Clark/Lake Escalator: From Hot Mess to All Better

By Alexander Hough in News on Aug 3, 2011 4:20PM

This morning the hearts of thousands of commuters lifted to ground level as they saw the Blue Line Clark/Lake escalator, stationary since late-May and boarded up since July 22, back in business. (Ed. Note: RedEye's Tracy Swartz also saw this. - CS)

The nice thing about dysfunctional organizations is that sometimes their surprises are a good thing, and this good thing was a surprise for most everyone, including, apparently, the CTA. While the agency was optimistic that the escalator would be repaired before the projected September 16 completion date, we're not sure they were this optimistic. Late Monday afternoon, the CTA contacted us to tell us that signs and sandwich boards directing people to use the Lake/Wells auxiliary exit would be placed throughout the subway level in time for that evening's rush hour. Late last night - less than 36 hours after those signs went up - the CTA received word that the escalator was fixed. Huzzah? Huzzah!

It's a nice bit of good news, a reminder that things can go right even when other things go wrong, like the unfortunate welcome the CTA gave to out-of-town visitors last night. Sure, it might've been a hassle to get downtown, but at least folks didn't have to schlep their luggage up a staircase.