How To Prepare For The Red Line South Branch Reconstruction
By Chuck Sudo in News on May 17, 2013 8:20PM
It’s almost here. We’re two days away from Chicago Transit Authority’s five-month reconstruction project of the Red Line's south branch. Starting May 19, CTA is planning an exhaustive (and long overdue) rebuilding of tracks from Cermak/Chinatown to 95th Street. CTA has insisted since the project was first announced last year that this was the best way to approach renovation of the Dan Ryan’s section of the Red Line. Completing the project in one fell swoop is estimated to save the agency $75 million and increase commutes from 95th Street to Chinatown by 10 minutes.
CTA has been preparing for this day for months. They launched an informational campaign to help Red Line riders deal with the headaches of having to negotiate the Green Line, shuttle buses and Metra electric stations that will see more riders while the project is underway.
Last month, CTA and Metra announced a combination travel package during the reconstruction—a 10-ticket pass on the Metra Electric or Rock Island lines combined with a five-day CTA pass. The Sun-Times reports riders considering the package should weigh the pros and cons of the deal before purchasing. Metra isn’t changing the costs of their zone-based fares with the deal; Metra officials call their part of the package “merely a convenience.” CTA’s portion of the package is where riders will see the discounts. The five-day pass will only cost, at most, $2 more than the standard three-day pass, when bundled with Metra’s 10-ride ticket. (A reminder: CTA passes offer unlimited rides for the duration they’re valid.)
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis told the Sun-Times his agency hopes riders will see the benefits of riding in quiet cars with cushioned seats. Of course, riders would appreciate the benefits more if Metra offered discounts on their tickets during the reconstruction. But what do we know?
The bundled transit offer will be available at South Side Jewels and Walgreens. (See the cost breakdowns here [PDF].)
For riders who will be using the Green Line during the reconstruction, CTA has released an updated version of its Train Tracker app that will allow riders to track specific trains through various stops, search for nearby train stations and watch trains on an interactive map. In our experience, Train Tracker has been the more reliable of CTA’s transit apps and this should help ease the frustration of displaced Red Line riders.
Here's a promotional video from the Mayor's office explaining the project again.