursions are on the rise due to a lack of appropriate technology, poor federal leadership and overworked and understaffed air traffic controllers.

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15
Oct

CTA President Ron Huberman Writes New Letter to Chicago Commuters

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

As Chicagoans know all too well, the battle between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the state wages on. On Oct. 12, I received the following letter from CTA President Ron Huberman:

Dear CTA customer,

I unveiled [on Oct. 12] the CTA’s proposed 2008 budget that lays out a series of painful service cuts, fare increases and layoffs that will happen on Jan. 6, 2008.

These actions are required to meet our legal obligation to submit a balanced budget and are in addition to those service cuts and fare increases that will take effect on Nov. 4.

All of us at the CTA understand that these service cuts and fare increases will cause you a tremendous hardship. We know you will face fewer travel options, less frequent service and more crowded buses and trains.

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09
Oct

Google Rolls Out Controversial Map Feature to Hone in on Chicago Streets

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

Starting Tuesday, Google has made live a controversial new feature that allows its map users to hone in on actual street imagery.

Just go to http://maps.google.com, click on “Street View” and click on the yellow person icon. Streets that have been imaged are outlined in blue.

15
Sep

Chicago Transit Authority Officially Postpones Fare Increase, Service Cuts

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

On Friday evening, I received the following official statement from the Chicago Transit Authority announcing the postponement of fare increases and service cuts.

Dear Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus users,

I am writing to inform you that the fare and service changes scheduled for Sept. 16 have been postponed. This means the cost of your passes and fares will not increase on Sunday and any routes scheduled for elimination will continue to operate.

However, the temporary loan of $24 million provided by [Illinois] postpones these changes for less than two months. On Nov. 4 if the Illinois General Assembly has not acted, we will be forced to increase fares and reduce service.

The bottom line is we need a comprehensive plan to fund mass transit.

I know you are frustrated about the potential service cuts and fare changes. So are we. That is why we are again asking you to join with us and tell our state leaders: “No more doomsdays. Fix mass transit.”

Please visit TransitChicago.com or call 888-YOUR-CTA for information on how to contact your state legislators. Please make your voices heard as we fight to preserve and improve the mass-transit system Chicago needs and deserves.

Thank you again for your support. We are committed to improving your experience on the CTA.

Sincerely,
Ron Huberman

02
Sep

Chicago Transit Authority Proposes Yet Another Fare Hike

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Transportation

As a fare-paying customer of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), on Aug. 29 I received an e-mail from the CTA notifying Chicagoans of potentially another fare hike. This was the text of the e-mail:

Due to insufficient state funding, the CTA board recently approved a contingency plan that includes changes to CTA service and fares. Without additional funding, this contingency plan will take effect on Sept. 16, 2007.

Customers who pay with cash or transit cards and use the CTA weekdays will pay higher fares at rail stations and on buses depending on the time of day they ride. Fares will also increase for customers who use Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus.

Under this plan, the fare for Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus customers will increase from $1.75 to $2 per ride and 25 cents for a transfer (which allows two additional rides within two hours of issuance) regardless of the time of day.

However, the bonus structure currently in place will remain and will provide a $2 bonus for every $20 of pay-per-use value added to an account. The cost of a 30-day unlimited Chicago Card Plus card will also increase from $75 to $84.

If the fare change goes into effect on Sept. 16, the new $2 fare will be deducted from your pay-per-use Chicago Card Plus account.

Those who use the Chicago Card Plus 30-day unlimited ride pass and whose reload occurs on or after Sept. 16, will be charged the new rate of $84 on their accounts.